Saturday, May 26, 2012

Tracking Progress

When I first started doing CrossFit I didn't really keep a log of my times or weights and kind of just did the WODs. Then about a year ago my friend found a great website, www.wodclub.com, to track your WODs and PRs. I love this thing. It really helps me keep on track and progress.

It has a section for teh girl benchmarks, Hero WODs, body weight times (runs, rows etc), and for strength (max Clean, Max Squat etc.).

This is a snippet of my Helen History. You can see what other people have done and an average time finished. As Rx or Modified.

What I like most is seeing an 8 min performance gain. Makes me think "what was I doing last time that it took me 8 min longer with less weight?" But I know the answer...I hate to run. haha



Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Conclusion: Rock Tape Vs KT Tape Pro

After many different tests with both of these tapes I have finally come to a conclusion.

I found that KT Tape PRO has a much better stretch than the Rock Tape. KT Tape PRO. Both KT Tape PRO and Rock Tape handles well no my hamstring, although when it came to my back The Rock Tape seems to come off a lot more. Rock Tape did not stick to itself very well and would start to come off from those points. While the KT Tape PRO did a pretty good job on my lower back to stick to itself. The other thing that I noticed was that since KT Tape PRO had a better stretch when you apply the tape to a high moment area like your shoulders, it tends to work better.

On a side note, both of these tapes however would be susceptible to rolling when I slept. Not all the time but it has happened.

My conclusion is that for me KT Tape PRO is the right choice and holds up to my activities. Diving in the ocean, CrossFit WODs, sitting around the house and sleeping.




KT Tape Pro 


Pros:
Customer Service
Good stretch on tape
Comes in an uncut version
Sticks well to itself for taping applications that require that
Works well on flat areas like hamstrings
Comes in a cool plastic case

Cons:
Have to look for uncut version. Not widely advertised.
Slight odor because it is synthetic. (not enough to bother me, come might be sensitive to the smell)




Rock Tape

Pros:
Customer Service
Low Odor
Single Roll of Tape
Works well on flat areas like hamstrings

Cons:
Frays easily
Hurts a bit when pulling tape off
Not as much stretch (need to use longer stripes of tape)
Did not stick well to itself for taping applications that require that


Friday, May 11, 2012

Rock Tape Day 2

Day two of Rock Tape on my hamstring. So far it is still sticking well with a bit of fraying on the outside causing stings to come off. I am a little disappointed that the tape is fraying like this and I haven't even taken it into the ocean or done a WOD with it yet.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Rock Sauce: The Hamstring Marinade

The Story:
I am no stranger to pain so I have tried many topical pain relief methods. So naturally I had to try this stuff out too.



The Review:
When I opened the bottle I noticed that it has a lotion constancy to it but it seems to be a bit thicker and it looked like corn starch and water. I capped it, shook it up a bit and then squeezed some out. I only squeezed out a small amount and then the room fills with that menthol scent. A very strong scent. I like it so it doesn't bother me. After applying the Rock Sauce to my hamstring I wiped it off as instructed then applied my Rock Tape. When I was done I put a little more Rock Sauce over the tape and rubbed it in. A few seconds later I could feel the cooling sensation of the the Rock Sauce working its magic. I have to say I am pretty impressed with this stuff. The combination of the Rock Sauce and Rock Tape worked wonderfully. The only thing I did notice is that the cooling sensation did subside quickly. Like most of these topical pain revilers. They are for temporary relief after all (that is why it is not under Cons.)

Conclusion...it worked well and I would most definitely buy this again. Although I have an 8oz bottle and you really don't need to use a lot. So this bottle could last me some time.


Pros:
Works
Cooling sensation NOT a painful cold
Only a small amount is needed

Cons:
None yet

Rock Tape Night 1/Day 1

The Story:
Yesterday I got my Rock Tape in the mail and was ready to try this stuff out. I decided to start with the regular Rock Tape. 




The Review:
I will start by saying that the tape feel thinner than the KT Tape Pro. It also feels must more porous and I am not surprised since it is 97% cotton and 3% Nylon. The edges look like they will fray easily which worries me a bit. The edges look like they are cut from larger strips so the cut is made right through the stitching pattern. So far it is holding up well with slight fraying on the sides. Since the product is 97% cotton it also has a very low odor. So people that are sensitive to smells would like that.

Small thing to note is that the box has a slit on the right side so you can have the tape sick out and keep your tape dust free.

Another thing that I really like about Rock Tape is that it is one roll. KT Tape comes as pre-cut strips (I am not sure if they have uncut strips.) This means you have to cut your own strips. It allows you to get a more accurate length to work with as well as giving you more taping options than you would get with a pre-cut strip.

This is one that I found interesting. I, like many people have horrible posture. So this would be interesting to try...Used a lot of tape though.

I decided to use the Rock Tape on my hamstrings since I cant really put it on my back. I also used some Rock Sauce with it. I did notice that the Rock Tape worked to relieve pressure and tightness from my hamstrings and I am excited to try this during a WOD. Maybe I'll try it with high rep deadlifts.  Who know maybe I can beat Chris Speallers Diane time (1:52) with this stuff on...Now that would be something.

When I woke up this morning the Rock Tape was securely fasten to my hamstring. Still working and barley noticeable.



Pros:
Customer Service
Low Odor
Single Roll of Tape

Cons:
Frays

Rock Tape, Rock Tape H20 and Rock Sauce

The Story:
Part of my review of  Rock Tape vs KT Tape, I got this in the mail yesterday. It consists of Rock Tape H20 (left), which is supposed to be stickier and last longer in water, compared to the regular Rock Tape (right). I also got a roll of regular Rock Tape to see how that works out. Rock Tape H2O only comes in black unlike the regular Rock Tape, which has may different colors and patterns. The bottle in the middle is Rock Sauce.  A topical pain reliever that is similar to Icy Hot, Tokuhon, or BioFreeze. 


The Initial Review:

The day after I ordered I got a call from Rock Tape. One of the items I ordered was on back order so they wanted to know if I would wait or willing to take a different color. I told them any color was fine by me. He then told me about the different colors. He explained that there were two type of blue and I told him to just surprise me. He obliged and said that the tape would be in that mail that day, it was a Friday. Later I got an email confirming that my packaged had been mailed.

When I opened the box it was packed with some paper so that the items did not slide around. I do appreciate the customer service from Rock Tape. It was a nice and personal touch that they had someone call me about my order. When they could of easily sent me an email. That told me they are a customer-centric company and that they wanted to make sure they got a quick response so that they could ship my order before the weekend or else I would have to wait that much longer. A huge plus in my books.



Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Comfortable Hiking Shoes...

The Story:
Shoes again...yeah. I know. This time it's hiking shoes!

So the other week I went hiking up Koko Head Crater and since I knew my inov8-150s would not be a good choice and my old hiking shoes were falling apart. I decided to use my Nike Frees. They were pretty comfortable, although it took some time to get used to all the cushioning. During the hike the hard part was on the way down. Since you are pretty much going up and down a long flight of unsteady steps that are falling apart, covered in dirt and rock, a stable shoe is nice. My Nike shoes were fine going up but going down was a bit unstable. So I decided to get some new hiking shoes.

A couple of days after I was at Total Fitness USA looking at the rigs (plan to build one) and noticed they had the Inov-8 hiking shoes too. I ended up talking to the guys about the shoes and found out that Inov-8 started out by making comfortable hiking/walking shoes. I took a look at them and they seemed nice. They had 2 sizes there and while one of the was not my size, it fit. Didn't really mean to pick up new hiking shoes that day but I took it as a sign...

The shoes I got were the Inov-8 X-Talon 212s.  Decently priced around $110.

I took these shoes out on a morning hike on Earth Day. It had rained the night before and a bit that morning so the ground was wet and a bit muddy. I thought, "perfect time to test my new shoes!"
I was pleasantly surprised at how comfy these shoes were. The start of the hike was muddy and the spiked sole was perfect for this. I felt very sure footed in and out of the mud. The only thing is that the mud started to cake up to the sole. So every so often I would tap the mud off on a rock. Half way up the hike I even told my friend "I think these are the most comfortable hiking shoes I have ever owned." Well to be honest I was talking about how great these shoes were the entire hike. I think she must have thought I got a job with 
Inov-8 in their marketing marketing department (would be nice). 
When we finished the hike I sat near the car about to tap out the mud but by the time I got to the car a majority of the mud had fallen off. 

The Review:
Comfortable! Most of the time after a hike I have to take my shoes off because they are either on fire (water resistant hiking shoes don't breath at all) or my feet just hurt. Not with these. At the end of my hike my feet felt great and need to take my shoes off. Amazing shoes!
Great traction on dry, wet and uneven surfaces. One thing I did notice was that when walking on cement or asphalt, to the hiking entrance, the shoes felt tacky or sticky, as if I were slightly sticking to the ground. It was very slight. I actually like this feeling. I felt that if I had that much traction on solid flat ground I would be fine on dirt and mud. Later I noticed on their website that the compound is...Sticky. That explains a lot. I have to say, it is nice to see a company with a technical spec that isn't just marketing hooplah.

As far as the durability of these shoes. I cannot comment at the time since I have only used these once so I can't comment on durability yet. I'd like to try some of their other shoes, but these seem like they are going to hold up for quite some time. So more on that later. 
Again I have wide feet and these still felt comfortable to me. Your best bet is to try some on and hit up a  mountain. 

If you have a question please feel to ask. I won't have fancy answers about but I can give you my opinion best I can.  

Pros:
Very Comfortable
Spiked Sole Great for Traction 
Reasonably Priced
Cons:
Haven't found any yet.



Inov-8 Site with the technical stuff:
Inov-8 X-Talon 212

Lock-Jaw Pro HD Collars

The Story:
Most people are used to those metal spring collars and while I have 2 pairs of them I don't really like them. When we used them on iron plates the collars were longer then some plates so it would hit the ground. The good part was that we could use it as a kick stand so the barbell didn't roll away. They are also a hassle to take on and off and the rubber handles pop off all the time. All small things but still annoy me. When I was at the store I saw some of these Lock-Jaw Pro HD Collars and it looks slim and a lot quicker to use. There are two versions the lock and the regular. The lock pros have a red tap that locks the collars. I was told that the others can pop open some times. It wasn't that much more for the lock pros, so I ended up getting the Lock-Jaw Pro HD Collars I bought mine for $44.00 from Total Fitness USA.

The Review:
Not all collars are made a like. These collars were very nice to use. They make for a quick plate change and are perfect for those WODs that require you to do so. It may shave a few seconds off of your time and while some people tell me a few seconds do not matter. I tell them a few seconds can be the difference between a7 minute and a sub 7 time. A few seconds can be the difference between a new PR. A few seconds can be the difference between 1st and last and every second counts.

I have noticed that over time the collars are starting to wear and you cannot read the words on it anymore but that is ascetics. 

The collars also rub against my bumper plates causing a ring to form around it and can actually start to rub rubber off of the plates.



Pros:
Quick to take off and on
Not too much slide on bar
Slim Design, easy storage and use 

Cons:
Tears/rubs rubber off of bumper plates (smooth bumpers so far not on my Hi-Temps)



Monday, May 7, 2012

KT Tape Pro: Day 5, Morning removal.

Good morning! Welcome to day 5 of my KT Tape Pro trial run. The tape is securely fastened to my back although I am still a bit skeptical as to whether or not it is doing anything anymore. I have decided to take the tape off now. One thing that leads me to believe that the elasticity in the tape is no longer present is the wrinkles in the strip. According to the KT Tape Pro website there will be wrinkles in the tape when you sit back up from being tapped.

I should have thought of that earlier. I will test more of the tape on a different location that will be easier to view and photograph. I might try my shoulder or knee. 

In summary. 

KT Tape Pro worked quite well for the first 3 days or so. Then started to show signs of wear and loss of elasticity in the strips. I find that the biggest problem with the tape is not that the tape will fall off, since it was very secure for the most part, but rather the loss of elasticity in the tape causing it to not function as desired. Even as I pull the tape off of my back right now it is still very securely stuck to my back. The KT Tape Pro handles well in the water. Although prolonged use in water on multiple days combined with strenuous workouts may have been the contributing factor to the loss of elasticity and peeling. Since the preliminary tests were promising I will be ordering more KT Tape Pro to try on my shoulder and/or knee. I have some Rock Tape and Rock Tape H20 in the mail already so I will try that next. 

Sunday, May 6, 2012

KT Tape Pro Day 4: Update

Decided not to do the regional event 4 WOD today. I felt it was better to rest, rather then hurt myself.

KT Tape Pro on the other hand decided to keep on working. No issues today. Although all I did was clean up my gear and organize. Although I do think that it is losing some elasticity. It does not seem to be working as well as before. When I first put the KT Tape Pro on my back I could feel some pressure release and tension in the tape strips. Now it seems like I just have tape on my back. We'll see how things are tomorrow morning.

KT Tape Pro Day 4


KT Tape Pro Day 4.

This morning it is still on my back nice and dry. It seems to me that long exposure to water will reduce the sticking abilities of the KT Tape Pro. Since yesterday it was wet for quite some time. Since I am not going into the water today I will see how it handles on Sundays WOD. Scaled to stay under that 22min time cap of course. 

May 6, 2012

SUNDAY 120506

2012 CrossFit Games Regional: Individual Event 4
For time:
135 pound Back squat, 50 reps
40 Pull-ups
135 pound Shoulder-to-overhead, 30 reps
85 pound Front squat, 50 reps
40 Pull-ups
85 pound Shoulder-to-overhead, 30 reps
65 pound Overhead squat, 50 reps
40 Pull-ups
65 pound Shoulder-to-overhead, 30 reps

KT Tape Pro Day 3

Day 3 with my KT Tape Pro. 

After getting out of the water I showered off and hoped in my car. On the drive home I felt something on my back and when I reached to feel it, I felt the sticky tape starting to come off. Needless to say I was a little disappointed. I got home and got ready to do the pack (50# DB) version CrossFit Games Regional Event 3:

May 5, 2012

SATURDAY 120505

2012 CrossFit Games Regional: Individual Event 3
Four rounds for time of:
100 pound Dumbbell snatch, 10 reps
200 foot Sprint


After I finished my WOD I went home to shower off. The KT Tape Pro was still starting to peal off. After an accidental nap I woke up and the tape had dried off and was not pealing off anymore. 


Saturday, May 5, 2012

KT Tape Initial Thoughts...

Initial Thoughts:

KT Tape was nice enough to send me a trial pack in the mail. It came very fast. I got it in a few days. So off the bat KT Tape gets a +1 due do excellent customer service and follow up. 

KT tape recommends that you do not wear the tape for longer than 5 days. Although it says that it can stay on for 7 days. Contradicting information...Hoping they get back to me soon. 

I watched the video on the KT Tape website on how to apply KT Tape and had my sister assist me since I can't put it on my own back.

I could tell that the tape was doing something after I walked around a bit. It is hard to describe the feeling, it was almost as if the tape helped to remove the pressure on my lower back. 

KT Tape PRO is comfortable and does not bother me when it is on. I barley notice that it is their, aside from the pressure and pain relief. 

The first night I had it on I woke up and part of the tape seemed to be rolling up so I just rubbed it down and it was fine. Later that morning I went to the beach to go diving (now I am going to have KT Tape tan lines...) and when I came out the tape was stuck to me like glue. No shift no pealing. It was as if I wasn't in the water at all. The tape does absorb water so it stayed wet a for a few minutes after you leave the water. After a shower it is the same way. You might want to let it dry off before you put on a nice shirt or else you will have wet KT Tape marks on your shirt. 

After the beach I did my CrossFit WOD... 
Max rounds in 3 minutes of:
135 pound Power cleans, 3 reps
6 Push-ups
9 Squats
Rest 1 minute. Repeat for a total of 5 cycles.
Post rounds completed for each of the 5 cycles.

Needless to say this was a pretty brutal WOD where you will sweat and move. I moved but the KT Tape didn't budge. The last thing I would want to think about during a WOD is some annoying tape flapping around on my back (although in this WOD I was in drone mode and might not of noticed). When I finished my fifth round I did my usual flopping around on the ground. When I got up I checked my tape and everything was good to go. 

So far I am very happy with how well this tape sticks to my skin without irritating me. 

Today will be the third day so we will see how it holds up. 


Front:
Back:


The trail pack came with two strips of KT Tape, a yellow and a black peice. From first look I have to say it looks pretty cool. KT Tape Pro is their new 100% synthetic tape and if you sniff the tape you can smell the plastic and glue smell. It is not a strong smell, you can only smell if it you put your nose right on it. So it isn't an issue for me.




In the package it also came with a mini guide for common applications. There is also a link to their website which has a lot of videos on how to put the tape on for different applications.



Battle of the Tapes...Rock vs KT Tape

The Story:
About a month ago my cousin injured his shoulder. When I first saw the bright pink tape on his arm I had to ask what that was. He explained to me that his physical therapist put something called Kinesio Tape on his shoulder. It was there to aid in the recovery. He told me that the way they taped his shoulder also was to help isolate certain muscles of his shoulder so that the other tendons could recover. Seemed pretty cool. I later researched different tapes and came across Rock Tape and KT Tape. There are more but these two companies seemed to be the best. Rock Tape caters towards CrossFitters and has a section on their site about CrossFit, with a photo of Jason Khalipa rocking some Rock Tape. So they do have some reputability with many athletes that support their product. Although KT Tape is endorsed by Kerri Walsh, Olympic Gold Medalist. So they had some pretty legit athletes too.

I am not an elite athlete so I want to know how this will work for me. What works for one does not work for another.

I am going to try out both of the products to determine which one works best for me. Since summer time is here I will be using these both during CrossFit WODs as well as at the beach and freediving. So I will be able to get a very good idea about both products. I have seen videos of KT Tape used in a pool but a pool isn't close to the ocean. I feel that is a truer test or longevity. 

Rock Tape has Three different tapes a 2" and a 4" and Rock Tape H20, made for use in the water. I have both the Rock Tape 2" and Rock Tape H20 on the way as well as some of their Rock Sauce, a topical pain reviler similar to Bio Freeze.

Kinesiology tapes to be reviewed:
KT Tape Pro 

Rock Tape

Rock Tape H20