Experimenting at the Expo

The NYC Triathlon expo was great fun. Like a kid in a candy store, I went from one booth to another, sampling products, asking questions.

One of my first stops was to the Health Warrior booth. They market chia seeds, which I've been adding to my water since early last summer, after reading Born to Run, as well as having chocolate peanut butter chia seed bars for sale. When I met up at the Triathlon Expo at Columbia earlier this year, the bars weren't yet available for sale, so this time around, I bought a box of 24 of them. Though not processed in an allergen-free facility,they contain no dairy, gluten, or soy, which is huge for me. Plus they are only 100 calories, so when you need a little bit of fuel to tide you over, they really are great. The one caveat I have is that the seeds can get stuck in your teeth, so having dental floss or a toothbrush around can be a good idea.

My next stop was at the KT Tape booth, where I put myself on the list to have my calf taped with the kinesiology tape, and then moseyed over to 110% Compression booth. I'd been eyeing this system online, since I know the benefits of icing, but am to much of a baby to sit in 40 degree water. Sorry. I've overcome my dread of frigid winters thanks to the art layering and outdoor running, and have even come to appreciate and enjoy the winter, but haven't yet graduated to ice baths.

Wait. Let me rewind. 110% Compression is a system of pocketed compression wear. The pockets hold large ice packs that can be kept in place, without putting one's entire body into a deep freeze. It tried on the shorts and calf sleeves, and ended up buying both. Here is how they look when filled with the ice packs.

 Charming, I know, sort of like the Michelin Man. I wore these babies after the tri, and then again the following morning for about an hour each time. While I wasn't ready to race another triathlon right away, or even go for a run, I had no soreness riding back and forth from trapeze, and the only thing preventing me going for a run today is the fact that I just landed in Israel.

Anyway, back to KT Tape. It's kinesiology tape that is sold in precut strips which can be applied to areas of injury and pain. The tape provides information to the muscles, and apparently aids in healing, reinjury, and pain relief.  I fugured it certainly couldn't hurt, and I was concerned about the twinges I've been feeling in my right calf whenever I run 3+ miles since I pulled it in Quassy. After being taped up, I didn't feel my calf at all during the race.  It gave me absolutely no problems.  Yes, I felt it the next day, but just a hair more than I felt the left calf which was also achey, and instead of feeling hurt, it just felt sore.  On the website they company also has how-to videos for taping up one's own areas, if one is inclined to self-medicate, so to speak.  Good stuff.

My next stop was the Acumed booth where they applying/selling these little magnetic sticker pain patches.  Though I bought a little sample pack, I don't have any area-specific pain to try it on just yet.  Also, though they say not to reuse the patches, I don't know why one couldn't.  A magnet is a magnet, no?  Just stick it on with trapeze tape or something.   Hey, you know what? There are insomnia points.  I'm sticking it on my third eye in the hopes that I can go back to sleep (3 AM here in Israel - 8PM NYC time, and I can't fall back asleep).

Nope.  Still here.  After a little more futzing around, asking some techinical questions at the Toga Bike booth about tire inflation, and avoiding buying anything else, I headed home.

A relatively new installation that has been really useful in my home is the handheld shower.  It was installed for quick dog rinse-offs following muddier walks, bringing down bathing time from a half hour ordeal to one that is quickly over in about 5 minutes.  A lightbulb went off in my head, and I decided to toss my bicycle into the shower as well, and rinse it off with the handheld shower.  It worked like a charm!  Hooray to no more dirty sandy gears! Nothing gooping up the system!  While I already had the handheld out, I also gave the wetsuit a nice hose down, and got the Hudson off of it.

And the final new gizmo, and one that allowed me to write the previous two posts while on the flight over to Israel, and will hopefully allow me to update vacation stuff as well... I finally broke down and got the iPad2!  Wifi only - don't see the point of 3G, especially here.  I also uploaded a heap of movies for the girls to watch when bored/in transit, so it should be an all around helpful tool.  And responding to work emails is much easier with the full size keypad.

Ok, that Acumed sticker might be kicking in.  Let's try and salvage a few hours of sleep.