I always have some nagging injury. I can’t help it. I do have something that gets me through training….The Stick. Stick jokes end here please.

The stick is literally, a stick, that you roll over your sore, tight muscles. I first purchased this device because I wanted to solve my tight hamstrings. It’s worked like a charm. Then, a few months after that, I went to a Chiropractor and he showed me that I could use The Stick on other areas: back, shoulders, arms, etc. Here is a picture:

It’s worth checking out…

Today I went shopping…and I got some cool gear…so I thought I’d write about it…

New Balance Men’s Gazelle Pant
I LOVE these pants. They are tapered and felt fantastic when I tried them on. They are made with Lightning Dry material to wick away moisture. My favorite feature is the zippered pockets.

New Balance Compression Shorts
There really isn’t much to say about these without the topic becoming awkward. I will stick to the basics and say that these are supportive shorts with two features I like: a drawstring (which automatically makes these better than the Nike shorts) and a internal key pocket. I don’t envision ever using the key pocket, but it’s nice to know that it’s there. I think its a great place to store extra cash instead of keeping it in my belt pouch…

Amphipod Flasks
Over the past year, I’ve had an Amphipod Air Flow Lite belt (pictured below), and it’s been great. I’ve never had the belt wobble or feel uncomfortable while I run. I’ve also used a separate belt for my water bottle. Now, I have added two Amphipod flasks, that attach directly to the belt. These flasks are great, because they each hold 8 ounces of fluid, and they are made to be attached to Amphipod belts. It works out great for me.

I will be using all of my new gear, and my new shoes this weekend for my 20 mile run. This is my first long run since my minor surgery…so hopefully everything will go swimmingly…Wish me luck!

My next marathon is just over a month away. It’s clearly time to break in some shoes so that I can rock it hard core. I am going to wear the New Balance 858. It’s an update to the 857 (click here to see my previous post on this).

The 858 actually received the “Best Update” award by Runner’s World magazine. This shoe is great for people like me…flat foot, overpronator and wide, square toes. Two interior features of this shoe stand out for me: Lightning Dry material (to help wick away moisture) and a seamless construction (to prevent blisters).

I have a 20 mile run this weekend. I may run half of the run with these new shoes.

Here is what they look like:

I’ve been an advocate on insoles ever since I first sold shoes at Champs Sports (1998). Back then, I thought it was just some way of increasing our sales numbers. Now, having run two marathons and working for a real running store, I’ve learned that it’s much more than numbers.

My feet are trouble. I am a severe over-pronator (my ankles roll in and my toes point out). Most people pronate, so I’m not THAT freakish, but I digress.

Like many people, I can’t afford orthotics ($200-$500), so I purchased Sole insoles. They’ve worked great, but I want to explore other options. Today I got a pair of Superfeet Blue. I will wear them for couple of days and get used to them. Then I will run the six miler in my new insoles.

For the record, my podiatrist recommended these insoles, so it has to be worth a shot.

This weekend, I will report back on the new insoles as well as Accel Gel (see the post below this).

Ever since I picked up running, I have been trying to find the perfect fuel to help me along my runs. I always sweat profusely, so in order to prevent hyponatremia, I need to fuel up on foods or products that have sodium. I also need to keep my glucose level up during my long runs (anything more than an hour).

Last year, I experimented with PowerGels and Gu. Both did the job, but to be honest, Gu tasted the best. I’ve stuck with it ever since. That is, until last week.

Early last week, someone suggested I try Accel Gel (similar to Accelerade). It seems like it is basically the same thing as Gu, except each serving of Accel Gel contains a unique 20 mg of protein. This is supposed to help with endurance. I didn’t notice much of a difference. I will continue to use Accel Gel because it actually tasted just as good as Gu. The protein thing is the kicker. I’m not sure how much of a difference it will make, but I will post more on these findings later.

On a completely unrelated note, I am in need of some fundraising help. Throughout this training process, I am actively fundraising for AIDS Project Los Angeles. Each donation will go to help those whose lives have been destroyed by HIV and AIDS. I need to raise $1500 by December 4th and I am about $1400 short of my goal. Please help me and others by donating via a secure form at http://www.davenadkarni.org

Right now, I am training in the New Balance 857′s. These are great for my ridicuously wide and flat feet. There is enough cushion to keep me happy and stability to boot. I hope to get a new pair soon, but for now, these will keep me going.

“I am fundraising for the AIDS Marathon training program. Please visit http://www.davenadkarni.org to make a donation. It can be as little as $5. Every bit helps. Please…donate.”