KT TAPE

An Insider’s Guide to getting KT Taped at a race

admin — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:16:51 +0000

If you’ve ever stopped by the KT Tape booth at a marathon, triathlon, or other sports event you know the line to be taped can take well over an hour. We recently spoke with KT Tape expert Joseph McCaleb, PT about what people could do to come prepared to the expo to get taped so we can take care of them as quickly as possible. Joe has staffed 14 races in the past year so he was able to provide some quick answers that will make your next taping experience even better.

1. What to wear. Be prepared by wearing clothing which will allow easy access to your area you need taped. For example, if you need to have your knee or IT band taped, you need to wear shorts. As you can see from the picture, the tape will come up in the mid thigh area for most people and no matter how hard you try those stretchy jeans just DON’T pull up far enough.

Gals that want to have their backs or shoulders taped should wear sports bras. However, it’s far easier to apply the back and shoulder applications at home by a trusted person without the clothing getting in the way.

2. Skin Prep. Make sure your skin is clean, dry and that you have no lotions or oils of any type as the tape will not stick if you have lotion on. It is preferable that you shower the morning of the expo to make sure the lotion you applied yesterday is completely cleaned from the skin.

Guys- if you have a lot of hair in the area you want taped you probably need to shave before being taped. The tape is designed to stick directly to the skin. If you have excessive hair that prevents the tape from getting a good grip on the skin, the tape won’t stay on properly. If you need a shave we will happily do it for you, but it’s much faster if you come to the expo already preped with soft and supple skin.

One last thing. We try to keep things ‘family friendly’ at the expos as much as possible. There are a few apps that you’re on your own to apply such as hip flexor or glute pain. We’re sure you understand.

3. How much does it cost? How does a taping session work? Taping at the expos is free. We consider it a service to the athletes and we don’t charge at the events. We will ask questions to try and identify the best application but in most cases the KT Tape staff are not medical professionals and are not diagnosing the condition or trying to determine root cause. We are simply addressing the immediate pain. If you have questions about your specific condition you should see a licensed professional. You can also post a question on our Ask an Expert forum.

Have you been taped at an event before? Leave a comment and let us know if you have any other tips. Thx

To find out if KT Tape will be at your next event check here.

Schwan’s USA Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament

GregB — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:37:45 +0000

KT Tape gives runner confidence to train harder and reach milestones.

admin — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:23:10 +0000

We are happy to share another inspiring guest post by KT Tape fan Taylor Johnson aka “Happy Girl”:

On July 16, 2012 I set a goal for myself. I would run Disney’s Princess Half Marathon in February 2013. But you don’t go from an uncoordinated non-workout kind of girl to a runner that easily. I injured my IT Band / patella in December and was in physical therapy for weeks prior to the marathon. My therapist advised against the half-marathon. I was disappointed because I had been training so hard but with my therapist’s permission I decided to still fly down to Orlando and run/walk the 5k instead. She told me to take it easy and go slow. I needed to cross a finish line and I did with the help of tape.

At the Disney runner’s Expo, I picked up my registration materials and bought the t-shirt (“Sorry Prince, Gotta Run!). I also discovered a KT Tape booth where experts were available to tape areas on runners that needed extra support. The line was extraordinarily long so I thought if these fit, experienced runners needed taping, I should do it as well. As I sat on the exam table I explained my knee injury to the KT Tape expert who then quickly taped my knee. As soon as I stood up I could feel the difference. My knee felt supported and the clicking that I felt with each step was gone. He told me the tape could last up to 7 days (regular KT Tape up to 3 days and KT Tape Pro up to 7 days). It felt so good that I bought a roll of pink KT Tape to support my knee for the rest of my two week trip. I was concerned about being able to do it myself but he told me that the videos on the KT Tape YouTube Channel would make me a taping expert. (KT Tape works for all sorts of injuries including knee, ankle, arm, back and shoulders.)

During the 5k this tape not only helped my physically I felt confident that the KT Tape supported my knee so well that I could put my all into the 5k and not hold back. The KT Tape stayed on well in water and peeled off easily when I was ready to remove it.

Before I flew home from Florida I ordered more tape and I have been using almost every day. I did forget to apply it one day and I felt unstable a couple miles from home. I actually thought about calling my husband to come get me because I was worried about the lack of support for my knee. On that run, however, I just walked slowly home and didn’t complete my goal. Using KT Tape helps me train harder and gives me the confidence to push myself to reach each milestone. So far, that means 80 pounds gone.

I love this product and I also like that it comes in fun colors like Hero Pink and Winner Green (seen above.)

This is how easy it is.

Click here to see the Full Knee Support Video

If you’d like to share your experience as a guest blogger send us an email at marketing@kttape.com. thx

KT Tape Sponsored Surfer takes Bronze at ISA World Masters

admin — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:24:07 +0000

KT Tape made it possible for me to surf in
the ISA World Masters of Surfing in Ecuador.

Heading into the world contest, I was
training several hours a day and I was pushing through back and shoulder injuries. I was actually considering not competing because my back spasms were so painful, I could barely surf.

I tried acupuncture and physical therapy (which provided some relief), but the KT Tape was the one thing that pulled me through and made it possible for me to compete.

I’m a year-round competitive surfer; training hard and having reliable equipment are the most important things for me (besides God and my faith).

I would not have been able to get 6th in the world and help Team USA get the Bronze metal without KT Tape.

Thanks KT Tape!
Rick Takahashi
Team USA

Guest Blogger: I Never thought I would run again…

admin — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:22:51 +0000

We are happy to share another inspiring guest post by KT Tape fan Kim D. from Lake Stevens, WA:

My name is Kim, I am a 38 year old mom who started running 3 years ago.

When I started running, I knew nothing other than what I read online. My 1st half marathon time was 3:50:45. I was just happy to finish. I thought I might be able to do a bit better than that so I signed up for Seattle Rock n Roll in June 2010 finishing in 3:14:23. I was happy.

In August of 2010, I had a stroke. My doctor said I would probably never run again. I took that as a challenge. I finished the Seattle Half 11.28.2010 in 3:19:23 and an awful case of shin splints. Having never run before 2010, I had no idea what to do. Somehow I stumbled upon KT tape (I think there was a sample in RnR Vegas swag bag my husband got that December). I could not believe that from the moment I put it on, it eased 90% of my pain. I could run again! When I spoke with my doctor about it, he said if it works go for it, either that or stop running until the pain goes away. I have worn KT tape on every run since!

I have now run 13 half marathons, PRing every one! My last half was 3.24.2013 finishing in 2:36:26. I am also training for Portland Marathon in October, Chelanman Olympic Triathlon in July and at least 2 more half marathons this year.

Every time I run a race, I am asked about the tape on my shins, I tell people it is the best thing in my gym bag. I tell them about all the “how to” videos on the website, that will cover just about any ache or pain you have. Now that I am in love with the Pro and sticky spray people at the pool ask what is on my legs. At my last doctors appointment, the nurse saw my tape and said she has planter fasciitis, I told her about the how to video and she went out and bought some. I have taped the girls of the high school soccer team (knees) and boys from the basketball team (shoulder).

KT is an amazing product that has changed my life and made it possible for me to run without having to take months off, it has allowed me to train harder without damaging my shins anymore.

I know my times are not record setters for the pro athletes, but for a mom and housewife in everyday America, I am pretty much in the middle of the pack. Everyday athletes with aches and pains and no desire to be pro athletes still have a desire to use pro products that work.

Thanks so much!

GO! St. Louis Marathon

GregB — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:03:49 +0000

Laura will ride until no child has to know what the word cancer means.

admin — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:28:38 +0000

I am proud to be sponsored by KT Tape. I consider it to be an extension of my body, perhaps family!! I am often mummified in it!

I started in Triathlon not knowing how addicted I would get to the sport, or the medical issues that I would face. I was always slow, often the last finisher. I was proud of being that ‘fat girl’ that finished triathlons, but it wasn’t enough. I started writing a blog and it turned out to be a great venue for other women just like me, overweight and/or facing just normal life’s issues!

Six years later and countless (albeit slow) races under my belt including a Half Ironman and an ultra distance Aquabike, I decided it time to step it up with Ironman Florida and my second go at a large fundraising ride; Pan Mass Challenge. The PMC is a 192 mile bike ride across MA to benefit cancer research and care. I raised over $7,000 last time and I hope to do the same this time. I ride in honor of my friend’s courageous four year old who is has been fighting the good fight since she was 18 months old! I will ride and advocate until no children have to even know what the word Cancer means!

I have unique fundraisers to tackle part of the $4500 minimum contribution! I am holding an ‘everybody wins’ raffle at TriMania, pay $20 for a ticket and win a prize worth at least $20. It is a ton of work, but worth it because 100% of rider donations go directly to care and research and we need to find a cure for cancer.

In addition to my fitness and fundraising goals, I have become an active advocate for EDS. I have the rare genetic disorder (EDS) “Ehlers Danlos Syndrome” which is a connective tissue disorder and it affects me by subluxing bones and straining muscles all the time. It makes athletics difficult in general, but KT Tape has become my lifeline! I even had an episode where K TTAPE saved my bike! During an aquabike Ultra race, my aerobar pad fell off and I just used a piece of KT TAPE to hold it together!

I am even known to randomly tape people in pain. A friend had just crossed an Ironman distance Triathlon with excruciating Plantar Fasciitis; I had some in my bag and asked if I could tape his foot. He made a face because I offered to touch is foot after 10 hrs and 140.6 miles of racing! The end result was great though, the next day he had no pain! I love that!

I don’t know how I lived before KT Tape, it now always has a coveted spot in my bike pocket, or hydration pack, I never know when I might need it!

Thank you KT Tape!

Check out my fundraising site.

Mississauga Marathon

GregB — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:26:53 +0000

KT Tape athlete Beata Wronska takes 3′d after 12 Hrs of Santos.

admin — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:23:14 +0000

12 Hours of Santos is an epic race as stated by race director himself: “Biggest event on the Gone Riding circuit, set in the challenging and scenic Santos Vortex pit area, this is one event you don’t want to miss!”

This is second year in a row that I really wanted to get out there just to experience the Vortex riding and the whole atmosphere but for some reasons there was always something to stop me from taking this trip.
Well this time was no different and I pretty much decided that besides me really wanting and wishing to be there that was not going to happen once again. My husband however had obviously different plans for me and day after day kept convincing me again and again why I should go to Santos and race…

So just with a few days to spare he managed to turn me around from definite No to definite Yes.

I was so happy that I was finally going up there. I never biked on the Vortex site before and definitely never did a 12 hour solo race!!! I knew this weekend was going to be an adventure, on many different levels.

Happily for me the temperature dipped for this weekend pretty low and central Florida was experiencing the coldest days in the whole year. I quite enjoyed it. What can I say, I am from Poland and I really like the cold!

When my husband and I arrived on the site in Santos it was just beautiful out there. Sun was fully out on a gorgeous blue sky, and nice crisp air just painted the perfect picture.

Vortex looked pretty intimidating from standing in the middle of the old rock quarry. There were cliffs and massive drops all the way around and up there on those narrow and rocky edges of course the most technical bike trails were waiting on us, intervened in this beautiful and scary scenery.

We ventured into the trail system and quickly discovered how advanced and difficult those trails were… Hmm, makes you wonder how anyone can bike on those trails for 12 hours! I was in disbelieve…

First 1.9 miles of the course were very technical with some “hike a bike” sections where you have to make your way over some piled up boulders in the middle of the trail. Then, it got a little funky and scary while biking on the edge of the cliff with no space to spare and zero mistake tolerance. I did not like this part for sure. Some tight and rocky up and down sections with loose gravely descends and climbs ended this part of the trail system. Those miles were simply exhausting.

After a while you get to what locals call “get over it” section which is simply another pile of rocks which sets you free from the Vortex trail system and you can just fly away on a fast and whiny 5 mile single track. Now what we have left is the final 1.6 miles to go, but “oh my” those are some miles to cover.

We go through the “eliminator” back to the Vortex system and this is where your heart starts pumping forcefully again. It is technical, tight, tough, very steep and sudden uphill’s and downs with sharp turns with more climbs and man-made obstacles, including wooden bridges. Finishing this section in one piece was definitely a relief. All that goes now through your head is “what did I just signed up for?!”

We ended the day with a nice dinner after the ride with the “Danish family”, Duffster and Mike at some Mexican fiesta place and I got some pointers from Ironman Mike on the nutrition during endurance racing. After that we headed to the hotel to rest up for the big day.

On the race morning the whole quarry was filled with an incredible amount of tents, cars, vendors and racers ready to go. It was difficult to find a parking spot and after a while of driving around all the campers and lots we finally found a little secluded niche where we decided to settle. We met up quickly after that with Collin from Light & Motionthat was going to provide me with some awesome lights for today’s event.

It was cold today, windy and gloomy. After all the preparations we all positioned ourselves on the bottom of the quarry with our bikes up on the next campground which seemed like 0.5 miles away.

Surrounded by all those guys ready to go I spotted Josselyn and she asked me which event I was going to compete in. When I told her I’m dong 12 solo, she confirmed she signed up for the same distance and yelled so loud “heck yeah! Let’s go and do some riding!”. LOL, she was definitely pumped.

Just shortly thereafter the horn went off!!!

The run in the biking shoes uphill was not easy, we all were like galloping like crazy horses. On the top of the hill we took a left turn and there were our bikes waiting. Problem was everyone was mounting the bike at the same time and the gravel road got congested very quickly. After a while we started getting some speed and this is when I had a chance to pass quite a few riders until of course we come to the complete stop on the entry to the easy part of the single track.

We were told “be patient and form a single file” and this is what we all tried to do. After some 20 seconds of waiting it was great to finally be on the bike and on the trail. It was very easy and whiny section of the course and very quickly pretty fast and friendly train of riders formed. We biked this way for a great part of 5 miles. Some guys were making some small talk, playing music and trying to have great time. At some point we started catching up to the group of riders in front and I noticed Kathy was also part of it. She had a nice and relaxed pace and I stayed with her for a long while. We did 1.5 laps as our first lap and didn’t have any issues on the most technical parts of the course. Not much changed during the first three laps and maybe half way through the fourth one I started to feel kind of funny and decided to back off and let Kathy go.

It was time now to focus on myself and not on what other people are doing and to make sure to ride within my own means. It was still very cold and very windy and this was very prevalent especially on those flat parts of the course. In the rocky, steep, full attention needy sections things always changed and this is when out of the sudden you are losing lots of energy and burning up from the warmth created by your body. I rode with no flaws really and enjoyed passing check points again and again while race director was announcing my name with each lap. On some sections when I finally could bike alone I started noticing things that I had no time to look at before. I saw beautiful yellow bell flowers sprinkled on the ground of the gloomy forest which I knew from literature that were blooms of famous Carolina Yessamine vine which I never had a chance to see before in person. I tried to look up but the trees were so tall and I was still biking that I could not really see them all the way up in the tree canopy. Either way this little splash of color made me feel good and cheered me up. I also noticed some beautiful white flowering gentle small trees on the side of the trail (I just discoreverd there were Dogwoods)… I love nature and all those little things made those moments little cozier on this grey and tough day… This warmth and good spirit was not going to last for much longer however…

After four hours of riding things started to go downhill from there on…

This is when the pain, fatigue, hunger and all discomforts started to kicks in. Everything turned grey, the sky, the forest and my spirit. I started questioning myself greatly. I started wondering why I was doing it. I was telling myself how everything hurts and how unpleasant I feel. I told myself if I kept on going this is going to make me hate biking! But I love biking. But I hate biking at that moment. What a mess.

I was on the brink of not caring anymore and kind of hating everything. I didn’t look down on the ground anymore and didn’t notice anything beautiful. I just wanted to stop and get off my bike…

Somehow after a long time that maybe seemed like an hour I started to convince myself that it would be appropriated to somehow finish the six hour race, since it is the distance that I know I can finish since I did it before. At this time I allowed June, racer from my class that was competing in the six hour race to make a pass. I would have gone faster if I cared more and if I knew I was not here for a way longer ride. But at this moment everything was questionable and I really was in no position to know for how much longer I really will be biking today…

After five hours I went through the check point and told my husband I’m taking a break. I sat down on my favorite green chair, I had a nice cookie like sandwich to eat and just spent a few minutes trying to chew down as much as I could. I still was not convinced of what was coming next and what I wanted. I just stood up and biked away. I guess I was still in a pretty sad mood. Minutes later however something changed, and I started slowly getting my energy back and my spirit was lighting up.

I started setting myself small goals. Let’s finish six hours was the first one. Than realizing that the course is more technical and slower than the rest of the endurance races I did in the past my next goal was to at least match my 60 mile distance from my previous race. And when I got there I wanted to match the 67 mile distance from the other race. And that’s it, those were my records. I never biked further or longer than that in my life. So I did it, somehow I made myself go and go what it seems like forever and get to those numbers.

The next thing that was waiting for me was something I would consider unthinkable. I was about to have to ride my bike on the amazingly technical single track in the dark… Oh my. And this was the first time in my life I was going to attempt to actually do it. I never even tried before night riding, even though I always thought it would super fun thing to do with a bunch of friends on a casual ride! But not so sure of doing it alone and during the race… To add to it, I do not like to be alone in the big forest even during the most sunny and beautiful day so adding to it total darkness which I don’t like at all would be a major problem for me during this ride.

Before the race I tried not to think of it too much since I knew I would get overwhelmed and very spooked for no valid reasons. So when the race director announced that on the next lap everyone needs to put their night riding lights on I just allowed my husband to gear me up and didn’t give it a thought. Still I was refusing to process what was going to happen. Thankfully the five o clock lap was still lit and I didn’t have to even turn my lights on. I remember looking up at the sky and telling myself this is the last ray of sun that I’m seeing today. Later on I looked up and said this is the last blue/grey I will see up there and day is going away for good now and this is last color that I’m going to see and I will miss it so much for the rest of the night.

The race was scheduled on purpose from 10 to 10 instead of 9 to 9 to allow team riders to enjoy one lap of riding in the dark… When you are not riding with a team and you are on your own and you are a little girl in the big dark forest things might not seem the same. After this lap I arrived at the check point and this is when I needed a jacket since the strong wind and the temps dropping and dropping with each passing minute seemed to pierce my body. There we go, jacket on, lights on and I take off. Weird I didn’t even stressed to much or tried to imagine what I was going to go through in the dark. But surprisingly things were not so bad, the Light & Motion light that I was using was giving me so much great light. A strong beam straight ahead and nice diffused light on the sides, but not too wide. I was astonished how clear I still could see and how it was fine to keep riding over boulders, drops, bridges, crazy logs and even on the edges of the cliffs. I was fine. The vortex side was pretty pleasant at night since you could hear voices from below and see some lights. I could hear announcements stating that I was holding 3rd position on numerous passes there, which was good to know… I had Holly in first and Kathy in second position. Behind me was still Josselyn riding strong…

Either way I still had long day to go. I needed new goals right now. As I looked down at my gps while on the far side of the trail system I saw 74 miles clocked in. I told myself well if I possibly could somehow bike 26 more miles I could hit the 100 mile mark. That would be awesome. Also knowing that a girl from my racing class did previous year here 11 laps I planned to keep those two goals in my focus for the rest of the night.

But at the same time thinking that to reach that I would still have to bike another 3.5 laps it seemed slightly illusive.

The miles however kept going by, slowly, and at some point I didn’t care to look down on the mileage anymore, I just kept going. Only thing that kept me sane was the fact that there was always someone there. It was so comforting and reassuring to see a small faint light somewhere deep in the forest ahead of you, I kept repeating “you are not alone”, I would look back often also to make sure there is some little light following me behind. This definitely gave me courage and kept me biking. Having my husband waiting for me in the check points with everything I needed and showing up on different cross sections to just cheer me on helped gratefully. I didn’t feel I was really riding completely solo, it was a team effort and we both were focused on the task on hand.

Late at night I felt I still had a descent speed on the easier sections and was riding it with comfortable smoothness.

Thought parts of the course started to get tougher and tougher however.

Sections which were so difficult to get up on the beginning of the race (like the last 1.5 miles of the loop on roller coaster on “something” part); become not ride able. I remember one climb next to a big jump/drop off which with time started evolving from biking it up strong, to biking it slowly, to biking it barley to the top, than to making almost to the top with putting foot down, to making it to 2/3^rd up and grabbing tree branch of the tree to pull yourself up. To just getting off and walking your bike up and getting annoyed with one root in the middle of the climb that stops your bike still, to pushing your bike with every last bit of energy when your body is trembling with exhaustion and you got a guy standing on the top warning you “be careful of the root!” and you reply, “yeah, yeah, the root” and try to maneuver around to don’t be stuck. But your body just keeps on going because it’s the only thing at the time that it was programmed to do.

Everyone walks everything at that time. I asked a guy behind me on one before last lap if he wanted to go by me on this section and he said “oh no, I’m exhausted and it is my last lap, I’m done”. I remember replying “ I wish I could say the same, I have one more lap to go…” Well he was riding with the team. I was doing the whole day by myself, imagine how I felt!

I finally arrived to the check point before my final lap. I needed to refuel and change batteries. I didn’t even question myself if I should go for another lap, it just felt like it was the right thing to do. I looked around however and my husband was not there. In the middle of the dark when less and less people were biking and I need to go for the final lap and probably I need him more than ever today he is not there. He is no-where to be found. If I went to the trail system now I had battery life left on both lights for half a lap. I had this awful visual of being by myself, miles away from the vortex pit and my both lights just shutting off on and leaving me in the pitch dark in the middle of nowhere, alone. I left the race course quickly and started to bike around the pit and look for my husband. My body was tired, cold, I was trembling. I yelled and looked in all directions where I thought he could be. And still there was nothing, I felt so sad, so abandoned, so astonished. I didn’t know what to do. After a while I just turned around and rushed over to the Light & Motion tent and asked Collin if he saw my husband and he said he did not. I needed new batteries and I asked him to change them for me if he had extras. And he did and he saved the day (or night) for me at this moment. He just ripped the old batteries off of me and put new ones in no time, I was so grateful for that. I thanked him and biked away asking to let know my husband when he sees him that I’m OK. To my husband’s credit he was waiting at a point to take some pictures of me in the darkness but I guess he missed me…

Final lap was dark, lonely and cold… There were not to many bright points anymore to keep you company and feeling safe. I had long portions of the lap, maybe even up to 10-15 minutes long when I was alone, totally alone in the dark… It was quite scary and uncomfortable and I just told myself as long as I don’t see a set of some scary eyes standing somewhere next to my path and looking at me I should be fine. I have chosen to rather look down on the path under my tires than even look at the markers showing where I was supposed to go. I just wanted to get out and be fine. I remember catching up after a very long time alone to one team racer and telling him how glad I was to see a person…

Approaching the final technical part once again was not easy on the body or on the mind, but making this final climb and final descend really for the last time was so reliving…

Coasting to the finish, dismounting the bike for good and turning the lights off felt so good…

I just walked over the car and sat there. I couldn’t move or do anything really. My body was shocked that it didn’t have to do anything anymore. I felt kind of sick, shivering and trembling from the inside.

It took me a long time to get myself together and change, try to eat something and get out from the car for the presentation. It was frigid now outside. No matter how many layers I had on it was still not enough, I was shaking like a leaf…

People started gathering together and we went with my husband and shared experiences with other racers. Everyone had their journey cut out for today.
I finished 3^rd overall and biked for 103.7 miles in a 12 Hour Solo Female Race.

There were so many funny or pleasant or cheerful things that happened during this long day…

Lots of memories to take with me home…

First one is my husband, being out in the cold for over 12 hours riding around and being at every check point to make sure I had everything I need during my long journey (well except the last one ). I could not have done it without him with me…

There were spots where people were cheering riders on with cowbells. Campers sometimes were yelling so loud and making so much noise to encourage racers passing by to keep on going. On one lap when it was starting to get dark I remember them yelling to every person passing by “Bunny hop! Bunny hop!”. I thought it was pretty funny since I was already so tired that last thing on my mind was hopping around with my bike…

I had team racers biking next to me saying “and you are still going” many hours after they saw me the first time…

I had girls riding with a team that I knew from previous races riding some sections with me and chatting to keep each other company.

At some point I had to hit my brake so hard and almost got a pileup behind me because I didn’t want to run over a pretty coral snake in the middle of the trail.

And later on toward the evening when going into another lap I had beautiful bunny rabbit jumping right in front of me from the bushes and making me hit my brakes again. It took him a while to think about it before he jumped away to the shrubbery. Bunny did his job by putting a smile on my tired face.

Then there were two unfortunate sudden potty breaks. First earlier in the day when I just had to go and run away to the side of the trail, of course there was a racer approaching and the moment he opened his mouth and started saying “Are you…?”, I yelled at the same time as reading his mind “I’m OK!!! Don’t look!!!”. He smiled and biked away…

Second one goes on my husband. On my check point, a few second break, I announced I wanted to run to the porta potty. Well my husband thinking that my mind can be stronger than my body said just wait, go one more lap. It was this time later in the day, it started to get really grey and the moment I left the transition area I realized I can’t wait any longer! Damn. I threw my bike on the side of the trail and went to the bushes, got all scraped up over my legs by wild berry bushes, than while pulling my shorts back on I realized they were covered on the inside with something close to 300 spikes, which were imbedded already in the fabric.

I pulled them on with the grim on my face and could not believe that I got so set up by my husband like this.

Sitting down on hundreds of poking spikes lining my whole tights was so upsetting. All I could think of for this whole lap was how and in what choice of words I was going to tell my husband what he just did to me!!! I was amazingly angry and I still had almost four hours of biking to go!

Now however after the fact I can laugh about it but it was not funny at all at the moment when everything already hurts and annoys you and this just made you want to scream!

First two girls ended up doing extra lap over mine, the Joselyn in fourth did one less. I have however no knowledge of this and knowing that she was making up some time and still riding strong I had no choice but go for my final lap.

I could not thank enough everyone that believed in me, encouraged me, cheered for me or thought of me during this adventure.

With the help of all my amazing sponsors this day was possible. From my local bike shop Bike Tech which supports all my racing, to my Clif nutrition which was my main energy source for the day. To the Light &Motion which provided me with a whole set of incredible lights and great help from Colin.

To the Garden & Life which makes sure I have all the proteins and supplements that target the demands of rigorous racing and training. To Syntace for providing me with the gear that took my hand pain away and I was able to bike more that I could have imagine. Thanks to ESI grips for light and cushioned grip and Stan’s NoTubes for having the fastest, lightest wheels on the market. And lastly KT Tape for keeping my knees together for a whole 12 hours and Squirt lube for keeping my chain grease free…
Thanks everyone.

Also thanks to my family at home in Poland which raised me and molded me to the person that I am today. And of course my closest and strongest support my husband Pax that helps me make my dreams come true…

103.7 Miles and 3rd Place for my first 12 Hr race !!! – Garmin Data

Thank you Beata Wronska for letting us share your story. Original Story

KT Tape Instrumental in Success of 700 Mile Run for Good!

admin — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:52:01 +0000

I recently race from the top of Cadillac Mountain on Mount Desert Island, Maine to the US Capital in Washington DC. The total distance was 705.2 miles. I covered this distance by running 50 miles a day for 2 weeks! I raised funds for the Wounded Warrior Project, the American Cancer Society and for Sandy Hook Elementary School. I arrived as planned on Presidential inauguration day on Jan 21. My hamstring tore in Newark NJ on Day 13. It was only because of KT Tape, which I had never used before, that I was able to continue this incredible journey. I covered over 200 miles on a badly severed hamstring and triumphantly reached my finish line thanks to KT Tape! It is a bit extreme but if KT Tape can help me do this imagine what it can do for you? You can learn more about my run here: www.maine2dcrun.com

If you might be able to send along some KT Tape (address below) I will gladly add you as a sponsor of this run and/or become a sponsored athlete and tell everyone I know about the power of KT Tape!

Thanks so Much!

Sincerely,

Gary Allen
race director
Mount Desert Island Marathon
1369 State RD 102 Suite 1
Bar Harbor ME, 04609

Garmin Barcelona Triathlon

GregB — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:31:54 +0000