Kenny Landes | Graphic Design | Web Development | San Francisco

Overachievers beware! This post may cause slight discomfort because it may force you to reconsider the limit of your abilities. In my case, I stepped on the limit of my ability, resulting in a march fracture. It is my first official running injury. Though it is a serious thing, deep in my heart, I know I am now officially a jock. It only took 42 years!

According to Wikipedia, a march fracture also known as fatigue fracture or stress fracture of metatarsal bone is the fracture of the distal third of one of the metatarsals occurring because of recurrent over stress. It is more common in soldiers, but also occurs in hikers, organists, and even those, like hospital doctors, whose duties entail much standing. It mostly occurs in the second metatarsal of the right foot. It is a common cause of foot pain, especially when people suddenly increase their activities. I am thrilled to learn this information, aren’t you?

So as a result of this ingenious discovery, I am now sentenced to the punishment commonly known as “the boot.” The latest apparent evolution of medieval-style devices of torture, the boot is made by a company known as Össur, which specializes in orthopedics and prosthetics. Fortunately, I do not need the latter. My boot, specifically, is known as the Equalizer Air Walker. According to Össur, “Among the many foot and ankle supports that Össur offers is the Equalizer Air Walker — a comfortable alternative to a traditional cast. The Equalizer Air Walker is a simple, adjustable walking boot that combines functionality and superior fit into a comfortable product. You can rely on Össur‘s foot and ankle products to assist in the rehabilitation of sprains, fractures and trauma injuries.” I would describe it as being more like wearing an astronaut boot in full gravity.

So I am going to just go along with this. What other choice do I have? I start a new job on Tuesday, so I will have the opportunity to really make a dramatic first impression. Fortunately, I know my new place of employment will embrace my, boot and all, and make me feel welcome. I could have had a lot worse injury. For instance, a clean break of the metatarsal would have resulted in surgery, a cast, and a long rehabilitation. I expect to be out running again in just 3 — 6 weeks. That’s not so bad.

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After a long period of blog neglect, I am glad to be back to blogging again. I have been busy working on finding work, and that search has finally proven fruitful. On Tuesday, July 5, I start my new job at The Online 401(k). I am just thrilled! My new position gives me the chance to shine with my print design and production experience and the opportunity to flex my interactive skills. If I could write the perfect job description for where I am in my career, it would be for this job.

So now that I have something worthwhile and productive to do with my time, I look forward to enjoying my free time by continuing to work on and develop this site. When I made the transition from a static HTML/CSS site to a dynamic WordPress CMS site, I didn’t have time to do much more than get it up and running to assist in my job search. In the months to come, I look forward to trying some new things and developing more content. I have a couple of friends for whom I have done some web design and development work. I would like to take what I’ve done for them and power it up by moving them into WordPress CMS with its easy to use interface and powerful plug-in options.

Ideally, I want to build a site that is more reflective of all my interests. I have a lot of video I would like to add to my site, as well as many photo albums from recent trips that I would love to share. Now that I have upgraded to Adobe CS5 Master Collection, I have the tools I need to do a lot of things that have been just out of reach before. It is so nice to have the right tools to do the work I love to do! So keep checking me out from time to time. I may not be able to update daily, except my Twitter posts, but I will update at least a few times a week.

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During my recent trip to Mexico, I read a wonderful book called Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It was a great story with interesting characters, all apparently true-to-life, centered around a tribe in Mexico’s Copper Canyon known as the Tarahumara. They are a fascinating culture that has retreated away from modern society after a history of conquest following the arrival of the Spanish in the New World. A big part of their culture has always been about running, and they are possibly the best runners in the world. Amazingly, they run in the barest of sandals, which only protect their feet from the jagged rocks they run on where they live. The book, in addition to telling the story of their history and culture,  was really about the current barefoot running phenomenon.

An avid runner myself, I gobbled it right up. As soon as I got home, I got on the waiting list at my local running store for a pair of Vibram FiveFingers shoes. They are barefoot-style running shoes, a foot glove, really, complete with separate toes. The idea is that the foot, as it has evolved over millennia, is all we really need to run. All the extra supportive heals and arches promoted by athletic shoe companies for the past 30 years have not led to a reduction in injury. If anything, there have actually been more injuries among people wearing “running shoes” than back in the day when we just ran in ordinary flat shoes.

As anyone who really knows me is already aware, I have a tendency to overdo it with new ideas. I enthusiastically went out and started running in my new “barefoot” shoes. It really is a great experience I would have to recommend. However, I pushed myself too hard, too fast. I forgot that as a result of wearing very well-structured running shoes these past few years, my feet and lower legs have atrophied and lost the ability to run au naturel. So I got my first bona fide running injury after just a few times out. I have not been able to run in any shoes for the past week. It’s a total drag. I am limping around town like an 80-year-old man. It’s horrible, embarrassing and a bit humbling. I just hope my feet will heal and forgive me for my enthusiasm to try something now in time for me to run the San Francisco Marathon at the end of July.

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