My Footstool

When I go for a long or hard run in the morning, I find that my calves stiffen up when sitting in the office later that day. I built this footstool so that I could keep my feet at a normal standing angle even while sitting.

It provides a steady few ounces of lengthening pressure on the calve muscles to keep them from shortening up. I can move my feet to various positions when I get tired of one place. It has rubber feet on the bottom so it won't slide around.

I made it adjustable, but so far I've been using it in the max deployment position.

I find that it works well: when I get up after an hour of sitting I'm not nearly as tight.

Total cost was about $12 (wood on hand, money for piano hinge and two lid supports)....it took about 1/2 hour to put together.

Just Ducky

You know how you can often recognize people by how they walk? Well, those of you that know me already know that I have a, erm, "distinctive", gait and I'm sure have zero problem spotting me in a crowd.



You see, my right foot sticks out at about a 45 degree angle, so I'm "duck footed".



While it might be handy when climbing a steep slope, you would think it's a biomechanical disaster for running. The first time my niece Ursula saw me running she commented on my massive pronation.



Pronation, schmonation, I'm way beyond that with this sucker. My right leg is about 3/8" longer than the left to boot.











Somehow it all seems to work ok....sometimes when running a race I've seen another 'ducker'....there aren't many though.

(Photos are from San Fran Marathon)