Trail Hazards for Trail Runners & Hikers (& It's Not Ankle Sprains)

Trail Hazards for Trail Runners & Hikers (& It's Not Ankle Sprains)

Wingchi snapped this shot on July 4, 2011 of a brown bear on Big Tree Trail in Sequoia National Park, CA.

 

As the late-season snows finally start to recede in the high country, and mud gives way to wonderful wildflower displays, it has become time for the newest hazard to trail runners and hikers to emerge.

Any one watching the hiking / trail running blogs and news feeds know that it is now bear season.  Yes, it’s time for BooBoo, Yogi, Smokey and all their friends to come out (or into your unlocked car or home as the case may be) and gorge themselves.  

Bear Defense is not throwing your peanut-butter power bar at the 500-800+ lb animal and hoping that satisfies their need for 20,000+ calories a day, and then running away.  It is NEVER a good idea to run from a bear.  Nor is it wise to practice KungFoo.  Instead, use Bear Defense Spray or Bear Pepper Spray.  

This are NOT the same thing as personal defensive pepper spray, or throwing some cayenne pepper into the air.

So why not just shoot a gun in the air or at the charging bear?  Well, first you need to carry the gun and be licensed to do so.  You also need to practice shooting the gun.  On the flip side, you can just buy a can of spray at your favorite outdoor store (and in many cases, the spray can is lighter too).... But don't take my word on it, a 2008 study from the Journal of Wildlife Management showed in 72 cases where people sprayed bears to defend themselves, bear spray worked as a deterrent involving grizzly, black and polar bear encounters.

98% of those people walked away uninjured.

I know I would not be able to hit a bear head-on that was charging with a bullet. And besides, not taking the bear down may make it angrier (or more protective of her young!)

Something else to consider: it is now *mandatory* that you carry bear spray into Banff National Park, or Parks Canada can fine you up to $25,000.

Don't spray bear repellent on camping gear, tents and backpacks to keep bears away, because once the volatile components have broken down, the pepper residue will actually attract bears!

Always carry the spray within easy reach (not in the bottom your pack, or jammed into a pocket where you can't get it out in a hurry.)  You really want it handy in case of a surprise encounter while hiking, sleeping, cooking, and being generally out and about in bear country. Keep the safety clip on at all times, so you don't accidently spray yourself or your friend's dog.

Bear spray forms a big fluorescent cloud (so you can see it) that causes intense discomfort, burning and swelling of the eyes, nose and lungs, giving you time to leave the area. It doesn't cause permanent damage to bears or humans, but isn't pleasant to either.

Look for the EPA registration and establishment numbers, usually found at the bottom of the front label; only bear sprays will have this information along with a clearly visible expiry date (canisters last about three years).  Also, bear spray labels will clearly refer to bears and canisters are a minimum of 255ml or 7.9oz.

But bear spray should be your last defense. Ideally, you want to avoid an encounter by "hiking in a tight group of at least four people, making lots of noise and being alert for signs of bears" (diggings, tracks, scat, overturned rocks & logs). Leash dogs at all times, but dogs are known for chasing off bears. Keep campsites clean and scent-free; cook and store food and toiletries at least 50 yards downwind from your tent.

I've personally hiked in bear country for years both on the east coast and in Colorado, and not followed all the rules above.  However, I usually see bears closest to civilization, or where there are very large concentrations of food stuffs (like berry patches, unsecured garbage, or freezers/fridges eating ice cream and shrimp), but don't let Mama or Tedd.E Bear keep you from enjoying your favorite activity in the great outdoors... be like the boy scouts or when you wear your ankle brace for hiking or trail running, just Stay Protected.

Can Soft Ground Cause More Ankle Injuries than the Hard Stuff?

Can Soft Ground Cause More Ankle Injuries than the Hard Stuff?

 

OK, I cannot tell a lie.  I stole this idea from a NYTimes article I saw on July 18th.

The gist of the article says that people run on the soft ground to help prevent injuries. 

Huh?

I'm sorry, I run on trails, because I like the scenery better.  I also like the cooling effect of the trees or the cool temps of high altitude.  That, and it is generally harder to get hit by a car, whose driver is too busy turned around yelling at the kids in the back or texting a sell order in to their broker, when you are on a trail.

In summer, I am certain that sun-baked asphalt is softer than the cement-like sun-baked dirt anyway. 

It is like that famous quote by a certain Kennedy, "We choose to do (this), not because they are easy, but because they are hard."

Like the Times article points out, running on trails, which are uneven, can result in more ankle sprains and injuries than running on asphalt.

Right. 

And that's why your mother told you not to run in the woods.

And that is also why I have sold many, many more ankle braces for trail running than road running.

Its also more efficient and easier to run on asphalt than dirt because you can get more power toeing off (it doesn't slip on dust or gravel as much), and road shoes soles don't 'squrim' or deform as much, which means less energy is wasted moving the treads around.  But on trails you need that rugged, grippy, tread to grip rocks, stumps, gravel, branches, grass and so.

So now that you know why I run on trails, why do you?

And keep your eyes out for a special offer for those who read this blog regularly.
It might even be next week.

Hiking & Foraging the AT and no Ankle Sprains

Hiking & Foraging the AT and no Ankle Sprains

Taken near the summit of Perkins Drive on while on the AT, overlooking the Hudson River and West Point.

 

So while it was a bit warm in the NY-metro area this weekend, the humidity was kept at bay, which meant that it was nice to escape and Take a Hike (yes the beer was tasty after wards too... after all carb replacement is key to maintaining health, or something like that). 

So Trish and I packed up a light day pack with the usual stuff... Sunscreen (used liberally as the portion of the AT we were planning on hiking has some sun, but nice breezes and views), bug spray, water, some snacks, and 2 quart sized plastic bags.

Our friends from NYC were not amused by this last inclusion.

Mostly because Trish and I were picking blueberries.  The friend from NYC thinks blueberries comes from little plastic bins in the store.  We like the wild kind and brought home about 1 lb while eating at least another 1/2 lb to the tune of "what if those are poisonous?"  "How do you know those really are blueberries?"

Well, the really obvious answer is I've seen and eaten blueberries before, and I know what a blueberry bush looks like.

I also know what a raspberry bush is (thank you grandma and grandpa for having a hedge in the back yard) as well as blackberries, and as of a few years ago, how to identify and pick wild mushrooms, like chanterelle, porchini, and oyster.

So if you're thinking this hike is more about getting some air and joying ourselves, you've got the right idea.  It was only 7.2mi with about 1800' of elevation.

But if you were thru-hiking the whole AT, like the groups of people we saw, most of them could not afford to take a day picking blueberries, raspberries, and chanterelle mushrooms (the true mountain gold... Just lightly sautee them in butter with eggs or over fresh pasta.)

You would not get to enjoy the 'shrooms or berries especially if you are Jennifer           Your Humble writer
Pharr Davis.  She is currently attempting to beat the record of hiking the 2,180      w/ a 5.2lb Giant Puff Ball
miles of the AT in less than 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes. That insane           Best sliced, brushed with
average of 47 miles a day (?!) leaves no time for picking tasty mushrooms to                  olive oil & garlic.
cook in your morning eggs, let alone stopping to smell the flowers.                                Grill to perfection.

Or stopping to do much else for that matter.

I simply cannot fathom what that would be like.  An average of 47 miles per day. Just like I cannot fathom what it would be like to run 100 miles in one go.  But as we have seen before many people do things that I don't ever want to attempt, and vice-versa, like picking mushrooms, berries, or driving a race car in anger on the track.

I know how sloppy I get at the end of a 12-15mi hike.  Especially with a pack on. And like driving on a track, I use the appropriate protective gear so the activities stay fun.  Because getting hurts sucks almost as much as having to do the rehab to get 'un-hurt.'  My ankles are really prone to injury, even with all the strengthening I do mostly from the numerous sprains I've gotten over the years.  (That, and being really flexible to begin with).  So, like wearing insect repellant in an area full of deer ticks, I usually wear ankle braces on longer or technical hikes.  I also call this product testing, and I have used my MaxX K Ankle Braces for to prevent ankle injury and help keep my ankles healthy for more than 75 miles of hiking so far, and the braces still work great. 

The MaxX K is a great ankle brace for hiking becuase it is light wieght, cool, comfortable, and it allows the full range of motion that is so important in scrambling.  Ok, my sales pitch is now over. 

lastly, I want to thank my Grandpa for being able to identify the raspberries.  That and unleashing the inquisitiveness of a young child in how things work which made me the engineer I am today.

Do you need to an ankle brace for hiking to help prevent ankles injuries?
Click the button below:

Train Delays, Twisted Ankles, & What Ankle Brace is the Best for You?

Train Delays, Twisted Ankles, & What Ankle Brace is the Best for You?

 

As the joke goes, "This engineer walks into a bar..."

But first the buildup:
The train sat 2 stops before I normally get off for at least 15 minutes, with an unknown amount of time it will be sitting longer, when I called my lovely wife to see if she was willing to come pick me up at 10:30+ on a school night a few towns and a 30 minute drive away... Either that, or I 'll be in when the train starts moving again. 

Eventually. 

Hopefully.

She said 'yes' she'll come and rescue me, but in the mean time, go have a beer at the bar down the street... I really do love my wife.

So this tired, hot, frustrated engineer walks into a bar 15 minutes before closing, and the only open seat is next to this couple talking to the bartender about his recently sprained ankle.

I can't make this up.  I just wanted a cold beer and a ride home, but not in that order... and now I'm talking to the bartender who just sprained his ankle playing softball.

I mean, really now, what are the chances.  Delayed train, not my usual stop, and I walk into a bar where they are debating the merits of an Aircast brace.

I had to add to the conversation which started, "Hey I used to work for Aircast designing their ankle braces." 

No, really, I did.

Anyway, the bar falls into silence.  It only lasted a second or so, but it felt like I was in a Hitchcock movie.  Everyone slowly turned to look in my direction.  I didn't really want to drop into my sales pitch at that instant, so I started asking questions... I mean the bartender was hobbling around, well limping slightly is more accurate, and it was obvious he couldn't RICE at that moment... but he did say that he iced his ankle, and he was wondering what brace he should use...
(If you are wondering which brace to use, you might want to read this blog.)

This reaffirms my belief that softball is one of the most dangerous sports out there... I tore my quad playing softball in my mid-20's (and yes I even warmed up and stretched out, but that doesn't do squat when your standing in the outfield for 30+ min). Oh, that and my friend's dad broke his ankle while I was growing up.
I can go on and on, but I won't bore you.

So what did I suggest you ask?

Well, the Aircast stirrup would have been serious overkill (not to mention seriously uncomfortable playing softball).  The bartender was walking around with a slight limp the day after he sprained his ankle.  He did ice and elevate when he wasn't working, and he told me that he had little swelling and no bruising. He described his ankle as stiff, with little pain.  He also said that he rolled (inverted) his ankle when he sprained it.

I recommended going to the drugstore (or internet) and picking up a lace-up brace like Swedo, or an ASO brace.  These types of braces work well top help reduce what little swelling he had as well as giving a bit or extra support while the ankle heals.  I also told him to do some strengthening and proprioception exercises (which can be found here as well) to help prevent future sprains, since this was his first, and hopefully last sprain.

If you're sharp, you'll notice that I didn't recommend the ankle brace I designed specifically because he still had some swelling... You wouldn't normally tape an injury like this at this point, so you should also not use my brace at this time either.... the brace I designed was specifically engineered to help those chronic ankle sprainers who need some extra support or those who have started the healing process and need a little something extra (which he clearly hasn't yet since his injury was only 1 day old at the time).  Just like you wouldn't want to wear hiking boots for a marathon, you want the right ankle brace for your circumstances.

So got an ankle brace question?

Ask it in the comments section.

Want to buy a brace, Click the Get Protected button.   

Meanwhile, Stay Healthy, Stay Active, Get Protected.

Trail Running on the Beach vs Ankle Injuries

Trail Running on the Beach vs Ankle Injuries

Where I ran last weekend: Ortley Beach, NJ (but admittedly, closer to the water)

Trail running on the beach or beach running is actually a really great workout for the ankles (and butt, and legs, and...).  All you need is beach access and sunscreen... its generally cooler and breezy near the ocean, so its somewhat pleasant (or much more so than inland, even with the lack of shade) but you also get some irregularities such as varying pitch, and the odd rogue wave or kids playing or dodging wayward balls which at least makes it interesting.

But the biggest benefit to your ankles and knees is the soft, variable surface (unless of course, you are running on Daytona Beach, in which case you will need running shoes, because it's surface is best described as near-sand stone... I mean cars used to RACE on its surface!).

The (usually) soft, viable surface acts much like those proprioception-strengthening exercises I keep going on about.  The softness of the surface also greatly reduces impact shock to the joints and spine while increasing the effort.  The softness and variable nature of the sand also requires all the 'little' muscles to help out to keep you stable as you keep your cadence.

This is the same thing that a balance-ball, or 1" thick foam mat (or a folded up towel) will do to cause you to work harder to balance, and thus build stability and increase your proprioception or kinesthetic awareness.

First, lets go back and define what proprioception is (incase you never read the medical definitions blog).  Proprioception or kinesthetic awareness is the body's ability to sense movement and joint position.  This is your body knowing where in space it is, without you looking. 

With your brain knowing where your ankle is (or ANY other joint for that matter), your subconscious brain then "snugs" the joint tighter with the muscles at the appropriate time.  If the receptors are used to measuring a specific body part, and that part is changed or damaged, then the brain is misinterpreting the signals, and needs to be retrained, which is why your ankle feels loose or insecure after you've healed from an injury, but haven't finished PT.

Basically, you are rebuilding your muscle memory.  When you do this successfully, that loose, weak, floppy ankle will start to feel more secure.  Unless you've destroyed your tendons and/or ligaments through repeated or severe injury (or in my case, both).

And to wrap up, the basic mechanics of working out on an unstable surface, like a balance-ball or a beach with help your brain recalibrate the signals it's receiving from the receptors throughout the body.

So beach running not only helps prevent ankle injuries, but it also gets you away from that annoying kid who keeps bouncing the sandy ball off your forehead as you're trying to read.  And while you won't need one of my braces for the beach, you may still need it while running in the woods.  I know I do, which is why I invented the MaxX K (and named it after my grandfather, who got me into engineering).

Go out, Stay Protected, Have Fun.

Hiking vs Trail Running (and how to prevent ankle injuries)

Hiking vs Trail Running (and how to prevent ankle injuries)

The Best of Both Worlds: run down the beach, then hike up the bluffs. Near La Jolla, CA


As spring melted into summer, officially at June 21st 17:16 UTC (or 1:16pm for those of you on the east coast), my desire for trail running also melted some.

OK, it melted a lot... unless of coarse I’m in the cooler reaches above 9000’. 

Well, the only other place I run when it gets really hot and humid is usually on the beach, and that is barefoot, but there are no real trails, and all you need is sunscreen and a bathing suit. 

And maybe a sunglasses and a hat.

And as long as you don’t get bitten by a sand-snake (snag some driftwood) or trip over the toddler while ogling that hottie, the only things that cause injuries while beach running are sunburn and overusing muscles that aren’t used to running in the sand.

And maybe stubbing a toe on the odd rock.

But enough about running.

I find the slower pace of hiking more bearable in the summer heat.  I also I hate carrying hydro-packs while running, all that jiggling up and down, even with every strap pulled tight.

So this way I can stay hydrated… and stop for a snack, or take a picture, or well, try and keep the sweat just short of Niagara Falls proportions.

And lets face it, anywhere above 9000', its usually not that hot, and definitely not that humid.

So to paraphrase my 11th grade English teacher, it is far easier to be “aloof and invite your soul,” or at least solve the world’s problems with your hiking buddy, when you are sedately walking through the glow of the aspens or the fresh scent of the pines than when you are gasping for breath on that last incline.

While some trail runners will sneer at hiking, it can be more extreme than trail running… (Hello AT, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail… each over 2000 miles long, and each takes months to thru-hike).  I’ve never tried to run with a hammock, food, and water, let alone with a tent, sleeping bag, and camp stove, but I can’t imagine that its much fun.  Besides I’m clumsy enough, and have injured my ankles enough, to need ankle braces with a 30-40lb pack to keep from blowing out my notoriously bad ankles when I’m just walking.
Especially when I get tired at the end of the day when carrying a heavy pack.
And, yes that’s one of the reasons I designed the MaxX K Premium Ankle Brace the way I did).
So what do you like to do?  Hike, run, both, or it depends.

Trail Running and Hiking Gear: What you Absolutely, Positively Need.

  Trail Running and Hiking Gear: What you Absolutely, Positively Need.
 
The Lower Falls - Calf Creek Recreation Area
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah

So have you ever headed out and felt like you forgot something?

And I'm not talking about one of those dreams that you forgot to put your shorts on either.

I've actually hiked in flipflops along Calf Creek outside of Escalante, UT and while some munch ies would have been really nice, I was kicking myself for only bringing one water bottle on the sandy 5½ mile round trip... which leads me to THE LIST... this list of course changes based on season and location, but there is one constant:

WATER - I don't care where you are, or what you are doing.  It is no fun if you are thirsty and dehydrated.  Besides, it can be down-right dangerous.

If you run or hike more than a few miles you need to bring wa ter.  For runners, this is more important than trail running shoes because regular running shoes work just fine, and then there is the whole barefoot movement, which by definition means no running shoes. 

So how to carry the water?  Well I think it kinda depends on how much you plan on consuming... anything over 3L I like to bring two hydropacks in a backpack with waist and compression  straps.  Keep in mind I've hiked with 8L in Colorado and Utah... which = 8 Kg or just over 17½ lbs!  That's a LOT of 'extra' weight to be lugging up 10,000+' of elevation gain!

I typically run 3-5 mi at altitude, and usually only carry 0.5-0.75L of water in a bottle (and I really hate running with a water bottle in my hand).  I've also used those hydro-belts with the 4-6oz containers (also totaling about .7L), but I also hate losing stride as I try to jam thos e things back into the belt...

And that brings me to the next two most important items for hiking/running... and their order depends on where you are (as well as time of year)... and that would be sunscreen and bug spray.  And to me sunglasses are sunscreen for the retinas, which are VERY important!  If the sun is up, I don't go anywhere without my shades.

It is both unhealthy and painful if you get sunburned, and premature-aging is not looking wise beyond your years...
If your summiting a 14'er, not only  is there 39% less oxygen there (along with 100% fewer mosquitoes) there are 39% less air molecules to reflect the UV radiation, so you can burn 3x's faster!

Its equally joyless feeding the 'skeeters or green flies in the woods of the NE as it is in a horse meadow at 11,000'.  And in some places, you run a very real risk of getting a mosquito-born illness.

My top 3 absolutely, positively, must have gear picks are:

• Water
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
  and
• Sunglasses...
  because putting sunscreen on your retnas is slightly impractical. 

So, let me rephrase that.

My top 4 absolutely, positively, must have pieces of gear are:

• Water
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Sunglasses
  and
• Ankle Braces...

OK, One More Time.

Again.   

So my top 5 absolutely, positively, must have pieces of gear are: 

• Water
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Sunglasses
  and
• Ankle Braces...

Ankle Braces?

Well, I've destroyed my ankles enough playing soccer  while growing up that its not a matter of "if" but "when" I'll sprain my ankle again, and I really want to prevent ankle sprains, not get another one.  No matter how many strengthening or proprioception building exercises I do to help recuperating from an ankle injury, I am still at a high risk of spraining my ankle again.

After the top 5, and much farther down the list, I would add in technical clothing to keep me dry and a hat (as my head is clean-shaven, so I need some sort of protection up there... but I digress)

Notice, missing here are the trick shoes (remember that whole barefoot running thing... no shoes) or a multi tool with GPS or even ankle braces, well, ankle braces did make the list... While good shoes (or a good pack with snacks) can make hikes or runs more enjoyable, I've done both barefoot (esp. on a beach) or in sandals or gone without snacks till I got back (because it was such a short duration).  And while a GPS or a map is a great idea on new trails, they are not needed on trails that you have memorized.

So what is your in you absolutely must have list?

When to Begin Rehab on a Sprained Ankle

When to begin rehabilitation on a sprained ankle

 

Today's blog slots nicely between the prior blogs "just sprained your ankle" and having healed enough to "start strengthening and proprioception exercises."

So one of the questions I get a lot is when can I get back to my sport (like trail running or hiking) or when should I start PT?

Well, lets take this one step at a time... You've sprained your ankle playing soccer, volleyball, basketball, hiking or trail running or maybe more creatively like by getting bitten by the concrete sidewalk snake while you've been texting.  You've gone and RICE'd yourself sufficiently so that there is little swelling and minimal pain. Your starting to walk around with out limping and with almost no discomfort, but still not back to 100% because your ankle is still weak.

Now is the time to start rebuilding your strength and proprioception.  Go easy with 10min on a bike to warm up, and then do about 1 hr of these exercises.  Follow the exercise with 10 min of icing.  Do this about 2-3x's / wk for at least 4-8 weeks. 

After the initial 4-8 weeks of exercises, you have begun to rebuild your strength and proprioception, but your ankle is still weak. Therefore, you should get protected...  You should use an ankle brace when you first return to your activity, unless you have access to a trainer to tape your ankle after every 10-15min of activity.  And yes, I've written a blog about picking the best ankle brace for you.

As you get back into your activity, you really should continue strengthening exercises for at least 1 year since your last injury (seriously!) 
You really should also continue to do 3 exercises with your normal strength training exercises to minimize your chance of re-injuring your ankles... change up the exercises so you don't board with them.

So why bother with all this exercise stuff in the first place?

Well the simple answer is that NCAA data shows an athlete who does not rebuild strength and proprioception after an injury is 70% more likely to re-injure themselves.
Or put another way, the study showed that baketball players who have not undergone PT after sprains are FIVE TIMES more likely to RESPRAIN their ankles than those who are uninjured.

Stay Protected.

Yes BarCampNYC, Trail Running, and Twisted Ankles

Yes - BarCampNYC, Trail Running, and Twisted Ankles

For those of you who were at Barcamp, this is the Angel (and not the fairy) in her Merrill's on Angel's Landing
- Zion National Park -

 

So I am not going to blog too much about trail running, hiking, or sprained ankles.  Again...
However, the next blog will be back to normal, what ever normal is. 
Right now, I'm going blog about my experiences at going to BarCamp in NYC this last weekend.

 

I didn't meet any trail runners, which was not terribly surprising, but then again, I didn't goto barcamp to meet trail runners.  

However, I did meet several soccer players, basketball players, volleyball players, and lacrosse players during the weekend.  Several of which were really, really interested in the brace, how I came up with it, and why it works so well to help prevent ankle injuries.  I didn't go to barcamp to meet these people either, but its was really cool to see all the positive reactions to the MaxX K Premium Ankle Brace as well as One Tree Products.

 

So as  I mentioned last week, a big part of barcamp is giving a presentation as well as sitting in on them... I learned just as much researching my talk as I learned from sitting in on other talks.

I've posted my presentation on the One Tree Products facebook page. "Like" the page, fill out the really short form, and you can watch my presentation to find out what is going on with the angel above, and why she landed where she did.

Great. So what's the point of going other than to talk about ankle braces, sports people play in NYC and listening to generally really clever people?

Well the point is this (and it can be true of all networking).  You just don't hear about other people's idea, you give input on them.  Or help them design stuff.  Or help them solve one of their problems.  Or help connect people to launch businesses from their ideas.  While I went with a very specific goal in mind - looking for a business partner to help with the growth of One Tree Products, and I learned a few things along the way - I learned about what makes successful partnerships and what I should be looking for.

Barcamp was fun and exciting to attend, and I plan on attending the next one as well mostly because you never know what is going to happen when you get like-minded people together in one place and what new and cool ideas present themselves and my help you out too.

So you know anyone who whats to be a partner in a booming business?  Have them click on the button below.

Twisted Ankles, Trail Running, and Barcamp NYC?

Twisted Ankles, Trail Running and Barcamp NYC?

The Little Red Lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge from the children's book. 
Taken from the path down to Battery Park

So I am not going to blog too much about trail running or sprained ankles, right now. 
Right now, I'm going blog about going to BarCamp in NYC this weekend.

Barcamp NYC?

What's that?

And what does it have to do with Preventing sports injuries?

Or trail running? 

Beside, there aren't even trails in NYC!
(There aren't any there, right?)

Well, first off, there are trails all over NYC... Long ones in Central Park, the West side Greenway, and The Esplanade. There is one running along the West Side from the Battery Park in the south, through Riverside Park, all the way up to and beyond the GWB (George Washington Bridge at the top of the island). That is almost 16 miles one way, and nearly all of it on the island of Manhattan. 

Granted, you may be running next to the West Side Highway for some of those 16 miles, but what do want from the most densely populated spot in the US and one of the largest cities in the world?

So, there are lots of people.  And this leads nicely to my second point.  When there are lots of people, and lots of people on cell phones, and lots of bad pavement, you typically get lots of twisted ankles and ankle sprains.

Lastly, Why BarCamp NYC and what is it?

Well, I lifted this from their website:

"BarCamp is an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos, and interaction from attendees."

And its nearly sold out (Well, Saturday is sold out, Sunday nearly so as of this writing).

For those of you interested in my 30 min talk (20 really, with time left over for questions), I'll post the presentation and video online (Facebook and website in all likelihood) for your enjoyment.  It won't be up till Tuesday or Wednesday though because Barcamp ends late on Sunday night and I'd still have to edit the raw footage some.

Great. So what's the point of going other than to talk about ankle braces, trail running and hearing about other people's inventions?

Well the point is this.  You just don't hear about other people's idea, you give input on them.  Or help them design stuff.  Or help them solve one of their problems.  Or help connect people to launch businesses from their ideas.  While I am going with a very specific goal in mind - looking for a business partner to help with the growth of One Tree Products - I will also be helping other people with their businesses and ideas.

And that is why I am excited about going.

So you know anyone who whats to be a partner in a booming business?