Experiences, Thoughts, and Feelings of a Latter Day Saint (LDS)

I get shin splints. I have ever since I was on the San Rafael Junior High track team launching into the sand pit over and over again as a long jumper. Recently, my cousin Vaughn Jensen talked me into doing the original distance relay race Hood2Coast. So I have been running. I have been running pretty consistently. Even though I hated distance in high school and college I am really learning to love it. It is very therapeutic listening to the rhythm of my feet and feeling the air reach the very bottom of my bronchi as my lungs expand fully. Although I started to feel big improvements in most areas of my health, the more I ran the more my right shin hurt. It was getting worse with each run. The pain was bearable but consistently was getting worse with each consecutive run. I had to get an answer quick before the issue became to much. I asked everyone I knew that was into running and received some great answers.  Here is what I have done to control and even get  rid of my shin splints.

• Compression socks – This has been the best thing for my shin splints. No longer does my condition worsen when I run. They really feel good when I put them on. I haven’t tried compression sleeves but some people prefer the compression sleeves to the compression socks. The sales person that I spoke with said that for long runs compression sleeves tend to cause the blood to pool in your foot where compression sleeves eliminate this issue. I purchased Swiftwick Men’s Twelve Aspire Socks. Not only do these ones feel great but they have a cool logo on the calf. The store recommended(slightly more expensive) socks are CEP Men’s Compression Running O2 Socks I have linked to both below as well as a pair of 2XU Compression Calf Sleeves.

• Ice – After each run, long or short, I ice my shins. This instantly reduces shin splint pain and helps long term with the constant aches. I ice for 10 minutes after each run.
  
• Alleve – If I am doing a long run I take an Alleve before the run to reduce inflammation. This serves the same purpose  as #2 but in a preventative way. I never take drugs or medication but this has been so helpful in reducing the inflammation and preventing the shin splint pain.

• I also stopped running on my toes. I focused on my form and tried to have a proper foot placement.

Make sure to watch the video. It is amazingly informative. Some of the info listed is:

• Find the right fit in shoe. Look for a shoe that has arch support.
• Take it easy. Don’t go to hard to soon.
• Bone density. Eat food high in calcium and vitamin D to strengthen your bones.
• Shorten your stride. Make sure to take 85-90 steps per foot per minute. This puts less load on the feet.

Thank you President Monson. This message touched everyone in our family.

…you are never alone when you stand with God.

“Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die.”

Today I am in Denver, and in Elders Quorum we reviewed Elder Uchtdorf’s talk entitled “The Merciful Obtain Mercy” which talks about forgiveness of others and ourselves. What a beautiful talk.

Some of the golden nuggets of thought that really stuck out to me are after the break.

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“Years ago there was a little one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough that no teacher had been able to handle them.

“A young, inexperienced teacher applied, and the old director scanned him and asked: ‘Young fellow, do you know that you are asking for an awful beating? Every teacher that we have had here for years has had to take one.’

“‘I will risk it,’ he replied.

“The first day of school came, and the teacher appeared for duty. One big fellow named Tom whispered: ‘I won’t need any help with this one. I can lick him myself.’

“The teacher said, ‘Good morning, boys, we have come to conduct school.’ They yelled and made fun at the top of their voices. ‘Now, I want a good school, but I confess that I do not know how unless you help me. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me, and I will write them on the blackboard.’

“One fellow yelled, ‘No stealing!’ Another yelled, ‘On time.’ Finally, ten rules appeared on the blackboard.

“‘Now,’ said the teacher, ‘a law is not good unless there is a penalty attached. What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?’

“‘Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response from the class.

“‘That is pretty severe, boys. Are you sure that you are ready to stand by it?’ Another yelled, ‘I second the motion,’ and the teacher said, ‘All right, we will live by them! Class, come to order!’

“In a day or so, ‘Big Tom’ found that his lunch had been stolen. The thief was located—a little hungry fellow, about ten years old. ‘We have found the thief and he must be punished according to your rule—ten stripes across the back. Jim, come up here!’ the teacher said.

“The little fellow, trembling, came up slowly with a big coat fastened up to his neck and pleaded, ‘Teacher, you can lick me as hard as you like, but please, don’t take my coat off!’

“‘Take your coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’

“‘Oh, teacher, don’t make me!’ He began to unbutton, and what did the teacher see? The boy had no shirt on, and revealed a bony little crippled body.

“‘How can I whip this child?’ he thought. ‘But I must, I must do something if I am to keep this school.’ Everything was quiet as death.

“‘How come you aren’t wearing a shirt, Jim?’

“He replied, ‘My father died and my mother is very poor. I have only one shirt and she is washing it today, and I wore my brother’s big coat to keep me warm.’

“The teacher, with rod in hand, hesitated. Just then ‘Big Tom’ jumped to his feet and said, ‘Teacher, if you don’t object, I will take Jim’s licking for him.’

“‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’

“Off came Tom’s coat, and after five strokes the rod broke! The teacher bowed his head in his hands and thought, ‘How can I finish this awful task?’ Then he heard the class sobbing, and what did he see? Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. ‘Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!’”

To lift a phrase from this simple story, Jesus, my Redeemer, has taken “my licking for me” and yours for you.

Declared the prophet Isaiah:

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: …

“… He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:4–5).

This is re-posted from the following address – Talk by President Hinckley

And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them. Moses 7:18.

This is a fairly straight forward scripture except for the phrase, “there was no poor among them.” This could have multiple meanings. This morning Pres. Adamson shared the thought that what the Lord may be implying is that none of his children in Zion were poor in ordinances. All of his children had received all of the saving ordinances. What a great definition of Zion.

Today the Bishop called the young men and parents together to discuss the topic of media and gaming. I was very impressed by the Priests Quorum because they spoke before the bishop on the effects of gaming including addiction, attitude, and wasted time.

Some of the highlights from the meeting were as follows:

• One example was of Quinn Pitcock, a professional NFL player, that lost his multimillion dollar career due to video game addiction.
• Use media only for those things that uplift.
• If youth give up video games now they will be much better missionaries when they serve.
• Ask yourself does the digital activity I’m involved in enlarge my ability to live, love and flourish. If not, change the activity to one that will enlarge these three areas.

Thanks,

Curtis J. Morley

My last thought as I pulled back the covers and flattened myself into the mattress in hope of some respite was that I couldn’t see any other option but, the reality was that I couldn’t. I would have to call Sam and cancel the meeting the next morning. I just felt too sick. Every part of me ached and my head felt like a cannonball ready to explode with sinus pressure.

I had promised the CEO on Monday that I would have a completed book-launch-marketing-plan and budget numbers for him by Friday at the executive retreat. In my state of disrepair I couldn’t imagine a way to keep this promise. I could barely keep a coherent thought with all the pounding in my head. I didn’t see a way to keep it together long enough to complete a full marketing plan. A hot bath earlier in the day helped with the aches but the decongestant I took had little affect on the intense pain around my eyes. I usually don’t get sick but when I do it is sinus infection and it puts me out for several days. I resigned myself to the fever and sickness and let it overtake my resolve as I lay in the dark bedroom.

Then the realization that I wouldn’t be keeping my commitment started to sink in. And when I say sink, I mean SINK. The overwhelming feeling of despair was becoming more painful than the illness. I just had to get this plan done. I had to figure out the budget numbers. I had to keep the meeting tomorrow. I had to spend hours completing the details. And yet, there was no way possible to accomplish the task in my current condition. And then it struck me – I knew someone that could.

I slid back out of bed and knelt in the same position I had occupied minutes before. This time instead of a rushed conversation spoken out of duty, I said a simple yet pure prayer asking for His help to heal me and to take this overwhelming feeling from me. I knew that the only way to alleviate the pain both physically and the emotionally was with His help.

I climbed back into bed with the pounding still in my head but the pit in my stomach removed. Around 3:00 a.m. I was sweating like a piece of bacon on a hot griddle. My fever had worsened and the sweat was pouring off of me – and then – my fever broke. It felt as if the illness was draining from me, starting at the top of my head, washing down my body, out my feet and off the edge of the bed. The following hours I slept so deep and relaxed that it made up completely for the previous unrest. The next morning I felt fantastic and made it to the office on time for the meeting.

I know that Heavenly Father heard my prayer and I know that He answered it. I know that without Him I would have been sick in bed for another several days. I know that He cares for me and all of His children.

Fast Sunday brought some great testimonies from or ward. The spirit was strong. One brother, from Tonga described God like this. He is the Big boss, and if you love him, He’s got your back.