Kansas City Dates Announced - Once Is Enough LIVE TAPING
Comedian Jeffrey James Binney will be taping his first comedy special Once Is Enough with live audiences Saturday July 9th at 7:30 & 9:30 at The Living Room Theater in Kansas City Missouri.
Tickets start at $20 and go on sale Monday Feb 22nd at www.OnceIsEnoughFilm.com.
Podcast Ep 4 - Countdown To Leadville
I'm exhausted y'all. Absolutely exhausted. I just passed the pinnacle of my training plan and things are finally starting to settle down. Leadville is only three weeks away and I'm terrified...and excited.
In this episode I talk about what I've learn about time management while training for an ultra and give a few pointers to help you avoid making the same mistakes as me.
This week I went for a run with one of my best friends and a brilliant comedienne, Shanna Shrum. We brought along the camera so we could share our running chat!
Listen Here...
Watch Here...
Recovering From Sciatica With The Bio Skin Vector Back Brace
What's the easiest way to reduce a six foot two inch thirty-two year old husky ginger to tears? Bambi? No. Well, .....actually yes. But not because I'm vegan...because I have a soul. Toy Story 3? Also......yes. But I'm talking about sciatica y'all. That leg numbing beast that almost derailed my attempt at the Leadville 100.
Im no stranger to sciatica. Since college I've dealt with spats of it here and there. It would slowly creep into my life and I'd slowly take steps to slowly get it back under control.But now, with only six weeks of training before I attempt my first 100 mile ultra marathon, there couldn't possibly be a worse time to experience the gnarliest sciatica flare-up of my life. It came on faster than ever before and, with the help of a genius new back brace, left faster than ever before.
Anyone who has seen a medical professional for help with their sciatica has almost certainly been told to wear a back-brace during recovery. It decreases movement, promotes proper posture, and gives pelvic and lower spine support...all things that create a positive healing environment for your spine. Serendipitously, I had came upon the new Bio Skin Vector Back Brace just days before my flare-up and the timing couldn't have been more perfect.
Ill attempt to avoid gushing but it's going to be difficult. This is a typical back brace on steroids. The Lamborghini of back braces. Worth. Every. Penny.
Heres why...
First, the quality. If you've used other Bio Skin products you know full well that they don't mess around when it comes to material and build quality. This thing is rugged, hand washable, and impeccably designed.
Second, the Bio Skin Vector Back Brace has a built-in slot for a heat/ice pack and comes with a heat/ice pack perfectly sized for this pocket. A huge advantage over a standard issue back brace.
Lastly, the Bio Skin Vector doesn't only offer the traditional level of support from the main body of the brace. After you put the brace on and close the front main Velcro closure there are two additional tabs attached to a system of pulleys surrounding the brace that allow you to add ann additional layer of support. This additional support applies the desired amount of pressure to the back lumbar support of the brace pulling it in toward your lower back giving you even more support exactly where you need it most. The tabs can be attached at any level of support you choose and easily and securely attach to the brace using Bio Akin's super strong Velcro closures.
Simply, The Best... Bio Skin Compression Shorts
You know how sometimes you're judgmental and eye-rolly with people who swear by their compression gear but can't give you any good reason for squeezing themselves into such tiny spaces other than "It feels better" but then you try compression socks and kind of really like them and then you try compression shorts and fall madly and deeply in love with them because not only are they comfortable but they also make a noticeable difference in your pain and discomfort levels not only during recovery but also while running? *gasp*
Sorry for the run on sentence y'all but these Bio Skin Compression Shorts have me a smidgen overstimulated. Here's why...
You know how sometimes you only need to hold a product in your hand for a few seconds to judge it's quality? From the second I touched these shorts, I immediately noticed a higher build quality. The stitching is strong and durable, there are very few seams, and the fabric y'all....seriously, the fabric. It's latex-free.....neoprene-free...yet feels like a high-quality thin lightweight breathable neoprene. It provides the perfect amount of compression while remaining breathable and quick-drying.
If this is your first compression shorts rodeo...prepare yourself. Getting myself into these bad boys was a bit like trying to fit a bratwurst into a breakfast sausage casing. Luckily, Bio Skin has a killer website to assure me I had put them on correctly and confirm that I had indeed read the sizing chart correctly and ordered the correct size. After my first long run, I didn't have to spend long in these compression shorts before falling in love with them.
One of my biggest battles during my ultra running journey has been a battle against muscle cramps. We're talking some severe take-a-240lb-grown-ass-man-to-the-ground-crying-in-the-fetal-position muscle cramps. This was my entire reason for trying the Bio Skin Compression Shorts. If they didn't help with my muscle cramps in my groin and quads I had no other reason to bother with them.
So did they work!?
First, I used the Bio Skin Compression Shorts during recovery. Deeeeefinitely noticed a difference. I'm in my last few weeks of training for the Leadville 100 and I don't have time to waste with overly lengthy recovery periods. I need to be back on my feet ASAP. I wouldn't say just wearing the shorts took entire days off my recovery time but it definitely made a noticeable difference by making it much easier to run on tired and sore legs.
Next, I wanted to try wearing them during a long run to see if I noticed a difference in my cramps. Let's be clear...the Bio Skin Compression Shorts aren't exactly designed to be worn WHILE running. They're meant to act as more of a recovery aid AFTER the fact. Buuuuuuuuuut they're SUPER durable, breathable, lightweight, cool, and seam-free (chafe-free) in the legs so I wore them for back to back marathons on Mt. Diablo. My love for these shorts was solidified. 12,000' of climb over two days and not a muscle spasm or cramp to be had. There's no way I could normally have done those distances back-to-back with that much cramp and spasm free vertical climb without the help of these bad boys.
In short (pun intended), I'm in love.
Snag yours here... you won't regret it.
Podcast Ep 3 - Countdown To Leadville
So....my back is still screwed up. It's fine. It's not Leadville ending. But it is infuriating. Aaaaaand I'm being a huge baby about it. Check out this installment of Countdown To Leadville where I'm joined with world renowned solo comedy artist Shanna Shrum. Don't forget to rate the AthleteOnFire Podcast and subscribe to my YouTube Channel so you're sure not to miss the last few episodes!
Listen Here...
Watch Here...
Podcast Ep 2 - Countdown To Leadville
Episode 2 y'all!
Listen here...
Watch here...
Please please please don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and give this video a big thumbs up and rate my podcast on iTunes! For more information about Jeffrey or his ultra running docucomedy Once Is Enough visit www.OnceIsEnoughFilm.com
AND don't forget to grab your tickets for Annie and Kevin's LA Fringe comedy show at Fully Committed http://bit.ly/1HaVjIy
And follow us all on social media...
@JeffreyBinney
@TheAnnieLaf
@KevinLaferriere
Why I Had To Lose 100lbs For My "Before" Photo
I'm a confident person. Even when it comes to my body I'm definitely a man of above average confidence. So why did I have to lose 100 lbs before finally taking my "before" photo? I don't know.
This was really difficult. Way more difficult than I expected it to be. I'm a dude. A 32yo burly ginger dude. I'm almost expected to be chubby. Who cares about my belly? Well, I don't. But...also, apparently I do.
The amount of intense awkwardness I felt while making this video (it's possible I may have made it more uncomfortable than necessary by doing it on my roof?) reminded me how important it is to be kind. If a guy of above average confidence had to lose 100lbs before feeling comfortable enough to do this I can't imagine what it would take for someone with no confidence to expose themselves like this.
I spend too much time googling "Men's Before and After Photos." Occasionally I'll come across a before photo of someone larger than I ever imagined possible. Someone in underwear that are barely visible from being hidden by skin and fat. My gut reaction would be an audible wide-eyed gasp of disbelief. Now my gut reaction will be an audible wide-eyed gasp of "how f*$king brave."
Here's a video you should watch about me awkwardly stripping down to my underwear on my roof while talking about how I don't know why I had to lose 100 lbs before taking my "before" photo... T
Podcast Ep 1 - Countdown To Leadville
OK so remember how I started a training blog 6 months ago that had three killer blog posts and then turned to radio silence? Yeah, I know...me too. Not anymore my friends! I've partnered with Scott Jones from Athlete On Fire to bring you a 6-episode podcast and vlog detailing the last three months of training with ultra runner Ian Sharman for the 2015 Leadville Trail 100 on August 22nd in Leadville, CO.
In an effort to provide some antagonistic humor, I'll be joined each episode by my two best comedian friends, Annie & Kevin Laferriere, who aren't runner and think what I'm doing is absolutely mad. Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe on YouTube to be sure you catch each installment of Countdown To Leadville!
Please please please don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and give this video a big thumbs up and rate my podcast on iTunes! For more information about Jeffrey or his ultra running docucomedy Once Is Enough visit www.OnceIsEnoughFilm.com
AND don't forget to grab your tickets for Annie and Kevin's LA Fringe comedy show at Fully Committed http://bit.ly/1HaVjIy
Listen here...
Watch here...