Sk8 the State + Vanilla = 4-ever!

Sk8 the State is not an easy roll on our skates, each year we take it upon ourselves to go big to raise awareness and funds for MS research. And each year we have Vanilla Skates backing us 100 percent! We could not be more thankful for them and what they have done and continue to do for Sk8 the State for MS. Now lets look at the skates I (Mo Payne) have rolled on and why Vanilla boots rock. Of course not only do I just wear these skates while sk8ing but I play roller derby in these suckers as well.

Let me start by saying if I was more conservative I would get the boot I like most year after year. But when Vanilla asks us, what boot we want, the grass is always greener, and every year I get a different style. Which makes for a good review of their boots and something shiny, new and exciting for me.

{These boots are in no particular order}

Vanilla Curves:

I believe these are hands down one of my all time favorite boots. (PS I still put them on from time to time just because I love them so much.) This skate needs a toe cover on it as soon as you get it. Curves have a nice tight fit with lots of cushion. This boot allows your ankle to flow freely. The flap on the boot goes under a strap to keep t it in place because of this no need for velcro, and the laces are protected. The heel portion of the skate is my favorite it did not wear out or fall apart even after two years of wear and tear. The only thing I ever had to replace on this boot was the insole. If you ask me that is pretty awesome. (My son also skates in these, they are adorable in a small size.)

Vanilla Brass Knuckles:

This was my first and only “boot made for derby.” I liked this boot a lot. Once it was broken in it was like home. As I broke them in the material stretched out a bit for sock like comfort. The ankle support in this boot was at a medium level so the perfect level of support but not so high that your ankle would be rubbed raw. These boots are still rolling. Lent them to a new skater (Barbie) and 2 years later he is still in them and loving them. I often remind him how many miles I alone put on them before he started putting miles on them. They are well used and he has had no issue, they are not blown out or ripped even after 4 years of hard use.

*This is the only boot that PBR has ever had and I whole heartedly believe she will NEVER skate in another boot! She swears by them.

Vanilla Straight Jackets:

The straight jackets and my feet fought for months during the break in period. I loved everything about them though. Low in the ankle for free movement. It was nice to be able to adjust the pressure on your foot with all the straps. You really have a lot of control to adjust everything you need and want with the rad looking straps. If you are looking for a sexy boot this is the one. I love the way it looks. At first I felt like this boot is not for the wide footed skater but after the break in period it opens up nicely for a comfortable fit.

Vanilla Tiffany Diamonds:

This is a sleek and fancy looking boot. The padding around the ankle is awesome. A midrange ankle support boot, not too restrictive but not flow free, a nice happy medium. I never had troubles with rubbing on my ankles at all. I like the lace cover that just comes across to save you strings and keep them in place. The velcro stayed firm and in place very well and did not wear out.

Vanilla Walker Diamond:

I am working on breaking this boot in as we speak. I asked for a black and white boot. What a sharp looking boot is, WOW! So far the break in is not too bad at all. Seems to be a pretty comfortable boot. The ankle is about midrange on this boot too and is not restrictive. I am doing something a little different here and this plate has jam plugs in it. I have big plans of fully breaking this boot in to be used first while skating in a burlesque show with Danielle Colby from American Pickers...but that is really a whole other blog post right?

Sincerely,

 

Mo Payne thankful, humbled, Vanilla boot lover/hoarder

PS: I have skated in three other types of boots and Vanilla is the way to go!

I'm a BONTliever!

If you would have asked me 2 years ago what "compression pants" were I would have stated something along the lines of "Huh?!" or "is this some sort of skinny jean long john technique for the cool kids?" however present date I have first leg experience in them, as I am now a "wearer" and a BONTliever! If you are unaware of what I am talking about, let me break it down: Did you know that material can be formulated to help your body properly function during physical activity? Well it can and Bont did. They used 82%Nylon 18% Lycra © with Ciba © technology along with strengthened seam construction borrowed from wetsuit technology to enhance durability and made magic happen on my legs! Basically you know when you are swimming and your legs just fell like they are dancing thru the water weightless? That's what my legs feel like when on the track but I have complete control over them.

Frankly it's gotten to the point that I'm considering getting them permanently attached to my body... As an avid sk8r and athlete who trains frequently, I have found that with the use of these form fitting pants that stabilize major muscle groups & joints from vibrations that my legs are going above and beyond the call of duty. They are actually enjoying the experience greatly! The supportive nylon reduces fatigue, increases blood flow and prevents lactic acid built up which are common issues during the journey of Sk8 the State. Our bodies eventually say along the way "Hay man... now you're just being mean.." but yet we still must press on within our mission. This year we were blessed to have Bont join our mission and contribute these gifts from the heavens straight to our limbs that need it most. I forsee much ease on the horizons of Texas having Bont by our side and on our "go getters."

Words can't express how thankful all of us in Team Ironfeet are for this gracious offering. My inner mermaid is very happy to the addition as well. Every year we must grow after listening to our bodies. Those 958miles to date take their tolls however we continue to prevail with the inspiration and support within this event.

Forever Grateful,

Libby "PBR" Claeys

Rusty Trusty Hope by PBR

I just woke up and the only thing on my mind is the fact of the matter is Team IronFeet begins the trek across Kansas’s 254 miles via Roller Skates in 2 days.  When you break it down, the countdown is less than 48hours away and the honest train of PBR says “Oh my…You ready PBR?!”. Why do I ask this to myself?  Because every year pre-launch, I remember the years before. All the trials, tribulations, pain, emotions, and much more from previous years come rushing over me right before we launch.  I seem to remember the opposite of awesome things right off the bat: the blisters, the road conditions, the exhaustion, and other things from the not so awesome train.  As these emotions  flood over me as a sense of anxiety sets in…  but as my checklist gets shorter  on the preparation frontier that anxiety subsides a little and I am left with the thing I trust the most to get me thru the trek: Hope.

Hope is the state which promotes the belief in a good outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Sk8 the State has turned into my biggest life “event” and the trek in itself has turned into the biggest mental & physical challenge that I face year after year.  I turn to hope when I worry about the new unchartered territory I am about to embark on as each year which varies immensely from the years prior. I turn to hope as I fret about mother nature not being on our side this year for outdoor training pre-launch and I turn to hope when I ask myself “Are we ready?!”. I turn to hope for many other things as well because that hope is what will get us thru.

Whether Team IronFeet will admit regularly or not, Sk8 the State for MS is the hardest thing in life that any of us have faced but that’s not the point. The point is that within all the discomfort, pain, and wryness that there is HOPE! The hope that what we are doing is helping many in a positive nature, the hope that we are making a difference and  the hope that one day we will not have to Sk8 States as there will be a cure for MS.

Flash-forward to Monday, May 27^th: I arise to an alarm clock which seems to have beaten the sun up… Slowly I get oriented with the day and prepare for what’s about to begin. Today is the day that begins the most amazing life experience I am so thankful to be a part of year after year.  As I brush my teeth and catch a look at myself in the mirror, you know what’s on my mind? The big huge smile on my face and warmness in my heart knowing that whatever may greet me along the trek (pain, discomfort, stress, exhaustion) is temporary and at that moment I will wash all anxiety down the drain because it doesn’t matter anymore. We have made it to the launch point and all my cares of the world are of the present. For the rest of the week I will do what I do best, skate, and when the times get tough on doing that I will reach to my rusty trusty hope which never lets me down.

-Living The Dream-

Libby "P.B.R." Claeys

How to Get Ready to Skate a State by Dubbs

This year, as most of you already know, team Ironfeet will be skating across the state of Kansas to raise funds and awareness for the National MS Society. Most of you may also know that we start the fourth year of this amazing journey this coming Saturday!! I wanted to write a little bit today about my feelings going into this big event and the Sk8 the State for MS organization.

Every year the week before we leave there are so many things to do and way too many emotions. Every year I think I cannot believe I'm doing this again, will it be like last year, am I ready mentally and physically, and do we have enough of everything to get us through the week?? What ends up being funny to me is that when we are skating all I can think about is yes we are doing this again, how many states will we do, nothing will be as mentally and physically challenging as the first year, and why do we have so much stuff!!!

Today I'm making checklists of stuff we need to make sure we have on our trip and for the first time in four years I do not fear or worry about this coming Saturday when we launch our bodies and skates into Kansas. I know what to expect and I definitely know it will be tough. I know that no matter how much sunscreen I use I will most likely burn anyways. I also know that I have 3 amazing women with me that need me to motivate them as much as I need them to motivate me when we are getting tired and run down, and know that we will get each other through. I'm excited for the new memories we will make with each other as we travel down this charitable journey together this year and in the future. Lastly, I'm very hopeful and excited to see how much we can raise for the National MS Society.

Sk8 the State for MS is the most unselfish thing I have ever done in my life and probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It makes me feel good to know that I'm helping others just by skating. Sk8 the State has raised around $10,000 so far and we are constantly bringing in money for the National MS Society. We also have teamed up with many Roller Derby teams around the U.S. to fund raise to benefit the National MS Society. I am proud to be a member of the Sk8 organization.

More than Just a Charity by Dubbs

I want to share with anyone who wants to read our blogs, what Sk8 the State for MS means to me and a little about the women involved.

This charity that my fellow Sk8 gals and I have grown is so much more than just a charity to me. We have grown together progressively as sisters every year we skate another state. I have not only gained a humbling experience that I can do every year to help raise funds and awareness for the National MS Society, which alone is much more than anyone could ask for. I got something along with being a part of this beautiful and selfless organization, I gained 3 women in my life that I trust and love as if they were my blood sisters. Every year when we skate a state we get everything together, jump in a van, and go to a starting off point to start our journey. From that point on we spend every minute of every day for a week together. We buy groceries together, we skate for 8+ hours a day together talking about anything and everything under the sun, we share hotel rooms or living spaces, and every morning for that week we wake up with the sun together, fill our Camelbacks with water, stretch, and throw on our skates to do it all over again.

We have our motherly saag driver, an amazing writer and our route expert, Skinner. I say motherly only in a good way because she pretty much takes care of us the whole trip. She makes sure we have our special energy drinks along with something to eat whenever we stop. She keeps us informed about our upcoming miles. She worries about us and she makes us laugh whenever she has a chance. She is an amazingly intelligent woman whom I respect immensely and couldn't imagine Sk8 the State for MS with out her.

We have  the optimist, PBR. Every single day on the trip she is the most positive person in our group and maybe even the most positive person I know. She is constantly bringing us up when we are getting sluggish on the skate. Even if she is hurting she would never let you know it and push you to push through your pain so we can finish our miles for the day. She never gives up and won't let you give up on yourself either. I also don't think Sk8 would be making it into it's upcoming 4th year without her optimism and heart.

We have Mo who never stops and is always introducing us to new and strange health foods to keep us going. I love this and probably wouldn't ever have tried all the things I have, because she has made me try them. Mo has the biggest goals and makes you believe that anything you can dream up can be done and she will help you get it going. She doesn't let anything hold her back and she only propels forward and if you want to she will bring you with her. Sk8 the State would of never happened with out her dreaming it up and pushing it forward.

I'm not sure what I bring to the group yet. I think I have a humor the girls like and I hope they can't live without.

Skating across a state is not easy, and there is always a point in the year before it comes around again that I think about quitting or don't want to do it. Then I think about my sisters and what Sk8 the State does. There is no way I can leave it now, these women and friends we have met on the road for our charity are family now. It's in my blood ( at least most of the state of Nebraska is when I bled all over it on Sk8 2011), it's in my soul, my heart, and my mind constantly. I would not take back a single horribly painful day of any of our past Sk8 the State's. We are good women with good hearts and that is enough to want to keep our charity rolling. I hope we keep touching hearts and keep making a difference for many more years to come.
2013 Sk8 Kansas is coming up soon :-)
~Dubbs

Atom Pulses: The ONLY Wheels for Us

The last thing Team IronFeet of Sk8 the State for MS wants to be worrying about as we trek across a new state each year is our wheels…The weather, road conditions, physical wellbeing and other matters are ranked higher. Yet, all 8 wheels are the glue to which hold the project together. That’s where we have been humbly honored to have Atom Wheels back our mission as they have provided us with their signature Pulse’s to trek across yet another state.

We pride ourselves on being “road connoisseurs” as we have seen many miles in the past 3 years. There is really no way to fully prepare for what lay ahead on the trek as far as road elements. The grade, irrigation, texture, softness, hardness, temperature, etc. are elements we cannot always foresee but knowing we are rolling on Pulse’s helps ease the worry.

I, Libby “PBR” Claeys, am going out on a sturdy limb to say that Atom Pulse’s are my favorite outdoor wheels. I’ve had my fair share of trial and errors when it comes to outdoor wheels. Along with the other ladies of Team IronFeet, our testimonies of Pulse’s durability will withstand the test of time. Quality that comes thru time and time again! Big THANK YOU to the Staff of Atom for joining forces again in our efforts, we are forever grateful!

Dear Kansas: A Love Letter from Sum Mo Payne

Dear Kansas,

NO! No, wait…

Dear Iowa,

Phew, I do not know how to tell you this but you almost killed me. Iowa you were the first state to make me want to give in. Numerous times I had to dig DEEP inside to push myself across your state. I was able to find inspiration in the folks that push through life daily with MS and just kept skating for them. Somewhere around Carol, Iowa I realized I would not give in but that next year I would come WAY more prepared. 

So I started making a mental log. I wish I could have a pen and paper along while we skate for all the thoughts that go through my head. And not to mention the funny stories Dubbs and PBR tell along the way. You would be shocked to know what we talk about. Well I guess if you know us you probably wouldn't be shocked in the least. –I digress- back to my mental log, I realized that I did not train as well so I went through what I didn't do to be prepared and then how I would do better for the Kansas skate. Cross training I thought would be my drug of choice since South Dakota weather gets icky and it gets hard to skate outside, although I skated 12 miles on Thanksgiving Eve with PBR and Tigre Force, that is not normal. My next change to be ready for 2013 sk8 was eating clean and portion control. 

As of today January 18, 2013, I have stuck to my promise, and many good benefits have come from this new lifestyle. First I have dropped 20 pounds. RAD! And I feel like a spring chicken again. I have noticed myself feeling all sorts of awesome all the time. It has not been easy and I do not love:

Run 1 lap around the track, do 10 burpees

Run 1 lap around the track, do 10 knee to chest jumps

Run 1 lap around the track, do 100 crunches

Repeat for up to a mile

I hit my running goal without my brain saying “this is dumb, running is dumb.” And now I can do three pull-ups (don’t judge me). From years of roller derby, I could crack nuts with my thighs but until recently I wasn't so worried about upper body strength. But I can do 3 pull-ups, now!

Now 128 days out, I have raised the bar on myself and have some new goals I hope to hit before the skate. I will report back on how much of a difference this "clean"  life style has made after Team Iron Feet rolls all over Kansas.

Love,

Sum Mo Payne