Friday, June 19, 2015

Feet, don't fail me now!


I've blogged extensively about my foot issues. I've had just about it all...plantar fasciitis, heel spur, black toenails, blisters, stress fractures, and now the dreaded hallux limitus aka arthritis. What's a runner to do? Stop running? My sister has hallux limitus and she's actually considering surgery (joint fusion) so she can wear heels again.

No thank you!


I really try to respect my hard working feet. As a nurse practitioner, I spend all day on my feet seeing patients in the clinic. And as a runner, these feet have a lot of miles on them, both training and racing for over 20 years. Add to that day-to-day activities like shopping, housework, and the like. Earlier this week, I came home from a long day in the clinic and a stop at Target. My husband was preparing dinner and he asked me to fix the salads.

I almost cried. My dogs were barking. I just wanted to get off my feet. Does this ever happen to you?

Luckily, I don't feel this way too often, even after a long race. I really pamper my feet. And in return, they keep me pretty happy.

In the spirit of the Friday Five, where the theme for today is "things I love", I wanted to share five things I do to show my feet the love. Head over to any of their blogs to see what everyone else is loving today! Links are below the logo.

EatPrayRunDC, You Signed up for What?!, and Mar on the Run
By the way, I have a song on my running playlist titled: Feet Don't Fail Me Now by Needtobreathe. Great song for a runner, and even better band name, don't you think? I wonder if they're runners?


"I can't slow down,  I can't get stuck,  I'd rather die than have to hang it up...." from Feet Don't Fail Me Now by Needtobreathe.
Listening to this song on the run helps me channel some energy to my feet, especially when they start to rebel.

5 Things My Feet Love

Morning warmup: Back when I was suffering with plantar fasciitis and my heel spur, my podiatrist suggested placing my feet on the heating pad in the morning to loosen them up. His theory was that the heat would help loosen up the myriad of joints in my feet. I do this every morning while I drink my coffee and read blogs. My feet are very happy when I do this. BEST ADVICE EVAH!



Compression: I don't always wear compression but when I do my feet are very pleased. Recently I was given the opportunity to try SLS3 compression socks (affiliate link). I've got a review and a giveaway coming, but for now, let me tell you that my calves and subsequently my feet like these socks a lot. Back when I had plantar fasciitis, I used some Feetures PF compression sleeves (affiliate link) for my feet. At the time I couldn't walk around barefoot without having pain. Wearing those sleeves helped a ton--probably more than anything else I did because they made walking tolerable.

wanelo.com
Comfy shoes: I wasn't a big fan of heels even in my pre-running days. Now, since I spend most of my workday on my feet seeing patients, I wear Danskos (affiliate link) pretty much exclusively. They're big and clunky but have a certain charm to them. Plus they are oh so comfy. I also have Dansko sandals which are super cute! I purchased them on my sister trip to Las Vegas and I didn't hear one peep out of my feet, even after we spent the day walking the strip. I received a lot of compliments on them, too. Recently, I purchased my first pair of Birkenstock (affiliate link) sandals. I love these because they don't press on my big toe joint, which seems to be an ongoing issue for me. They are my new favorite shoes. Now I know what everyone is talking about...

Massage: I massage my feet after a long run using The Runners Choice oil (affiliate link). I read about this oil on another blog, and decided to try it for myself. The oil contains almond, eucalyptus, eucalyptol, wintergreen, peppermint, and spearmint oils. It feels as amazing as it sounds. Keep your eyes open for a discount code.

My newly pedicured feet on my trusty heating pad. If they could smile, they would.
Pedicure: I once considered pedicures a treat, but now they are an essential part of my foot maintenance. I try to get one monthly, even in the winter. The technicians laugh at my black toenails (and there is one in the picture above), but I haven't lost one in years--most likely due to this maintenance. The leg massage is amazing. Be warned, the technicians like to pull out the cheese grater foot rasp to remove those calluses. I won't let them use it. I need my calluses! The best part of a pedicure is having pretty toenails...what color should I pick next time?

Do you have any foot issues? What do you do to pamper your feet? Do you still wear heels? Do you get pedicures regularly?



50 comments :

  1. As a former PF sufferer myself I agree with so many of these. I also have gotten into Dansko and Alegria shoes, and compression socks are a go to after a long run. I hardly ever wear heels any more (the idea of having foot surgery to be able to wear heels makes me throw up in my mouth a little). I also think that doing a good amount of my running on the treadmill has been helpful. I know there's a lot of anti-treadmill sentiment out there but if it keeps me healthy and allows me to keep my volume to the point where I can continue to improve speed, then I'm happy with it.

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    1. 100% agree with you on everything here! I haven't heard of Alegria shoes but I'm going to check them out!

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  2. I wore Alegrias for years when I first started teaching. Standing all day on concrete will wear your back and feet out. Now that I'm in a mobile trailer classroom, I notice a huge difference. My feet and back are happier!

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  3. Would you believe I've never had a pedicure? Much as I love massages, pedicures don't really appeal to me. I love shoes - flats, heels, kicks . . . I don't wear heels a lot but sometimes. I have a slight shoe problem.

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  4. Compression and massage make for very happy feet. Have a fantastic Friday Wendy!

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  5. I do not wear heals or any shoe that I feel is uncomfortable. I'm a huge fan of Alegria shoes, especially the sandals. Pricey but worth it. I haven't had a pedicure in a while but should. I feel I need my callouses too. They are there for a reason. I'm sporting purple polish right now, but I like your blue.

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    1. I cannot believe I don't know about these shoes! I"ll be checking them out!

      Yesterday it was a battle for me between blue and purple...

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  6. Thanks for info.! Just order the runners oil. Love to pamper my feet with pedicures! It's a monthly ritual for me. Happy feet...👣happy me! ☺️

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    1. I know you have foot issues too...ugh...I hope you like the oil!

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  7. I cringe when I think of the heels I wore as a teenager. Knock wood, my feet have been very very good to me but I still have zero interest in heels anymore. Yeah I don't let them touch my callouses either. No way.

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  8. I need to go to a food doctor - I have such problems in the arch of my feet.
    & fun fact - or sad fact - I've never had a pedicure. I always get a little weirded out thinking about them... but want to try it - I want the pretty toe nails.
    THOSE SHOES!!! haha love the painted flip flop feet.

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  9. Yikes - I have flat feet and they just ache no matter what. I make my husband give me foot rubs, I elevate my feet after a long day standing up at work (retail) and ALWAYS wear supportive shoes. Well, almost always.

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  10. I love getting professional massages. I wish they weren't so darn expensive. I would get them more often.

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  11. I still love my heels... I'm usually either in heels, flip-flops, or running shoes...I guess I don't have an in between. Pedicures only happen about 2 - 3 times per year for me when my feet get really bad... I just don't have the patience to sit through them.. I think of all the other things I could be doing with that time... I do love toenail polish, so I just polish my own toes while watching a TV show... I only know how to multi-task.

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  12. I've never heard of or thought of the heating pad in the morning for the PF. Great idea! Iusefto do it at night but I will give it a go

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    1. Oh, it's the best way to start they day! With a cup of coffee of course...

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  13. Great ways to keep your feet happy. Love the heat pad idea! I don't currently have any foot issues but love compression socks for recovery!

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  14. Nothing beats a good foot massage! Ahhhh.

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  15. I love a good foot massage, but it's hard to convince them to leave the callouses alone! And I'm totally borrowing the heating pad idea in the winter (no way I could do that in VA in the summer...)

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    1. The last pedicure I had was this past week, and the technician totally got it. She gave me an awesome foot massage and no pressure about the calluses. It was perfect.

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  16. I always have to be careful about my choice of shoes after long runs. The bottoms of my feet tend to be a little tender from the hours of pounding, so I'm all about the comfy shoes post run. I could totally go for a good foot massage, too. I'll have to recruit the boyfriend...

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  17. I deal with PF issues and having flat feet. I never thought about warming my feet with a pad. I will have to try it. I do have a foot and calf massager that does wonders! I love my Oofos and CEP compression too.

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    1. The heating pad is a lifesaver. It has helped my feet like nothing else.

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  18. I'm very fortunate to not suffer from any foot issues. I do, however, always choose a pedicure when I have the option of some kind of beauty treatment - somehow deep down I feel that a bit of foot pampering helps my running...! :)

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    1. I agree with you 100%--there's something about that foot treatment that makes me run better!

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  19. Yay for Birkenstocks! I love mine too. I've had issues with bunions and at one point was going to get surgery. For some reason my foot is a lot better so I am going to wait a bit longer.

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    1. I'm going to avoid any surgery on my feet if at all possible! I hope you can too!

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  20. I feel your pain. I am a runner and nurse too, I am on my feel all day too. I love getting reflexology for my feet to help the, feel better.

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  21. Yes to compression and pedicures. I would be a mess without them!

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  22. Oooh great sentiments about the feet and what they love. I have some foot issues too and it's so frustrating!

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    1. Everyone talks about their knees, and I'm over here with foot issues. smh.

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  23. So weird how the first time I clicked on the link and it brought up a blank page... btu this time (or link) worked. Internet is so weird.

    Yes to pro compression socks... and pedicures (only when my toe nails grow back)

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    1. I had to repost the link, which is weird because it's the same as the original. I have no idea except that maybe there's a ghost in my computer...

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  24. oh my gosh. i pretty much can't wait heels except for weddings or something and then i still always bring flats! :)

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  25. The heel spur is bad. I had that, and got shockwave treatment to break it up. Helped a ton!

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  26. you know I totally get this. There are days I want to cut my foot off.
    I have given all my heels away. I just deal with the fact that my foot may hurt when I run.

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