Tuesday, May 1, 2018

9 Ways To Show Your Hard-Working Runner's Feet Some Love

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I am an ambassador for Tabio socks and receive socks as part of that relationship. I received a pair of Athena sandals from OESH shoes in exchange for my honest review. As always, my opinion is my own.

Now that spring has finally arrived, it's time to bare those feet! Are your feet spring ready? I took my socks off to do yoga this week and was a little disgusted by the condition of my feet. Even with regular pedicures, I've got some pretty scaly heels. Calluses? I've got them. I also have that black toenail, which I'm literally trying to hang on to.

Running is notoriously hard on the feet--both inside and out. I've said it before and I'll say it again: when my feet are happy, I'm happy. For today's post, I'm happy to share some tips and products that make my feet very happy.


Seki nail clippers
Every time I get a pedicure and the technician is clipping my toenails like it's nothing, I have nail clipper envy. They don't use those flimsy drugstore clippers, that's for sure. I found these Seki nail clippers on Amazon and they have great reviews. Apparently, they are made by a Japanese company known for their knives. Kind of like the ginsu knife, but for toenails. No more jagged edges.


Rubz massage ball
I've got a couple of these little nubby balls around the house. I love to roll my feet on them. It's kind of a mini-massage for the bottom of your feet. I kinda don't like that they spelled plantar fasciitis wrong on their Amazon page, but I still like the product.

Moji foot roller
A few years ago, I won the Moji Foot Pro from NatRuns on an Instagram giveaway. I have to say that it is one of the best things I've ever won. The stainless steel rollers move freely across the bottom of the foot, and you can put this in the freezer to chill them down for an icy massage. It's a really nifty little device.

Toes pose aka Toe Squat
This is one of those poses we do in yoga that hurts so good. Basically, you sit on your heels with your toes tucked forward from the balls of your feet. It's one of those poses that you have to ease into. If you can't sit all the way on your feet, you can put something between your butt and your heels, like a book or a yoga block. Over time, you'll find that you tolerate the pose much better. When you're done, lean forward on all fours and gently pat your feet out.

Build up slowly so you can sit for 3 minutes. 
Microplane foot rasp
It's only natural that the company that makes the best cheese graters would make a foot grater. This thing is amazing for cleaning up those nasty heels. Don't go too crazy or you'll have some sore feet the next day. I use it just to get rid of the dead skin. But as I tell the nail technician, we runners do need our calluses!

AmLactin Foot Therapy Cream
I often recommend AmLactin or its brother LacHydrin to my patients with keratosis pilaris. I had no idea they made a foot cream until I was researching for this post, but it's already on it's way to me, thanks to Amazon. AmLactin contains lactic acid which is a great exfoliator. If you go to the AmLactin website, there are coupons that you can use in stores or online.


Spenco soft orthotics
I've been spreading the Spenco love ever since my sports medicine physician recommended them to me. She showed me the way out of those hard custom orthotics that were hurting me more than helping me. I've been running in them for several years and purchase a new set every time I order a new pair of shoes. I've kept PF away for a couple years now...knock wood...


Tabio socks
You guys know I have a huge sock obsession. That sock drawer that broke last year is still sitting in the middle of my bedroom floor because I just can't part with any of my socks! My newest obsession is Tabio socks. I am a member of Club Tabio which means I get to wear all the Tabio socks. Tabio sport socks have the toe feature I like. But unlike other toe sock brands, there are added features like arch compression, mesh panels that let the feet breathe, non-slip grippers on the bottom, and a fitted heel to keep the socks in place. They come in a variety of colors and styles.


You can save 20% using the code Tabio1 and I see that they have free shipping now too!

OESH Athena sandals
Last winter, OESH sent me a pair of their Lea shoes for me to trial. I reviewed them on the blog and it's been love ever since. I wear those shoes for strength training, believe it or not, because they give me such a stable base on the ground. They are incredibly comfortable. Recently, OESH contacted me again and sent me a pair of Athena sandals to review. It's finally gotten warm enough for me to wear them and like the Lea shoes, the Athena sandals did not disappoint.


OESH shoes were designed by a woman physician. The OESH sandals are the only sandals be recognized by the National Science Foundation. They are so comfortable that in 2016, a hiker wore them for 3000 miles of a 4400 mile trek through the Appalachian Trail. I'm looking forward to just wearing them for urban hiking! They will also be great for water sports and kayaking. The sandals are lightweight and super comfortable. The straps are easy to adjust and don't cut into my feet at all. If you prefer a toe strap, there is the Artemis model. Both models come in a variety of colors.

You can save 20% now using the code OESHrun20!

What products or treatments keep your feet happy? Do you get pedicures regularly? Do you notice grammar and spelling mistakes in advertisements?

I'm linking up with Marcia, Erika, and Patti for Tuesdays on the Run; Debbie, Rachel, and Lora for Running Coaches' Corner; and Annemarie and Nicole for Wild Workout Wednesday. 









60 comments :

  1. So, I've been running less and playing tennis more and tennis is tough on my feet!! After a match the balls of my feet are always on fire and I've been doing that toe squat yoga pose, which feels good. Might have to invest in one of those rollers!

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  2. That rasp scares me! I'll stick with my pumice. :) I still need to go to my sister's Yoga for Runners' Feet class. One of these years. The Moji rep sits in the sauna sometimes. He promises me stuff but never delivers. Ok that sounds bad. :p

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  3. These products all look fantastic! I do get pedicures regularly. I used to think they were frivolous, but once I got my first one (probably 10 years ago), I was hooked. I've gone to the same girl this whole time and it's not cheap - $54 for the one I get - but it's worth it! I'm with you on the grammar mistakes and misspellings, especially on advertising and professional literature.

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    1. I had to get a pedicure for this post, you know I'm all about appearances... seriously, tho, I do get them fairly regularly.

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  4. Now I won't be able to grate cheese without thinking about my heels .... I've been wanting to try toe socks and was looking at the "other" brand. With free shipping I'll give these a try.

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    1. Let me know what you think! I really like these socks a lot.

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  5. I try to keep my feet in good condition, but UGH. It's an ongoing battle! Most nights, I remember to put a glob of thick cream on my feet before bed...most nights (if I'm not up too late blogging) LOL

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  6. I can't believe someone hiked that far in those sandals!! So cool! That does speak a lot for them. I totally want those socks and the foot ball too.
    Hope you had a nice weekend!

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  7. I had a pedicure for my cousin's wedding, but the nail polish is starting to chip. It takes me a while to take off the polish, but my toes still look pretty.

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    1. I want to know why the polish is so hard to remove after a pedicure!

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  8. These are all such great ideas! I destroy my feet. My favorite tool is an old fashioned golf ball - just roll that sucker underneath you, it hurts so good. And I am big fan of my Oofs lately, too!

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    1. I don't know why but I didn't like the golf ball. The Rubz ball feels good!

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  9. I definitely need to give my feet some TLC - the toes pose is SUPER hard for me - I have been massaging them much more frequently but I know I need to do more. I wish I had the Moshi device! The OESH sandals look fantastic!

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    1. I'm surprised that I can do toes pose but the more I practice it, the easier it is for me to get into it and hold it. I need this kind of stuff now!

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  10. I've owned that same Rubz massage ball for years - it has permanent residence under my desk, and I use it every time I'm sitting at my computer. I use a rolling sandpaper thingie to slough off the dead skin from my heels - minimal effort on my part for a nice payoff, LOL. I am interested in trying that Moji massager...hmmm, maybe a birthday list item??

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  11. I adore Gold Bond medicated foot cream, and use it daily on heels. No calluses!

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  12. Do I notice grammar and spelling mistakes in advertisements? LOL! Do I carry a red sharpie in my purse and have I ever edited a sign in a store? Hint: the answer to both of those is yes. haha!

    I definitely don't go get pedicures enough. I know I should but I'm ticklish and I can never seem to get them to understand that my left baby toe needs to be treated delicately (broke it many years ago) and I need those calluses, thankyouverymuch. haha

    Those sandals are pretty cool. That's a really long way to hike in a pair of sandals!

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  13. These all look like such helpful products! I try to keep up with my pedicures in the summer months but I still feel like my feet need alot of help. Those sandals sounds amazing!

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    1. I really really like them! They are light and super comfy!

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  14. I love getting pedicures! I try to plan them after a race or long run.
    If I find a spelling or grammar error in advertising I definitely hesitate to use their product.

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  15. Great line-up of products! I keep hearing good things about those sandals. I try to keep up on my pedicures but I feel like I could still be a lot kinder to my feet!

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    1. I think these sandals are going to get a lot of mileage this summer!

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  16. Ilove my Oesh sandals! I just wish I had more colors (because you know I'm matchy like that :-) )

    I added those toe stretches to the Lifestretch class I teach twice a week. While I can't sit up on my heels, I can press back and get a good stretch on my feet. That, plus some fancy calf stretches we do, I am sure has made a big difference in my foot health.

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    1. Wouldn't it be great if they had straps your could switch out to match your outfits?

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  17. I love the cheese grater! These feet get so many callouses. I have not tried the Oesh sandals but I am alway on the hunt for supportive shoes. Happy feet!

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    1. I don't let the technicians use the rasp on my feet because they tend to remove too much skin. But I'll do it, just do get rid of the dead stuff!

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  18. Those sandals look great but not with my feet as they are at the moment. Maybe a good look with the toe socks ... Tell me about the toe socks, is the fabric super thin so it just protects the toes from rubbing but doesn't push them apart or rub? One pair of my old socks let me down on my DIY marathon and I got my first ever blister from running, so I'm on the lookout to upgrade.

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    1. There are a variety of styles of the toe socks. They are pretty thin, they don't rub or push the toes apart. I like having my toes separated when I'm running--keeps them from blistering. My favorite things about these socks are that they have compression across the arch, the grippers on the bottom, and the vented panel across the top.

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  19. So many great ideas! Living in Hong Kong, I love a good foot massage ;) And my Oofos keep my feet and legs happy no matter what fitness activities I get into.

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  20. I need to give my feet some more TLC! I'm actually way overdue for a pedicure, lol.
    One way I try to keep my feet happy is by wearing compression socks and Oofos sandals after a long run.

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  21. Ooh lots of products I haven't tried before - I want those sandals and definitely need to give my feet a little TLC with some therapy cream!

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  22. Can I just get a care package with all of these things? K thanks!

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  23. That foot roller looks so good! I really need to get one of those. And I got a kick out of the cheese grater foot grater! I definitely need all the tools to get my feet to look nice during a training cycle lol.

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  24. Those sandals look so comfy! And I do toes pose often. :)

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  25. Okay, now i have to look up what keratosis pilaris is! What other benefits does that foot cream give besides exfoliating? I think that might make a nice gift for someone I know.

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  26. I rarely get pedicures. I should take better care of my feet. I also have that massage ball and it definitely feels good. I get a lot of callous on the left side of my right foot. I bought a Feet Callus/Corn Shaver and it works very well. I try not to overdo it because then it gets very tender.

    Oh and I tried the toe pose. I thought it would be easy. I couldn't sit all the way on my feet.

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    1. The toe pose is painful! You have to ease into it. Over time, you can tolerate it more.

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  27. These are such good tips and ideas. I am taking a non-negotiable pedicure day next week to show my feet the love.

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    1. I had one last week and I'm loving that minty green polish!

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  28. lots of fun products. Those Tabio socks interest me the most; i'll have to see if they do international shipping.

    as you (may) know - i have a lot of problems with my feet. So I have a ball, I have special "massage" socks and I do get medical pedicures regularly. I can't do a lot of toe bending because I have arthrosis in my left big toe. so that's a challenge. Then I have other issues with my 4th and 5th toe that are reason still to be determined (I think the neuroma surgery wasn't sufficient). So I massage my feet often and I use a neuropathy oil regularly to temporarily ease pain.

    I do notice spelling and grammar mistakes in product ads and I wonder why these companies don't have someone to proofread their work before printing!

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  29. I def understand the foot issues that runners (and athletes in general) deal with. I have a few different things I used to keep my feet in shape but I am intrigued by the Moji foot roller.
    I love to get pedicures! Helps my feet and my calves relax during the massage!

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  30. PS: I ordered the socks. They were less than the PC socks I order now and again so I decided to try them!

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