The Aftermath

It's all fun and games when you feel good and you're high off of the surging endorphins. But the aftermath of running semi-barefoot can be pretty ugly.

Take Exhbit A:



That is the bottom of my foot. And yes, that is a huge bruise/callus/blister on my poor big toe. I have one on the other foot as well (I figured you didn't need to see both of my ugly feet and instead could use your imagination).

Now, I had been getting these types of blisters in that exact same spot since I started running in the Vibrams. Most of the time, they would heal in a day or two and then, inevitably, would reappear the next time I ran. They normally aren't painful either. But after the 10K this weekend, these puppies were screaming for relief. They basically felt like a huge bruise on the bottom of your foot that yelps every time you take a step. I took a few days off to let them heal and they are actually back to normal again.

I think I am getting them because I am landing hard on that area. At the race, there were a couple of downhill parts (which I'm not used to) so that definitely contributed. I am going to be making a conscious effort to try not to land on that part of my foot and instead land more flat-footed and distribute the force.

Exhibit B:

No, this is not part of my body, but it has become my new best friend. It is The Stick, which is a do-it-yourself massage tool. And let me tell you, my calves sing its praises.

Let's just say that my calves are so tight that they cringe every time they see a staircase. I went out for a run this morning and only made it about 10 minutes out before they were crying out in agony. They were so tight that I thought they were going to pull my foot all the way up my leg. They were balled up and didn't want to let any tension out. When I got home, I massaged them out and while they did feel better, they are definitely still tight.

Here's a close up of The Stick cuz I just like it so much:

I need to make a conscious effort to stretch and massage my calves every single day, several times a day. What do I do when I sit in front of the TV after sitting in front of a computer all day? Nothing. What should I be doing? Massaging my calves. I'm sure they'll thank me for it later.