Well friends, I was going to write about a hike in the mountains that I did at the beginning of June, however I ended up straining something in my left foot on a different excursion, so here I am writing about feet. I did warn of shenanigans along the way, but I didn’t expect to be blogging about a mishap quite so soon. Don’t worry I will also write about the mountain trail in a later post.
So about feet…I have been kind to my feet for all of my adult life because I started getting back pain at the age of 19 due to ill-supporting footwear. I bought my first pair of Birkenstocks that summer, the pain went away and ever since I have purchased shoes with good support or inserts to help support my feet. There are rare exceptions where I have bought shoes that were not supportive for some special occasion but I can’t wear them for long periods of time and certainly not for work where I walk or stand most of the day nor outdoor pursuits. NOTE: I have seen some crazy footwear on hiking trails!
Last week I went for a hike on the Hayburger Trail in Elk Island National Park. It was beautiful and I wore my Merrell trail runners that are well worn and have been good to me. We ended up on a longer hike than I expected but it was good and I was sore in the usual ways from an 11 km hike. The Hayburger Trail has very little incline, is well maintained and long but not difficult.
That was Friday and the following Monday I went for a walk with a good friend in Gold Bar Park in the city. I again wore my trail runners as I didn’t feel it warranted my hikers (hiking boots). We were walking forest trails up and down the ravine sides. This was my fatal mistake. My trail runners were my daily companion during the first lockdown, which I talked about in my last post. They have hundreds of kilometres on them as I wore them prior to the lockdown, during the lockdown and wore them last year at work for a while before purchasing a new pair of shoes. I knew they were getting to the point of needing to be replaced but runners are expensive and I kept putting it off. Can you tell I dislike having to shop for new items when I have old trusted “friends” I use?
By the end of Monday’s trek my left foot was hurting and knew it was from shoes I should have replaced. I went home after a lovely campfire with friends and took some pain meds and iced it. On Tuesday morning I could barely walk on it. I went to work in my other shoes but they were still not supportive enough as I had strained something in my foot. That night I purchased a tensor bandage and have been wrapping my foot and only wearing my Birkenstocks as they cradle my foot in a way that is less painful than my other shoes. I have been doing the ice/heat thing and resting it as much as possible.
All this to say, I should have paid attention when I felt my runners were getting too old and put the time and money in to new ones. I am definitely regretting that I put it off and am now dealing with a strain that will take time to heal.
This has been a painful reminder to make the investment of good gear for whatever activities you do and to wear the appropriate things for each activity.
It doesn’t have to be fancy or the latest techy items. Some gear can be obtained through thrift stores or garage sales or handed down from someone who isn’t using the item anymore. Other items are best purchased new. But get the right gear for the job and use it.
Having the right footwear for the activity, making sure your backpack fits and will carry the things you need, wearing a good base layer when it’s cold, or having water-shedding rain gear for when it rains, will make your experience better and will keep you safer and healthier while enjoying your favourite activities.
It is a lesson hard-learned but one I won’t be forgetting any time soon.
Happy feet are for life, be kind to yours!
Until we meet on the trail,
Kara