Today is the day!!! I know you’ve all been anxiously awaiting it! Or…maybe you had no idea it was even a thing until just this second! Probably, the latter. Either way, it’s here: National I Love My Feet Day.
So, what does that mean? I’m not quite sure, but as a runner I say we celebrate all the things our feet do for us and show them a little respect for the pounding they take from us in the name of running!
Blood blisters, water blisters, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, tendonitis, blackened or missing toenails…
Sure doesn’t sound like us runners love our feet! So, what can we do to care for our feet to show them some appreciation for the many miles they carry us?
Read on for a few suggestions on how to pamper your tooties today! Your feet will thank you…maybe with a new PR on your next run!
1. Yoga for feet! Yoga can be a wondeful way to both prevent and heal injuries and pain in all parts of the body, but you might be surprised to know that there are poses and postures specifically for your feet! Yoga teacher, Adriene Mishler has a great 30 minute foot specific yoga flow that you can watch here that might make a huge difference in your plantar fasciitis or other foot related pain! Try it and let me know what you think! Namaste!
2. Massage! There is no denying that a massage feels great and can be very soothing. Some areas of the body are hard to reach on your own, and therefore require the help of a friend or masseuse to massage. Luckily, your feet are easy to massage on your own! I love freezing a water bottle and rolling it under my feet to massage them after a run! The cold is soothing, and the shape and pressure is perfect for stretching out your arches and breaking up fascia! You can see a video on the technique here and get some other great tips for healing foot pain!
3. Pedicures have always been known as a great way to get your toes ready for cute strappy sandals, but I wonder how many people consider getting one before their race! Getting a pedicure isn’t merely cosmetic! Your pedicurist can trim your toenails. This is very important because if they grow too long and hit against your shoe as you run it can traumatize the nail bed causing abscesses and even the loss of your nail! They can also treat your calluses, moisturize and massage your feet!
In addition to these tips, you can treat your feet kindly by wearing properly fitted shoes, and moisture wicking socks!
Let me know how you plan to treat your feet today and leave your best foot care tips in the comments!
Muscles, Miles and Mascara 