Forums >Running 101>What do you do to take care of your feet?
Snowdenrun
I just recently went through some foot pain for a few weeks and am just getting back into some normal running. I realized that as a runner I would stretch after every run and usually again later in the day if it was a long run. I recently got a foam roller and love it! But I realized I did NOTHING for my feet, the part of my body that takes the most beating!
I am always rubbing my feet on the edge of the coffee table while I'm on the couch, but that's just because it feels good. So I've been looking up foot stretches and exercises some, but I'm wondering what everyone else does to take care of their feet. Anything you've found feels really good? Or is helpful with preventing injury?
Crocs
We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.
I'm so scared to look at my feet that I wear socks in the shower.
Canuck
I roll the bottom of my feet with an Acuball mini - that thing is awesome. I also wear compression socks for recovery which feel good on the feet as well as the lower legs. I've also heard that using toe spreaders is really helpful for foot pain but haven't tried them myself. I don't usually do specific stretches for my feet, but find that a number of yoga stretches that I do already also stretch the feet, in particular downward dog.
PRs: 47:54 (10K); 1:46:36 (HM); 3:50:52 (FM)
Recovering from injured knee (PCL/Lateral Meniscus)
I wear zero drop shoes for everyday life (including to work) and go barefoot in the house. I do this because of my physiotherapist's advice and I really do view it as something I do to have strong, healthy feet.
sugnim
I stretch my feet and toes after running. I also use one of these on the bottoms of my feet if they feel particularly sore. I keep my toenails trimmed, and I only wear comfortable shoes & socks--no hard soled shoes or high heels for my feet!
This pose is very good for stretching your feet & toes. You can also rock side to side in this pose to get the sides of your feet and lift up off of your knees for a very intense stretch for your feet.
I like the foot wheel
I scrub them in the shower to get all the dirt off them.
Mmmmm...beer
Nothing, I beat them into submission.
Actually, I don't wear shoes at home, and all of my shoes are basically zero or minimal drop, soft sole shoes. Not sure if that helps or not, it's just what I've always done (even before I started running), but I don't have any foot issues.
-Dave
My running blog
Goals | sub-18 5k | sub-3 marathon 2:56:46!!
Thanks guys! This is helpful. I already wear zero drop shoes when I run and am barefoot at home but have to wear work boots for my job. I'll have to look for a foot wheel or ball, those look like they would feel good.
Feeling the growl again
I trim my toenails and callouses when they get oversized (TMI?).
And I wear minimal shoes at work because it keeps PF at bay.
"If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does. There's your pep talk for today. Go Run." -- Slo_Hand
I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills
I second the suggestion of Crocs. Those things are so comfortable.
levitation specialist
Agree with the others who wear comfy shoes or none when not running. I work from home and am fortunate enough to wear slippers(well, SoftStar Keitas) or am barefoot in the summer.
I don't ever massage them though.
I use a baseball and roll my arches/heels with it.
Current PRs:
5K: 27:06 (11/10/12) | 5M: 44:03 (6/1/13) | 10K: 1:00:48 (7/4/12)
15K: 1:27:53 (3/17/13) | 10M: 1:30:25 (4/13/13) | HM: 1:59:55 (4/28/13)
Next race: Ashland 4th of July 10K
Agree with the others who wear comfy shoes or none when not running. I work from home and am fortunate enough to wear slippers(well, SoftStar Keitas) or am barefoot in the summer. I don't ever massage them though.
Hadn't thought about this, but it's an interesting point. I work from home, so I'm in sock feet most of the day. It doesn't help with my toenails from hell, but I've been very lucky about avoiding nasty stuff like PF.