I went to the official Training Kickoff for the Arizona 3-Day for the Cure this morning and it was amazing!
3TV's Brittney Shipp
In addition to about 100 or so walkers, Brittney Shipp from 3TV was there broadcasting live with the help of photojournalist Vinnie Berry. (Thank you, both! Y’all rock!)
The enthusiasm at the event was so contagious that I think Britt has been talked into signing up and walking with us come November. Go, Brittney!
I met some amazing people, of course, and while I didn’t really intend to do the walk itself, I couldn’t not.
I found myself talking to Holly B. of Team W.I.S.H. and next thing I knew, we were down the street and around the corner. Trailing the pack, but that was fine.
Holly, who is walking three events (D.C., Arizona and San Diego) this year … injured, stuck with me. She’s going to be celebrating her birthday during the D.C. walk. How awesome is that!
We chatted the whole time about this, that and the other. Near the end, it turned to food, which she said is pretty common. (That particular turn in the conversation was sparked by the smell of cooking bacon as we passed a restaurant. Yum!)
The 3.2 miles went by pretty quickly despite my hurting feet. It was way better than walking alone with my iPod.
I went into this morning with a couple of gnarly blisters – right pinky toe and left heel. That heel one is so big it should have its own ZIP code. (It’s a weird angle to get a decent photo, but you get the idea.)
They were intact when I left my house this morning. When I got home? Not so much. Icky, oozy, yuck. Despite New Skin and blister bandages and moleskin and tape. I tried.
And the original two apparently invited a friend. This one has taken up resident not quite on the ball of my right foot.
While it probably wasn’t the brightest thing I’ve ever done (and there’s a long list of not-bright things) and even though my feet are somewhat less than pleased with me right now — they’re thinking about joining my legs and butt in starting a blog of their own — I’m glad I went ahead walked with the group. It gave me a little taste of what the event will be like. A 3.2-mile appetizer.
While walking 60 miles might not sound like something to look forward to, I’m kinda thinking it is! This coming from the chick who generally despises all forms of exercise based on principle.
It’s a long time until November. (I’m sure it’ll fly by as time is wont to do.) The start of the 24-week countdown is still a week away, and there’s lots of fundraising and training yet to be done.
Holly, Linda and Diane of Team W.I.S.H. invited me to train with them, as did Karyl (so happy to put a face to the name!) and her team, Las Bombas. Thank you, ladies! I’ll be taking you up on that. You, too, Ta-Ta Sisterhood and Team THRIVR.
On a separate-but-related note, I finally took y’all’s advice and bought myself a new pair of shoes. New Balance. Go figure. Pain and convenience of location are quite the motivators. I plan on buying a second pair for comparison once somebody has a look at my stride.
I got some socks, too. CoolMax. And I still have to get the Body Glide and test out the Peaches & Boo Boo my sister sent home with me. (Just one of the many goodies I have yet to tell you about.)
So, while I (finally) have new shoes, it’s going to be at least a couple of days before I can lace ‘em up and take ‘em for a walk. Pretty much everybody advised me to take it easy for about two weeks to let those gnarly blisters fully heal. While I’m a little concerned about losing momentum, I think my feet will be more than happy to comply.
I’ll just have to find something else to do, right?
Overall, I really had a great time at the event. (Despite the blisters.) It just reinforced what I already knew – doing the 3-Day is the right thing. And 3-Dayers are incredible people.
I’m off to soak my testy tootsies now. I see Epsom salts, hydrogen peroxide and Bacitracin in my immediate future. And maybe a Tylenol or two. Or three. Open-toed, open-heeled shoes, too. Flip-flops?
Let’s hope the new shoes and socks keep the blisters from making an encore appearance.
VOTFeT amccahlucwxx
That is hiarlious! Ah those cats, they love to pee everywhere. Our dog has moods like this…last summer at the beach she decided to pee on my bare feet, which was very weird.This post reminded me that I need to haul about 3 tons of old clothes to our local Goodwill store.
Okay, I saw the pic before I read the post and I was like, “Is that some kind of a boob picture?” (It’s been a very long week,okay?). Looks like a very owie blister (I have little kids, can you tell?). I have been training in the sneakers I bought when I was pregnant 5 years ago. I know I need a new pair but haven’t gotten to it yet but anywho, I bought bodyglide last year for our Disney trip and have been coating my feet with it before putting on my socks. Last week I did my first 5-mile walk and I’m really impressed – no blisters yet. (Feet, pretend you didn’t hear that!). Also, one of my oncology nurses did the 3-day last year in Boston and she said she used moleskin. She put it on the spots when a tiny blister felt like it was forming and it never developed into one. (I also have that on hand from Disney), so I’ll be carrying that in my little fannypack, too. I love hearing everyone’s comment tips…taking note!
LOL. It is hard to tell what it is. Such a weird angle. Go buy new shoes!! I do have moleksin and News Skin, but I haven’t bought the Body Glide yet. It’s on the list. I haven’t worn close-toes or close-heeled shoes in a week now. A couple more days and I think I’m good to go. My feet might have a different opinion – they’ve always preferred sandals — but they’re just going to have to suck it up.
I was at the training kick off yesterday too. I didn’t finish the walk though, I had been sick all weekend and so halfway through I turned back and returned to the store. Kinda disappointed in myself.
The shoes you got are great…I wear them all the time and purchased a second pair yesterday so I can start rotating them with the first pair.
One of the New Balance women suggested wearing 2 pair of thin socks if you’re prone to blisters. She said this way the friction is sock on sock instead of foot on sock. Seems to make sense. I don’t get blisters too easily but it’s worth a try if you do!
Take care of those tootsies!!!
You can’t be disappointed in yourself or being sick, Tracie! I’m impressed that you did 1.5 miles!
Thanks for the sock tip. There are a couple of dual layer ones that do what you describe. I’ll definitely be giving it a shot. That and Body Glide or Peaches and Boo Boo.
Hope you’re feeling better!
#3 — FeelMax and TerraPlana’s shoes look very isitrenetng to me as well and might solve #1′s issues with the toe wrapping. I have to ask though. Why should simpler constructed shoes cost so much money? $110-$150 is ridiculous and is solidly in the range of high performance running shoes, name brand or niche. They may claim their products to have puncture resistant soles, but I’d wager that they won’t last as long as comparably priced shoes given the same punishment hitting the road.
t9ik4K kikaframfisf
Wow – thanks for the pictures (I think)…
Seriously though, thanks for putting a visual to the damage we can do to our finicky and fragile feet. I too have been putting off getting “fitted” but NO LONGER! As much as I like you – I definitely do not want to join you!
I continue to enjoy your posts and CAN NOT wait to meet you in Arizona! Keep up the good work, Cat!
Buy shoes now, Jami! Don’t be joining the blistered-feet-club. Although I have to admit, as much as I’ve whined about my blisters, they’re not the worst I’ve seen. Leanne the Walker shared pictures from her ’08 walk… http://leannelindgren.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/you-didnt-ask/ Ick!! Mine aren’t quite that bad so I’m callin’ myself lucky.
Make sure to call me when you get to Arizona — I’ll email you my number — so we can make sure to connect!
Ooh – be careful with Epsom salts and open blisters! That stuff STINGS.
~ Kristen
I haven’t actually done it yet, but are Epsom salts supposed to be good for blisters? I can take some stinging (especially if it helps) … there are worse things, right?
Do cross-training stuff in home/video barefoot! Jumping rope (I have a goodie if you need it- does not cause blisters)…and of course swimming!
That’s my plan! Mostly biking, I think, because it’s low impact on the feet. I have a jump rope, but “Me jump up and down? I’d black both my eyes!” Swimming is a god option, too, if I can get past the cold shock of getting in the water.
You know I need it to be like 80 degrees. At least.