Healing Heels

Over the last three weeks, I’ve managed to damage and hurt my feet more than I have in the previous year or more.  And it’s all preceding a walking marathon at the end of September, so it’s been a little bit stressful.

It all started (as I wrote at the time) with an ill-fated walk to National Burger Day, during which I discovered I’d destroyed the insoles of my current walking boots.

New boots obtained, I wore them and tested them on the 3rd September, with walking to and around Meatopia, then going on to do a concert in them. All told, I was on my feet – in new boots – for 16 or 17 hours, and while I didn’t actively damage myself on that one, I was definitely hurting by the end of it, and changing shoes to drive home was a joy.

Then over this weekend just gone, I went back to London and did an eight-mile walk – but with different socks. And because of that, I ended up with a huge and red-raw blister on one heel.

I’m done now on distance walks until the actual event at the end of the month – so everything will be healed up and fine by then.

As it is, though, right now my confidence is at a low about completing the marathon.  Events (and boots) have conspired against me somewhat, and I’m just trying to decide on my best options at the moment, whether to go with my old (and broken in) boots with new replacement insoles, or stick with the new boots and decent walking socks. Honestly, I don’t know which will be best.

I’ll still be going, and I’ll be doing my best. I’m still 75-85% certain I’ll complete the course.  But if I’m in danger of causing myself serious harm, I’m going to stop and not complete it.  I’ll do my best, but not at the expense of serious damage.

And if I do drop out, I’ll sign up to do next year’s one instead, and be better prepared for that.