Pedicures and Running

Even runners like to have nice looking feet even though we abuse them regularly during our runs.  Are pedicures something that runner’s foot appreciates?  The runner definitely appreciates them, but do you feet? 

What your feet DO appreciate - Pedicures can enable proper blood circulation, maintain healthy feet and make you feet look and feel good.  The following treatments during a pedicure are welcomed by any foot:

• Feet getting soaked and cleansed;
• Toenails cut and shaped and cuticles trimmed; and
• A nice foot and lower leg massage

What your feet DON’T appreciate - The following treatment is an area to approach with caution:

Removing dead skin, calluses, hard skin and/or bumps;

Calluses and hard skin areas are very common to runners as calluses are caused by repeated contact or pressure, which is what us runners subject our feet to on each run.  Removal of calluses can leave your feet very sensitive and if it’s done too aggresively can also cause blistering, especially if it’s done too close to a long run or race.

Best to schedule your pedicures either well in advance or after a long run or event.  Let the pedicurist know that you are a runner and to buff the rough spots gently.  Don’t let them shave your feet as this can lead to infections.  If you have problem areas on your feet, best to see your doctor.

Victoria Marathon Race Review

Sunday, October 12, 2008 - the 29th running of the Victoria Marathon.  My 3rd running of the Victoria Marathon.  Along with the marathon, there was also a 8K and half marathon events taking place.  The marathon started promptly at 8:30.  And prompt it was, I know because I was still sitting on the porta potty.  That was a first for me.  The lineup for the porta potty just didn’t go quick enough even through the encouragement of the fellow marathoner standing in front of me as he called out to those in the porta potty to “pick up the pace”.  It didn’t matter too much, as by the time I got out, scuttled across the racers (as they were moving forward) to meet my husband on the other side and run through the starting gates, only 1 minute and 40 seconds had lapsed.  Because we were using timing chips, it was all irrelavent.

Other than the shaky start - the race day itself was beautiful.  I had heard that there were 10,000 racers out that morning.  We were treated with sunny, clear weather and phenominal views!  The race course itself winds, twists and undulates and was much more challenging than I had remembered it being in 1997.  Runners run through downtown Victoria and Beacon Hill Park before hitting the coastline and smelling the salt water and feasting their eyes on stunning water views.

Personally, my race was great.  I was pumped and in a very positive frame of mind.  After the half-way mark, I was still feeling great, so I just kept my pace up.  I passed runners who were starting to fade and I have to admit that it felt great and fuelled my fire even more.  My goal for this race was to beat my Vancouver Marathon time earlier in the year (4:24), I didn’t care how much I took off, but I knew that I had trained more for Victoria and had the distance under me.  You can only imagine how proud I felt when I came through the finish line at 4:04 - a whole 20 minutes off my Vancouver time.  Next year my Boston Marathon qualifying time is 4:05 - I now think that I can do it!

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