Do Good By Treating Your Feet Well: Preparing for a Walkathon

Equip Yourself For Success

The best way to prepare your feet for Walkathons and fundraising races is to exercise regularly. By doing so, your body has a chance to become accustomed to the pressures and stresses of vigorous exercise. However, if you’re not really that much of an athlete, you might try to work in a few extra miles before the big day.

Equip yourself for success by stretching regularly, paying particular attention to your feet and lower legs. That being said, be careful not to overdo the training. Overzealous training can create a range of problems, including tendonitis and stress fractures. Do not attempt to go from being a total couch potato to running a marathon in the course of a week. Your body needs time to adjust and acclimate to the new level of physical activity. Working your way up slowly will allow you to walk or run for a longer period of time, and enable you to raise more money for the causes you care about.

Select Appropriate Footwear

One of the best ways to protect your foot health is to wear the appropriate footwear, both for the event and when you’re training for it. The comfy, battered sneakers you wear to clean out the garage are not ideal for walking or running any distance at all. You need a shoe with some substance and structure to it. Select well-fitting sneakers that provide arch support, heel cushioning and ankle support. Your feet should fit comfortably, without being pinched or cramped.

Take Pain Seriously

Pain is how our bodies tell us that something is wrong. Listen to your body. Sharp, sudden, stabbing pain in your feet should not be ignored. You may have sprained your foot. Stress fractures are also common, and contrary to popular belief, you can still walk with broken bones in your foot. The fact you’re still standing doesn’t mean nothing’s wrong! If you suspect that you’ve injured yourself, try the RICE protocol: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. If that does not alleviate the pain, make sure to follow up with your physician so they can identify and treat the problem for you.