Walking for Cancer: How to Save Your Feet!

Throughout the summer and into the fall, many hit the city streets to walk for breast cancer, arthritis, and many other devastating medical conditions. If you have ever participated in a Breast Cancer walk, you know the emotional drive behind finishing the race for yourself, and loved ones. Nothing stands in the way of a herd of women and men in pink. Well, maybe foot pain. Many of these walks are 20+ miles a day and for most of us, we don’t normally put that kind of millage on our feet. Even if you are an avid runner, walking applies different kinds of forces on your feet compared to running so don’t be surprised if you have some aching feet. Is there anything to prevent the blisters, aches, and pains during and after the walk? Here are some helpful hints to prepare you for your walks against cancer!
Train, train, and more training!
You may think that walking doesn’t take too much training, but it does! Just as marathon runners prepare for the big race, walkers should train for their big walk. Some walks are 50+ miles long. When was the last time you put that kind of mileage on your body? The best way to prevent injury is to build up your body’s endurance and appropriate muscle support. Walk daily and slowly increase the distance daily and weekly.

Don’t Forget Your Shoes!
Most walkers wear the wrong size shoes which can cause blisters, loss of toenails, and aches and pains. Proper fit is one of the most important factors in finding the correct shoes for your walking adventure. Make sure you try both shoes on and walk around in them before you buy them. While standing (not sitting) you should have about a fingers width between your big toe and the end of the shoe. Make sure the shoe is wide enough. You should be able to freely wiggle your toes inside the shoe. Buy your shoes several months before the walk and train in them. Never wear brand new shoes on a long distance walk.

Grease Up!
Most walkers get painful blister! Luckily, there are ways to prevent these fluid filled monsters! Vaseline or products such as Body glide decrease the friction of your skin with your shoe and sock. Applying such products to “high risk” areas of your feet will decrease the chances of a blister. Apply the product regularly along your walk or when you feel a blister coming on. If you have a blister, seek help at a medical tent. They can pop the blister and provide padding to relieve the pain.

Don’t Ignore the Pain!
There is so much emotion and drive in these walks that people stop listening to what their body is telling them. If you are experiencing pain, there are medical professional at every pit stop to help you. Something as silly as a blister can be cared for and you won’t have to stop walking, but some pains may be serious. Drinking lots of fluids and paying attention to how often you urinate is very important. Dehydration is the most common complication on these walks! If you want to finish the walk it is best to address your aches and pains on the way so you don’t end up with a more serious problem!

Enjoy Yourself
No matter what you are walking for or who you are walking for, remember to embrace the experience. You are making a statement for you community and the ill across the nation. The walks are long and hard, but stay positive and focused on the real meaning and purpose of this community gathering. WALK ON!!!

Walking Safely for a Cure

There are many walking fundraiser events these days that truly tests a person’s endurance. The Houston area hosts several of these events every year. One of the most popular examples is the two and three day breast cancer walks in which you can walk the distance of almost two marathons. The way most of these events work is you walk all day, sleep in a tent overnight, and then get up the next morning to keep walking. While causes like breast cancer really strike a cord with people there are a couple of things that people must keep into consideration when taking on a challenge like this so that they can prevent getting hurt.

1. Listen to your body, not your mind:
Many times when people are walking or running for a cause they get very emotionally involved in their drive to finish the race. It is important to listen to your body. If it hurts, stop!! Just because you don't finish a race or event does not mean you are letting someone down or that you don't care about the cause.

2. Just because you are a runner doesn't mean you are a walker:
There are many runners out there who attempt to do one of these long walks and find themselves more sore then after they run…this is natural. Walking uses different muscles than running, so it is like your body is starting a new exercise routine that it is not used to.

3. Don't be afraid to stop for aid:
At all of these events there are always medical and podiatry tents to care for race-day injuries. One of the most common injuries seen when walking long distances is blisters. If you stop at a podiatry tent, there are many trained medical volunteers who are there to help drain your blisters and bandage you up so that the rest of your race will be more comfortable. It also prevents further trauma that can cause infection.

Walking for a cure is one of the most emotionally gratifying things you can do. Just make sure that if you attempt a walk with a distance longer than you’re used to that you know what to expect. Listening to your body and stopping for help if you need it, even if you are an experienced runner, should not be a blow to your athletic psyche.