[pct-l] Foot ready, are you?

[Dana]

I too developed plantar fasciitis during my AT thru in 2010. I did plenty of training beforehand and had even ran 2 marathons in the previous year with zero foot issues. I began my hike with mid-ankle hiking boots and switched to trail runners as it got warmer. As the days passed, I started noticing rear heel pain and stiffness in the mornings that went away as I warmed up hiking. It gradually got worse so I added some gel insoles as it felt more like bruised heels than what I thought plantar fasciitis should feel like. It got worse, I switched insoles and shoes several times with no relief. I took a week off and felt better so off I go again. Within 5 miles I was back in unrelenting pain again. I went to an outfitter in Damascus and they suggested green Superfeet. So I bought them and switched back to the sturdier hiking boots. It worked! The pain never went away, but it got MUCH more bearable and I was able to complete my hike. So for me, (50yo female in 2010), I need supportive, non-padded insoles. Moral is if it hurts, fix it sooner rather than later. Oh and as far as pre-hike training goes, try to stay on your feet. That is just as important as practice hiking with weight. Once you start your hike, you will be on your feet for most of the day. So watch tv, read, etc. standing up rather than sitting to help in you adjustment.

HDMama

Sent from my iPad

> On Feb 7, 2014, at 7:23 PM, Diane Soini <dianesoini at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Before my PCT hike I was already an avid hiker that put in weekly miles 
> in So Cal. However, something about the PCT still gave me blisters.
> 
> One mistake I made was the shoes I started out with were goretex. Never 
> wear goretex shoes. They will kill your feet. Search goretex shoes and 
> Andrew Skurka if you don't believe me. He does not even recommend them 
> in wet conditions.
> 
> The trouble with the PCT is that it is too maintained. It is very very 
> smooth. There is hardly any variation as you walk. Barely any rocks 
> underfoot. If there is a slope to the tread, it lasts for 10 miles. It's 
> a perpetual motion injury machine. It starts with blisters between your 
> big and 2nd toe. Then you favor your foot because of the blister and the 
> change in your gait causes problems in your knees or your hips. Soon you 
> think you have knee problems. Then you get to a long climb with the 
> trail tilted outward to the slope. Your little pinky toe on that side 
> turns into a massive blister. Then it's 10 miles to the other side and 
> your other pinky toe is hamburger.
> 
> Not much you can do really but wear breathable shoes, stop and air out 
> your feet often, change your socks a lot, and take care of any blisters 
> and hotspots as soon as possible. It'll pass. After the Sierras, which 
> is a couple hundred miles of your feet being constantly wet, your feet 
> will be impervious.
> 
>> On 02/07/2014 06:00 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>> ------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 6
>> Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2014 10:19:38 -0500 (EST)
>> From: Joshua Walsh<jpwalk38z at aol.com>
>> Subject: [pct-l] Foot ready, are you?
>> 
>> 
>> Any Solutions or advice?
>> 
>> Please respond with comments for or against. Any constructive advice is welcome!
> 
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