Even before I considered myself a runner, I never liked my feet. Over the past few years I would have to say that my toes leave something to be desired. It's a good thing I live in the north!
To fully grasp my aversion to my toes, I feel that I must go back in time. My toe woes started when I was a camp counselor in college. I was carrying a big log to put on the fire and promptly dropped it on my 4th toe on my right foot. That nail has NEVER been the same. Several trips to the doctor and same results. It's never going to be the same. Turns out that the body treats the damaged nail bed like an invader and overcompensates for the wound by building up a protective layer of nail. I never wanted to be a foot model, but really, all because I wanted keep the fire burning!
My next toe injury came after I ran my first trail half marathon. I learned that I was wearing too small of a shoe for running the rugged trails of Michigan in 90 degree heat! I bruised the nail bed on my 2nd toe on my left foot. It's still healing!
And finally after running my first half of this season, I bruised my big toe on my right foot. I guess my body believes in equal distribution of pain.
Then to make matters worse my dear friends performed minor surgery on an ingrown nail thanks to my half injury. Pain like you wouldn't believe even after a few adult beverages! The nail is finally growing back after loosing most of it over the winter.
I knew it was time to schedule the first pedi of the season. I dread it for a couple of reasons. First, I'm half Asian. I was adopted from Seoul by very loving German parents. It never fails that the nail techs talk about me and try to figure me out. They talk to each other and then smile at me and finally ask about where I came from. I politely throw a question back at them and say, "What do you think my heritage is?" People often think I'm from Hawaii or Japan. It makes me smile. To really confuse them I have answered in French or German! Hah! Second because they always say, "You must be a runner."
Anyway, here's to summer and bearing my toes. My life would not be the same without running. Well, maybe I would have prettier toes. It's all about perspective and I choose to remember that I earned those injuries by doing something that has enriched my life.
Any other people out there "bearing" their toes?
So happy summer running- go ahead let your toes breathe!
Emily :)
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