See Your Feet The Way We Do

Three Ways to Help Your Feet

As runners, we demand an awful lot from our feet, so we need to take better care of them! After all, blisters, pain and strain can derail your training. Routine foot care doesn’t have to take much time or effort–in fact, sometimes your foot care can happen during recovery! Here are six tips for how to take better care of your feet.

1. Swap your sock liners with insoles

Most running shoes are flat on the inside and only have a thin sock liner, which allows them to fit a wide variety of arch profiles and foot shapes. For some people this is fine, but for others, insoles can alleviate discomfort and pain, maximize stride efficiency and enhance shoe fit.

“Insoles can be a great tool for injury prevention and rehabilitation,” says John. “If you’re experiencing pain or injury, it’s important to have a discussion with a health professional, such as a physical therapist, to determine the cause of your pain or injury and explore if an insole would be appropriate for your specific scenario.”

Insoles can address:

• Foot, shin and ankle pain by offering proper foot alignment
• Heel slippage, reducing hot spots and blisters
• Heel pain by creating an extra barrier of cushioning
• Big toe pain, reducing unnecessary pressure on the joint
• Arch pain by helping your arch do its job properly

Check out a more in-depth explanation of five problems insoles can solve.

2. Wear high-quality socks designed for running and walking

This might not seem like a big deal, but the socks you wear can have a big effect on how your feet feel. High-quality running socks are designed to withstand the pounding your feet take during a run. They outperform your average cotton sock, any day.

Running socks use technical fabrics to wick away sweat, keeping your feet dry and cool to reduce potential for blisters. They often feature varying compression levels to improve the fit, plus a seamless construction to eliminate friction. And, like insoles, running socks can be used to improve the fit of your shoes. Here are five things to know about running socks.

You might even consider calf sleeves or knee-high compression socks to improve circulation in your feet and calves during your run and for post-run recovery.

3. Get fitted with us for good running and walking shoes

The easiest and best way to take better care of your feet is to get properly fitted for shoes. Everyone can benefit from getting fitted, whether you’re road running, trail running, walking or spend long on your feet at work. The Fleet Feet fit id® outfitting process is designed to help you find the right shoes for your feet. (No more asking your friends what they wear!)

You don’t need an appointment to get fitted. Walk-ins are always welcome! However, your outfitter will be able to best serve you if you’re prepared with the following:

• Bring your current shoes so they can see wear patterns
• Also bring your favorite socks for trying on (but we have clean socks for you to borrow, if needed!)
• Be prepared to tell your outfitter about your current habits and your goals
• Any races you’re training for, and where you are in your training plan
• Pain you might be feeling during and after your run

Treating your feet well is important–and they deserve it for all the hard work they do! A mix of these tips will help you take better care of your feet so they can keep you running.