annanotbob2's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legs and shit like that First off, hello to a new returning reader from Uganda *waves, excitedly*! Don't panic, I know nothing more than that, I can't see who you are, but I do kind of hope you're an African person rather than a regular UK/US lurker, off on their hols. When I started writing here, and began to get notes and make friends I was thrilled with the thought that soon I might be reading blogs and being read by people from all around the world, but it hasn't really been like that. So, welcome Uganda, do say hello if you feel like it, and/or link to where you write, if you do. Today was meant to be another training walk for the big ten-miler, pushing beyond the four miles I've done twice, and on to around six. Those two previous walks have been OK, but for at least the last half mile my leg muscles have been in quite serious discomfort. I'd assumed that this was what to expect - it's the point of training, surely, that you build up your stamina so that you can go further and further before this happens - but several people have been vocal in their opinion that my footwear is to blame. Crocs, that is. Or, if this had been at a chillier time of year, Uggs. No support, they say. How can you possibly expect to walk that far without proper support for your feet? Well, my feet have never had much support, because this is what I've worn for years, so why would they suddenly need it now? I've never worn heels or pointy toed shoes, au naturel, c'est moi. Human beings have walked miles throughout history, barefoot or in all sorts of weird foot-coverings - specialised 'sports shoes' are a very recent, heavily marketed, lucrative concept. I'm not doing high-impact aerobics or even jogging, I'm just putting one foot in front of the other, plodding on and on till I get there. But they did insist that once I tried it, I'd know what a fool I'd been with my stupid ugly (comfortable!) shoes, so I dug out a pair of trainers I bought about fifteen years ago, when I did think I'd take up jogging (stop sniggering at the back), top of the range back then, blah blah blah. Ha! IT WAS ALL BOLLOCKS!! Bloke and I drove to the marina car park, all set for the eastern coastal path, three miles each way, nice and flat, no problems. But my leg muscles started to complain before we'd left the fucking car park! Outrageous! We didn't get to the end, though I did give it my best shot - three and a half miles all together, but with about twenty stops for a quick sit-down. I didn't get blisters, but it felt very uncomfortable, having my feet enclosed like that, and myself tilted, just enough to notice, at a bit of a funny angle. That's what did it, I'm sure. Lesson learned - crocs it is. 12:24 a.m. - 09.09.13 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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