It’s not too early to start training for the Run Collingwood Half Marathon & 10K on October 4, even if you aren’t in the habit of pounding the trails. The Georgian Triangle Running Club offers 12 weekly sessions to help everyone from beginners to seasoned runners get ready. As you train, patches of dry skin are probably going to form on the soles of your feet. It’s inevitable, but is it OK to run with calluses?
In general, if hardened areas of skin are not painful, you don’t need to worry. However, if your calluses are so thick and hard that they don’t budge when you pinch the area between your fingers, you may want to do something about them. A patch like that under the base of your littlest toe can cause you to overpronate to avoid the friction. The same goes for the bony area on the inside of your big toe or under the ball of your foot; you may roll your foot more to the outside to offload the pressure.
If the sole under your heels is too thick and hard, it will not cushion your stride as effectively, and the impact of each step can be transferred farther up the line to your legs, knees, hips, and back. If you are diabetic and run with calluses, you may develop irritation or a blister that can become a serious ulcer. Dry heels can also split under pressure, opening your feet to infection.
The solution is fairly simple: Monitor and care for your feet. Use a warm foot soak to soften them, and exfoliate the dry areas with a scrub, pumice stone, or emery board. Follow with a good moisturizer to keep the skin flexible. If you are diabetic, get expert help from Abbott Foot & Ankle Clinic in Collingwood, ON, to handle your calluses and other foot problems. All it takes is quick call to (705) 444-9929 to let Chiropodist Tony Abbott help your get your feet in perfect shape for the big race. You can also request an appointment on our website.
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