Foot Loose

I have done something truly stupid while away in Spain. I didn’t look after my feet, and as a result it has left me in pain, and to be brutally honest it pissed me off for the final days of the trip.

I know it’s my own fault, and of course everything is a learning curve, but non-the-less it was a silly thing to do, that could have been prevented, and not screwed up the end of the trip.

It started with a simple couple of blisters, very tiny, flat ones on each foot that I didn’t even really notice. Working in an office and sitting down for nine hours a day means my feet are not use to walking for long periods any more, and as a result I do tend to get blisters quite easily.

After a day of walking across Seville in brand new sandals, one burst, and I have honestly never know anything like it.

I suddenly couldn’t walk. It wasn’t the normal relief of a blister popping, it was a huge stinging pain through my foot.

Eventually we got back to the hotel, and after taking off my now soaked sandal, I could see that this blister hadn’t popped as I had normally known them to, but instead had split, tearing a deep cut down to the very raw and tender skin below.

And this is where I get more stupid. Instead of putting on antiseptic, I simply washed my feet, put on a plaster, and strapped them back up into my trainers, day after day.

As a result the wound didn’t, and still hasn’t, healed properly, and got infected causing even more pain.

It also left a bit of a rift between us, and no matter how wonderfully compassionate my boyfriend was, telling me we could take as long as we needed, my stubbornness and want to keep going and keep up with him, came through, which caused more pain and left me in a bad mood for a couple of days, because I felt that I was ruining the trip because I couldn’t match his pace and it was completely and utterly unfair on him.

So, to avoid this type of very annoying, but avoidable, situation in the future, here are a few simple steps.

      1.  Always make sure your shoes are well worn in and fit comfortably: I had only been wearing my trainers for a few days, and the majority of that was spent sat at my desk where my feet aren’t under any form of pressure. Ensure that you properly wear them in, walking in them for a good few miles, and making sure there are no aches or pains whatsoever!

2    2. Buy good quality shoes: My sandals are FitFlops, and are brilliant quality and very comfortable to wear. However, I hadn’t followed rule number one and worn them in properly, and as it transpired on the trip, wearing them for any more than doing the hoovering around the house left me realising that my feet tended to slide around in them, and that my toes escaped from under the front strap, so that they weren’t held in place. So no matter how good they are, they weren’t comfortable. My trainers are Decathlon and, due to lack of funds and not wanting to ‘waste’ money on expensive labels, I only bought a cheap pair of basic, light-weight running trainers. There is nothing wrong with them, but they are not designed for long distance walking, and the foam based souls leave your feet exposed to the harsh shapes of the ground underneath. Not great for walking a few miles over cobbles with a heavy rucksack, or climbing to the bottom of the Ronda Bridge.

      3. Wash your feet: Of course you should always wash your feet anyway, but I mean really take care of them when you’re travelling. Walking all day, in the heat, with a bag on your back, puts a huge strain on them, especially if you’re normally sat at a desk all day. By washing and drying them very carefully, you are removing risk of infection, reducing the chance of blisters, and getting rid of any grime or sweat, that may cause rubbing.

      4. Wear socks: If you’re wearing trainers, walking shoes, or anything bar a sandal, make sure you wear clean, good quality socks. They will prevent rubbing, and add another layer of cushioning between your feet and the ground.

5    5. Use flip flops in the shower: I have a horrible habit of not wearing flip flops in the shower while away, unless it looks filthy. However, places don’t have to look dirty for them to carry bacteria and viruses. Make sure you carry a pair of flip flops with you, and use them in every shower, no matter how clean it looks!

      It is honestly one of the most simple, yet effective things that can make or break your holiday. Learn from my mistake and remember your feet are one of your most important tools!