Sidebar: My Dumb Feet

i went to the podiatrist today because ever since i started running/walking, my shins and calves have bothered me. i already know that i am an "over pronater" and i suspect that my feet are on the flat side. due to these two things, and more importantly, because my health insurance runs out at the end of april i called and made an appointment. the whole experience was very enlightening:

he put my foot up on his knee and drew a line down my foot, which annoyed me until . . . he said: "see how the line is straight (pic 1)? now stand up and put your weight on it like normal. see how the line veers off to the left (pic 2)? that's not good". something about this demonstration really clicked for me and it totally made sense for me. he said the following:

- i have shin splints. he pressed on the shin muscles (or whatever you call them) to demonstrate, evoking a grimace from me.
- this is hereditary.
- this was not caused by wearing thongs (as i had suspected) nor by my weight. i would still have this problem no matter what i weighed.
- the fix is custom orthotics, which i had also suspected. wearing them will correct my feet so that they look like pic 1, even when i'm standing on them.

they put a half cast on each foot (pic 3) and after about 10 minutes i was all done. i'll get them in two weeks. i'm VERY excited. if this can make my shins and calves stop hurting and being sore i think i can progress faster. YAY! of course the bloodsucking insurance company didn't cover them. only if i'm diabetic they said.



then to celebrate, i went and got my car washed and stopped by chick-fil-a. i was starving and though i know its not the best, it's also not the worst. i even refrained from getting fries and a coke, which i always do. okay fine, i should have gotten the char-grilled chicken breast. i ordered the original out of habit. i must say though, the chicken sandwich i had was an utter delight! a perfectly toasted bun, hosting an ample, juicy and well appointed chicken breast. once devoured, i instantly desired another.