Our poor feet carry us throughout our running journey and we may forget they take quite a bashing! It’s only fair we look after them in return! Here is my footcare box, after every run I indulge in a few minutes of footcare therapy. The staples in my footcare lotions and potions are:
Tiger Balm (Red)
Boots foot cream
Body Shop Peppermint foot scrub
Be honest, do you care for your feet regularly? Do you simply forget? Do we take our feet for granted? What’s your footcare regime and tips?
Ooh what a lovely idea JaoJao! I have so many bits that need looking after these days! My feet do get a treat, each morning I massage them with CCS foot cream. I’m prone to corns in really annoying places and this definitely keeps them at bay. I don’t do much else except wear low heeled, comfortable shoes as I walk an awful lot. They definitely help keep your feet healthier longer. 🦶 🦶 🦶
Glad to hear it has not skipped your attention 
you are right that it’s not only the feet that start to creak 😂. My back is aching after my long run this evening (week 4 Juju plan).
I prescribe lots of stretching and a nice soak in the bath 😊Well done on your long run and good luck with JuJu’s plan, it really works 👏👏
I use that CCS cream too, it’s brilliant! It was recommended to me by a chiropodist.
It is, isn’t it? Mine was too and you really only need a tiny bit
I used to look afer my feet with lotions and potions.... Then stopped when started running, then a while ago i did moisturise them, then got blisters! So thought maybe soft skin not so good. 🤔
I do like the idea tho 👍
Oh no at blisters! Maybe make sure you are using foot products rather than a body butter or body lotion. When I’ve tried normal moisturisers in the past they don’t do the trick for the feet, they dry up quite quickly. Foot products tend to have more cooling ingredients, I would recommend the body shop footcare range (medium price range) as well as the boots footcare range (budget price range) and tiger balm (£5 from a chemist)
😂😂 I have a wonderful collection of foot care goodies !! ... sadly they are generally a bit neglected (the goodies, not my feet 🤣). Thank you for reminding me about them! Love the tiger balm idea. Never thought of using that on feet.
I recently bought a pair of massaging insoles, and I love them. Really make my feet feel invigorated!
Tiger balm works wonders for tired and fatigued legs and feet, especially when you do it before sleeping and put socks on overnight. I have to mix it with the boots foot care cream as it’s quite strong in its own (menthol smell). Only on long run days and parkrun, not everyday.
Ok I have to admit apart from using soap and a pumice stone in the shower on my feet that’s all I do. So what should I be using to care for my feet and how often? Low cost options please. What does tiger balm do for your feet ?
Pumice is very good to keep skin soft, I must admit I forget to use mine very often.
Footcare does not have to be expensive at all. Usually once a week I try to soak them in a plastic bucket with a shower gel or radox and that’s when I’ll use the pumice too. Then pat them dry with a towel and apply / massage tiger balm mixed in with a foot care cream to my feet and lower legs.
Tiger balm works wonders for tired and fatigued feet, especially when you do it before sleeping and put socks on overnight. I have to mix it with the boots foot care cream as it’s quite strong in its own (menthol smell).
It’s something I learned from my travels to Thailand, they use Tiger Balm at all the massage parlours and I’ve brought it back with me and been using it for years.
A good reminder, thank you. I try to look after mine but I guess more in beauty terms. I make my own scrub with olive oil, sugar, lemon zest and juice, and rosemary. Works a treat. I’m just recovering from a tendon injury though and never thought of using tiger balm but now I’m wondering if it could help. What does it do and where do you get it from?
The idea to use tiger balm has actually come from my travels in Thailand, tiger balm is a staple product in all the massage parlours especially used on “foot massages” rather than the rest of the body, it’s too strong for elsewhere. Here is a copy and paste form a tiger balm website..
Tiger Balm, inspired by centuries of Chinese wisdom, offers a unique formulation specially made with herbal active ingredients which are proven to be effective.
Tiger Balm’s herbal and aromatic formulas help soothe sore and aching muscles, as well as Tiger Balm White offering relief to tension headaches.
Suitable for young (2 years +) and old, this ointment that we’re all familiar with is available in 2 formulations in the UK & ROI; Tiger Balm Red for the temporary relief of muscular aches and pains and Tiger Balm White for the treatment of tension headaches, as well as the temporary relief of muscular aches and pains.
Always read the label.
Thank you for that 😊 I might give it a go!
Good quality running socks and proper running shoes. That’s it for me. Thankfully my feet don’t suffer.
Foot massage! I give them my attention most nights and have them massaged in my regular sports massage every 3 to 4 weeks if they're suffering.
I use Banana body butter on them every night in socks.
I use various foot scrubs depending on what's on offer and pumice or a foot file daily.
We do take them for granted, we just expect them to just keep on taking us where we want to go (bit like teeth!)
Your routine sounds great and good on you for tending to them most days! We all need a bit of that. I think it really does help to keep you running and injury free x
It absolutely does, when you get "grainy" areas or tight fascia or pain around the heels you really can stop problems before they take hold 👍🏻
If you learn about reflexology it can also let you know about other issues in the rest of the body. I'm not 100% convinced on all of it but it can be helpful👍🏻😁
Wow, that's quite a collection!
I've been doing a lot of work on improving my feet recently. I have structural problems resulting in a bunion and crowded, immobile toes on my left foot. I have been wearing toe separators regularly, and wide-toe-box shoes, plus I do lots of massage (mainly in front of the TV). I have seen massive improvements, I can now move my toes (not quite as well as with my right foot, but definitely getting there!). I am confident that in time this is going to help my overall biomechanics. I walk around without shoes as much as possible, and never wear heels, flip-flops, or mules.
I also think that eccentric heel drops (yes, those again 😊) are great for the feet. I further recommend barre workouts - they give great strengthening and stretching for the feet.
I like Boots' intensive foot softener, it's good stuff!
Thanks Roseabi. I think everyone has some issue with their feet or other. Sensible shoes is good advice. I too stay away from high heels and flat shoes.
I found the heel drops really strange this week, and a little bit unsteady, I will try again but might do a lazy version (up and down on tiptoes) 😁😁😁
I admit that I forget. Though they do end up being in better condition in the winter because of all the petroleum jelly that gets put on them before a wet run.
Years ago there used to be a wonderful foot soak that had arnica in it, it was blissful on tired achy feet (I wasn’t a runner then, but a kennel maid and spent a lot of time walking in wellies). It doesn’t seem to be made anymore, and I really do wish I could find the modern equivalent.
I found the arnica massage balm in Holland and Barrett however it’s an oil which I mix with a foot cream. Arnica is great for bruising, so when I feel like I’ve had a knock or worked my legs really hard (I.e. after parkrun) that’s when I reach for it most
I shall have to look for it. Thanks.
Hi JaoJao
Wow, that's a great Foot Pamper Refresher kit - so many lovely products and great ideas there.
I usually use some body butter on my feet each day - and once a year I treat myself to a professional chiropody appointment - should do that more often, as it's always amazing!
Now you've got me thinking that a Soothing foot bath would be wonderful - so maybe I might treat myself this week to a foot product or two...
Zest
Blimey. I use nothing. What’s CCS? And so you apply all of these ? Ie when do you use arnica vs tiger balm ? And is this always post run ? X
Haha, no I don’t apply all of these in one go. I mix it up depending on the run. For a long run I use tiger balm most. For a short run I use a foot lotion / cooling gel and for after parkrun I reach for the arnica. There’s no rules really, just what you feel your feet need at the time I just wanted to share inspire other members not to forget about footcare.
Get yourself a pumice and foot scrub to help with a foot soak/foot bath.
I think CCS is a remedy for corns on the feet. Look it up.
Wet feet 😫💧🦆
Where do you find the joy in your running?
How achey are you after a run? Normal physical effects you get after a run? (Non-injury related)
