Queue the violins....
I have blisters 
My poor poor feet. Two blisters developed during my last runs of week 8, I don't know why nothing has changed. I do suffer with my feet generally so its probably a combination of stuff. Any way on with the story, so two blisters. Not so bad bit of a pain, one around the ball of each foot. Yesterday I decided to go out with Mr Mouse (or should that be Mr Spoonie on this forum! Arrrggghhh too much for my brain to handle) and Ferd on their dog walk. I wanted to take Mr Mouse on the route that would take him up close to the new wind turbine, he hasn't seen one up close before (in Essex the wind turbines are all out at sea). So what did I put on my feet for this dog walk, what shoes did I feel appropriate for trail and towpath, erm yep that would be the inappropriate birkenstocks queue more blisters and a rather impressive and very painful one on the side of my right foot
Now what am I going to do I though, I am heading into the last week and I've set a date for my first parkrun (this coming Saturday), I dont want to let a silly little thing like blisters get in my way. I'd already googled blister socks and saw the price of them so I knew I was just to have to make do.
But...
When I came home there was an email waiting. An exciting email. A conditional job offer (I have to pass clearance checks and pre-employment health check before it becomes a definite) woohooo.
I raced to decatholon and abused my credit card and brought some blister socks to celebrate, I also treated myself to a new lycra wonder outfit (combination of decathlon and asda nothing expensive). In years past such news would have promoted the purchase of a new Radley handbag.
So armed with new socks, new wonder outfit (purple) and a spring in my step, off out Ferd and me went this morning.
Warm up walk, oh hello Laura, yes it only seemed fitting that I come crawling back to listen to the last podcast.
Oh its 'that' song 
SQUIRREL
er yes Ferd it was indeed a squirrel, did spotting it really require trying to dislocate my shoulder. Oh it did, you needed a closer look.
Dogs.
The rest of the warm up thankfully went without incident.
Are you ready? Well actually no Ferd hasnt done his erm business yet and I need to fiddle with runkeeper.
Pause Laura.
Resume. And we're off. I am mentally prepared today for all the time checks, so they dont trip me up.
See a man, see a big dog, see an angry ankle biter.
Phew made it past. Carry on. On we go. Ferd time to get back on the lead, all runs by the canal are now on the lead too many nesting birds.
Another ankle biter.
And another ankle biter.
What is it with people and small dogs? I like a dog I can see, though I do like dachshunds. Anyway I digress.
Running. On we run. Ferd wants in the canal, I dont want to go swimming, Ferd wants to speed up, I want to plod along, ferd wants to stop and sniff a daisy, I almost tumble over him.
On we go.
Knee keeps catching its being a pain, in more ways than one. I start off my runs with a sort of limpy gait, until I find my stride and normally then thats it, but today I have to keep resorting to limpy gait. Oh well on I run, its ok as long as its flat.
I know I cant to 5k in 30 minutes, so I need to be confident that I can carry on and that was my aim today. I knew I was about to get the one minute warning and I was prepared.
Well done you have 60 seconds left. Smiled at the music choice for those last 60 seconds.
I am not stopping until I reach the lock. I reach the lock. I am not stopping til I reach the stile. Reach the stile. I am not stopping til I reach the lock. Reach the lock and time.
Fish phone out of bra to find out how amazing I've done.
Of for (insert a chain of expletives of your choice) grrr
My amazing smart phone hence forth known as the dumb phone had paused runkeeper. Yep it took it upon itself to make that decision, with no help from me or my boobs. I'd locked the screen when I stuffed it into my bra.
Sobs.
Hobble home. Knee hurts, feet are hot, really hot. I want a cup of tea.
Feed hoard.
Tea and face the stairs that have suddenly become a sheer rock face, up I climb one step at a time - running was easier. Time to dust of a knee support, I don't really like wearing it cause it, but its far more comfortable than my brace style supports. Will try wearing it for next run, I will not let my broken body beat me. Er erm disclaimer for others don't use me as an example to continue running with an injured knee, take the time to rest as much as you need and refer to medical advice, I know what wrong with my knees, so I know I can carry on.
Load up laptop - I will get a rough idea of how far I ran *blows raspberry at dumb phone*
Distance around 4.3km in 40 minutes 
So storming into week 9 finish line in sight.
I hope I haven't made anyone violently sick with the sight of my legs, for anyone interested the support is neoprene and I still have my ever faithful kinesiology tape on. The neoprene helps to keep the area warm to create greater flexibility in muscles, tendons and ligaments. It also helps to relieve pain, swelling and stiffness. The expensive socks are by my feet and yes that's how my feet naturally fall cause of my wonky joints.
Oh yeah expensive socks helped, cheap blister plaster did not - well two stayed in place one didnt so will get the better ones that I know work
Week 9, run 1 - I just ran 30 mins!!
It's done everyone!! Week 9 run 3 in the bag!!
Best socks to avoid blisters?
