AboutScott Demaree Expertise I can answer questions about training, physiology, nutrition, technique, equipment and injury prevention. My background is not medical, so I will not be able to answer detailed questions about injury treatment. However, during 30 years of endurance exercise I have had a few injuries so I feel qualified to talk about things that have worked for me and others.
Experience I have been a long distance runner since 1978 and took up racewalking in 1982. More recently, I have worked as a certified personal trainer helping people with a wide range of exercise needs. Last year, I coached several people to successfully finish the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in Dallas (60 miles in three days).
Organizations American College of Sports Medicine, American Council on Exercise, National Science Teachers Association
Publications Journal articles associated with my graduate work with me as the primary author were published in the Journal of Nutrition, Acta Physiologica Scandanavica. Additionally, I co-authored the chapter on exercise metabolism in ACSM's Resource Manual for Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 4th Edition. Finally. I co-authored a book for beginning marathon runners (Marathoning 101).
Education/Credentials I have recent Master's degrees in Exercise Science from Wichita State University and Nutrition from Texas A&M University.
Awards and Honors I won national championships in the 1986 100-Kilometer Racewalk and the 1989 24-Hour Run.
Expert: Scott Demaree Date: 8/26/2007 Subject: sore feet after endurance event
Question I did the Oxfam trailwalker in Sydney which is a 100km walk on rocky, hilly
bush trails. I did all my training with hiking boots, which unfortunately lost
their sole at 50km, so I finished the walk with cross trainers. The bottoms of
my feet are incredibly sore (pain in the heel and the ball of the foot) every
time I step on them. Any advice on the best way to treat them?
thanks!
Answer You may have just bruised and irritated muscles, ligaments and tendons in your feet. The hiking boots protected your feet so much that they may not have toughened up enough. Then, the cross trainers provided even less protection than a good trail shoe. Next time, train for and do your event with trail running shoes.
As for what to do with them. I doubt that you have done any serious long-term damage to your feet, so it may just take some time off your feet (as much as possible) to heal up. In the mean time, if you tolerate anti-inflammatories, use them. If not, you might try turmeric, ginger and/or cinnamon extracts, all of which work against inflammation in your body. If the pain persists for more than a month, check with a doctor. I always suggest a chiropractor as the first stop. A competent chiropractor will refer you on to a doctor if need be.
