Step in the Right Direction Towards Protect it Socks.

As you’ve read on my blog already, this month has been a really busy month with lots of different fun filled activities. Although fun (when you stop feeling sick), it was also my first month back in training for athletics after a well deserved (not-so relaxing) rest period. It seems like common sense, but it’s a little known fact in the running community that changes in intensity, frequency and footwear change are big indicators for injury.

The reason I say it’s a little known fact is because as I’ve mentioned before, when working for a global sports brand I used to encounter a lot of runners that would want to change their footwear a few days before a marathon. Thinking that the new shoes would give that extra something in order to run a p.b. But in fact that change in footwear would more often than not have resulted in injuries such as blisters at best and stress fractures at worst. Think about when you’ve bought a new pair of everyday shoes, they felt comfy in the shop and so the first time you’ve worn them, you do so all day and regret it for the blisters and bruises you’re left with. The same can be said for frequency of training, when someone goes from doing little or no exercise at all and tries to run a marathon (people do- although not recommended) the body can’t cope and injuries happen. In regular runners a change in intensity is often what leads to things like shin splints and bad blisters.

A gradual approach to training is often much more successful and is actually what I’m doing in training myself at the moment. We have 5 weeks of training that are purely what we call conditioning work. In other words getting the body ready to do the high intensity, power sessions and in the meantime hopeful avoiding injury. Now that I’m back training outdoors too, this has meant a range of training terrains- grass for hill runs, a mondo track for speed endurance, sand dunes for ultimate endurance and in the gym for circuits. I’ve really put my Protect it socks through their paces this month, in some respects more than ever because one week might include all of these terrains on several occasions. But unlike some of my training group I haven’t had a single blister whilst wearing them. Of course I have suggested the Protect it socks to my team mates who have been struggling with blisters. It would be mean not to and we’re a team, so I want them to be able to achieve in their training sessions too. And not have to sit on the side-lines because their feet are covered in blisters.

Although as athletes we need to look after our feet because they’re the tools of our trade, so do people with diabetes. I’ve found out recently that October 8th is ‘Diabetic Foot Month’, so do yourself a kindness and treat yourself to some Protect it socks. As featured in Balance magazine - the Diabetes UK magazine and the Daily Mail, Protect it socks are specifically designed with the needs of people with diabetes in mind. The soles are padded to help prevent blisters, as is the heal  so it acts as a barrier between your feet and your shoes. But although padded, Protect it socks are lovely and breathable so as to avoid sweaty feet and so as to help avoid unsightly issues such as athlete’s foot. Whether you’re a runner, someone with diabetes or both then take a step in the right direction towards Protect it socks.

Me wearing my Protect it socks at the Diabetes UK Family Day Event in Cardiff