D-Day

So, today was D-Day. I had my first dentist appointment in more than 2 years. Yes, that’s right, I successfully avoided the dentist’s chair for 2 years. The time before that I managed to stay out of his office for FIVE YEARS. In retrospect, this is not something I am proud of. In fact, I like the feeling of having my teeth cleaned. I hate the anxiety that going to the dentist and sitting in that chair as they stick METAL PICKS in my mouth creates. Honestly, if there was an easy way to completely sedate me so I could wake up refreshed after the 30 minute cleaning, I’d do that every time.

Anyway, the visit was uneventful today, thankfully. I had x-rays taken, which showed no tooth decay and I got a thorough cleaning. I talked to him about my mild TMD and asked some other questions and I was off. My dental insurance pays for two cleanings each year, so that makes it easier to make myself go as well. Saved me over $100 today! Woot. So I go back in February and plan on continuing my no-cavity streak another 6 months.

As for running, that;s another story. So I went to the gym last night after work and ran in my new arch supports. I was going great for a while. They felt wonderful and my heel felt like it was striking a pillow rather than the treadmill. However, about 1.5 miles into my 3.5 mile run I started to feel the end of the support rubbing the bottom of my left foot. Then it started on my right foot. They both got progressively worse and at 1.6 miles I stopped and took them both out for fear fo ripping a hole in my foot. Good thing I did too, because even though I kept running without them (and felt fine for a while), I had rubbed those areas rawe enough to give me minor blisters on both feet. The left was worse than the right and neither was particularly bad since I stopped early and only ran 3.5 miles anyway. But still, I would have been better off never buying supports from the beginning.

I iced my right arch, and the blisters to control swelling and left them exposed to the air overnight. This morning when I got up they were much better. However, to be sure, I put a band aid on the left one and covered that with medical tape to keep it in place during the workday. I’ll take a look when I get home and see how it looks and feels in my running shoes. The right foot feels fine, save for the usual post-run arch pain once or twice today. Nothing extraordinary.

I think, however, that my best bet, and most effective solution over the long term will be to get a new pair of shoes that are specifically designed for my type of foot. I need something that will give me the arch support I need while being light and relatively loose fitting on my foot, which is what I like most about my current shoes. I am not crazy about spending another 80 bucks on shoes, but many runners have several pairs of shoes, so I’m coming around to the idea. This Saturday would be a good day to go because Annie is at work from 9-5 and then we’re going to see the Bourne Ultimatum that night. I have the entire afternoon to myself…perfect for spending several hours at a running store.

Anyway, my hope is that when I get home today, my blisters are healed up enough that I can tape them up and get another 3.5 mile run in this evening.