The plight of the runner’s toes
Let’s set one thing straight, I have never had nice toes. The are squat, misshapen and some of the toe nails are non-existent.
If you were to compare them to a literary creation, you’d think of Snow White, the eight dwarfs and two ogres (that’s the big toes). You’d think that JRR Tolkien may have used them as the basis for the orcs in Lord of the Rings.
I have long tried to hide them from public sight, I do not own sandals or flip flops, and even in the highs of summer they are covered in socks.
So when last year I set out on my week of madness, I was mortified when after the Cardiff Half Marathon I took of my trainer to find even uglier toes. Two of the toes were swollen, discoloured and even more disfigured than before.
I buoyed myself for a visit to the Doctor, as the week of madness and fundraising was more important than my loathing and embarrassment of my toes.
When my name was called, I walked sheepishly into the Drs office, and before sitting down I started to apologise profusely for the monstrosity he was about to see. I envisaged that he would run screaming in disgust from the office, or call all his Dr friends and point and laugh at the freak show, or maybe add me to a medical journal!
Amazingly he didn’t, he must have learnt restraint as part of his education. Instead he let me know that I had an infection and needed antibiotics. I also got a wonderful toe bandage to wear for the remaining part of the week of madness, so there wouldn’t have been further trauma.
Since then I have continued to run, and I have constant bruised toe nails and nails that I’m sure need to be removed as they are so deformed, but I am yet to pluck up enough courage to visit the Dr or podiatrist.
So the reason for this post, yes there is a reason....If my fundraising efforts for a wonderful charity is not enough, just give a little thank you to the Gods and the genetics that have given you nice normal feet and that you don’t have 10 Toe-Orcs that look up at you from your feet everyday!!!!
And maybe just donate a pound or two to www.justgiving.com/leyniepearn for the damage I inflict on my already terrible feet, because although they are damaged beyond measure, I do it all for Cancer Research to raise a bit more money!!
