Bound and determined

I left my new podiatrist's office on Monday afternoon with a heap of instructions. And a foot that looked like this:

She taped up my foot to support my arch in an effort to take pressure off of my plantar fascia to help it heal. I learned how to tape my own foot at the end of my appointment. As soon as I left, I sent the following text message to my sister:

"I just left the foot doctor. She taught me how to tape my arches. I'm bound to wind up mummified in athletic tape and trapped in my apartment."

My sister liked my clever use of puns. But she didn't seem to be too concerned about my becoming all wrapped up in athletic tape. I, on the other hand, have some reservations about this process. But my foot feels a little better already, so I have to guess that the taping works. Today I had to try it on my own. With just two rolls of tape, two strips of kinesio tape, and the trainer's diagrams and written instructions.

And it didn't go too badly.

I messed up on the edges a little bit because I got a little caught in the scissors. I think the trick is to cut each strip of tape before I get started. And yes, my kinesio tape is pink and blue. The sports medicine store was out of stock of their boring beige, but I have a small stash of samples from a race earlier this year. And since the shop won't have any in stock for awhile, I ordered some online in bright blue. It'll match a lot of my wardrobe.

Between the taping, a bunch of stretches I've already been doing, and a few new therapies, the doctor thinks I'll be pain free and racing again soon. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'd cross my toes too, but there's not much wiggle room with all that tape.