07 Jun Facts and insights
On this page, I’ll share a few facts about myself as well as some personal insights, especially regarding running. Why? Just because. Maybe someone will find it interesting. Maybe it will help someone (e.g., running tips). And if not, that’s okay too—but at least I’ve gotten my thoughts down on paper.
#AK001: My profile picture
My profile picture (Instagram, WhatsApp, Signal) confuses some people because it shows my dirty and bloody left hand. I took the photo on May 25, 2019, after I returned from a trail run in Graz—just under 2 hours, 20 km, and 700 meters of elevation gain. It was a sunny day, and I ran up the Plabutsch around noon. I then fell while running downhill through the forest. But despite being all sweaty and dirty, I kept running right away. Even with the fall, everything felt great. What’s more, I was pretty hyped up from the adrenaline that rushes through your body when you fall, and I was feeling thrilled. It wasn’t until I got home that I noticed the blood on my hands and legs.
I like this picture. It reminds me of that amazing run, and to me, it symbolizes two aspects of life in particular: (1) Being in touch with your feelings—being in touch with yourself—is important. Without emotions, life would be boring, and you wouldn’t get to know yourself. (2) No matter what happens in life, get back up and keep going.
#AK002: Strengthening the feet arches can prevent or reduce problems
Even before I started running, I had flat feet. For whatever reason. Without a strong, natural, shock-absorbing arch, there’s a risk—among other things—that your legs or knees will turn in too much. The flow of force from the foot up to the torso isn’t ideal. This can also lead to misalignments in the forefoot and toes. I was soon recommended orthopaedic shoe inserts that are slightly arched and slope toward the outside of the foot. This keeps the arch and the inside of the foot slightly higher when I step down. I’ve been running with these inserts for years. Eventually, however, problems arose (e.g., pain in the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe). These may not necessarily be caused by the insoles, but I sought a second opinion at the time. And the expert explained that shoe insoles prevent the muscles—which, ideally, maintain the natural arch of the foot—from developing properly. As a result, you end up with either no arch at all or a very weak one. After all, a lack of a strong arch isn’t just an issue when running in running shoes, but also in everyday life when wearing regular shoes. That means you’d always need shoe inserts, not just when running. A better approach: ditch the shoe inserts and do exercises to strengthen your foot muscles. For me, this has improved my overall situation.
Please note: I am neither a doctor nor a physical therapist. The description above applies only to my body and my experience.
Recommendations:
- Observe the position of the feet and toes.
- Pinpoint the symptoms and, if possible, make a note of them so that you can provide accurate information to specialists.
- Seek a (second) professional opinion in a timely manner. Unfortunately, I’ve found that there are “experts” who suggest radical measures (e.g., surgery and joint fusion), but if you then ask other “experts,” they may point out the severe consequences of such radical measures (e.g., running as you know it will no longer be possible).
Last note: For example, if my arches are exhausted from a very long run, I still use the insoles.