Hiking

[Pax]

Excellent on passing the test!! Hope the minimal supplementation will help with the cramping.


I wore my newer Merrell Moabs on my hike and have to say, two thumbs up! They were comfortable and gripped like glue on some slippery stuff. I've switched to low cut shoes from a hiking boots and my knee is much happier, much less stress transmitted up the leg.

[emily_in_nc]

Great hikes, ladies!

Thanks for sharing!

[Catrin]

Excellent on passing the test!! Hope the minimal supplementation will help with the cramping.


I wore my newer Merrell Moabs on my hike and have to say, two thumbs up! They were comfortable and gripped like glue on some slippery stuff. I've switched to low cut shoes from a hiking boots and my knee is much happier, much less stress transmitted up the leg.

Glad to hear the Merrells are working for you Pax, I really did like mine until it became apparent that they just didn't fit my feet properly.

Never thought about stress being transmitted up the leg from my beloved rigid Solomon's causing shin splints before I threw in an 11-mile hike until my doctor suggested it. I am going to experiment this weekend with a 2-3 mile dirt hike in my Keene hiking shoes, I'm a bit nervous that my legs may need the opposite of my feet, but I need to strike out and experiment. I won't know until I try!

[Crankin]

I hit my small toe on a chair last night. It's stiff and there's bruising on my metatarsal area, but it's not broken. I can point and flex it, just some pain when I really apply pressure. It was a stupid accident.
Glad I have no hiking plans for this week. I went to spin this morning and I have some riding planned tomorrow and Saturday. Not sure if I will be able to do tabata. I only felt pain in spin class when I was standing on the pedals and my foot leaned toward the left. Using Arnica and did some icing.

[emily_in_nc]

Sorry, Crankin!

I broke my pinky toe on a chair leg last winter. Not fun, especially going up and down the stairs to/from our third-floor apartment. And I had to lay off yoga for awhile. Fortunately, cycling did not bother it as my cycling shoes protected it. Hope yours heals up fast!

What is tabata, by the way?

[Crankin]

Basically, varying versions of high intensity interval training. Sometimes the intervals are cardio oriented and sometimes they are strength oriented. 45 minutes of sweat!

My foot is better this morning. The bruising is decreased a lot. I can see, though, how going up and down stairs would hurt like hell. I am going out on a ride in about an hour or so. Now that the weather looks better for Sunday, maybe some mild hiking will be do-able. DH is not really into wanting to do 63 miles on Saturday (riding my age for my birthday), and I don't really want to do 63 miles alone. So, if we ride less, I definitely will try hiking on Sunday. I can already feel weird imbalances and other pain starting, because I was kind of walking funny yesterday, to protect it.

[Pax]

Almost fell flat on my face going into the grocery store this morning, stepping into a dip with my bum leg. Wonder if it would look weird using my hiking poles in everyday life?

[Catrin]

Youch Crankin! Glad you're feeling a bit better and that you have a nice weekend whatever you choose to do. I certainly understand wanting to ride your age, but glad to hear there are other options should your DH decide against it.

I hear you Pax, hope nothing was strained from that almost-fall. I swear If we could just have radar that would warn us about this dips in advance. We could look all prescient

[Pax]

That would be great! I stepped into the depression and my bad knee started to give, my quad quivered like crazy trying to keep me upright (way to go quad!) and I managed to stay on my feet. I have got to start paying closer attention to the ground when I walk, I'm typically staring at the clouds instead.

[Crankin]

I would do that, and I don't have any issues with my knees or legs! And, when I hike I *have* to keep my eyes on the ground. Not head fully down, but in order for my brain to integrate what to do with my feet, I can't just leap ahead, like some do. I am going faster now that I have figured out how to put it all together. In fact, after the trip, I have noticed I am just more coordinated at everything, which is why I want to do more hiking.
My foot hurt clipping in a bit today, but it was pretty much the same as when I did spin class yesterday. Will try icing it later and elevating it, too.

[Catrin]

I do that a lot more these days, after my fall last year at work that led to knee surgery.

Tried a little 2 mile hike today in my Keenes. Feet weren't as happy as they are in my boots but they typically are less happy at that park anyway as there is lots of gravel. Dirt is much easier on me, will try it again Saturday in another park that has actual dirt trails and see what happens. I will have my boots in the car just in case.

Almost 80 today on November 2! We broke a 150 year record for this date. We are going to cry when the cold finally comes...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[Pax]

Another hike today in a different state park, gorgeous day out there, we had so much fun!! A bit of uphill and downhill, with two small bridges over the tiny little creeks running through the park.

[Catrin]

Another hike today in a different state park, gorgeous day out there, we had so much fun!! A bit of uphill and downhill, with two small bridges over the tiny little creeks running through the park.

You both look great and it sounds like fun! I love the smiles

Another hiking test for me tomorrow. My shin splints have improved but are still there - but no more cramping. A little test tomorrow to see if I can use my Keens for longer hikes on real dirt (rather than gravel). Last weeks test didn't do so well but there was a lot of gravel, I never do well with that. I'm supposed to lead our little hiking group from church next week and I need to decide pretty quickly if I should cancel...

[Pax]

Thanks, we were tickled to be out and about. We also had packed a picnic lunch and just enjoyed sitting outside in the sunshine!


I was reading about some hikers on the AT, they use trail runners or low cut hiking shoes instead of boots, but have to use an insole like superfeet to add stability. Maybe some insoles would help your feet in those Keens?

[Crankin]

I need to use my hiking boots almost all of the time. I usually wear the lower cut light hikers for local trails, but, most of the time I wish I had my hiking shoes on. In fact, when we were in Acadia, I felt like I wanted those really high up hiking shoes; my ankles always feel loose. No matter how tightly I tie my shoes, they loosen. I don't have weak ankles, but I feel like I need more stability. I love my Lowa boots, though.
On another note, I feel like my foot/toe is never going to heal. I wore flats all week, except one day, where I wore a pair of chunky, lower heels, because the top of the shoe is very stretchy and loose. I cannot get into my normal "kitten" heels I wear to work, because they are stiff. Been using Arnica, some icing, and the bruising is much better. But today, my foot hurts more. We plan on doing a hike today and I hope I can get into my boots. The thing is, I know I am walking differently, to avoid direct pressure on the left side of my foot, and that is making other things hurt.