Thanksgiving is a time of family and reflecting on what we are thankful for. It’s also time for lots and lots of delicious food! Then, there’s the thought of feeling guilty for all the calories consumed. So how do you remedy this? Exercise! And what better way to do this than to sign up for a Turkey Trot? An annual event, it is a great morning activity for you and your family. And bonus, it will make for a less guilty meal later that day!
Our goal is to keep you walking – whether it be day to day, or during your Turkey Trot! The following are tips that we at Clark Podiatry Center want to share with our patients who may be preparing for a Turkey Trot or other Thanksgiving race.
- Practice, practice, practice: Whether or not this is your first race, it is best to train for this event. Running and walking a 5K or longer distance race can be difficult for those who have no experience training for
- this. It is tant to test your body to see if it is up for the challenge. Wherever you start, you can continue to work on your abilities to increase the distance you can complete.
- Listen to your body: Move around and condition your body. During these activities, you can see if any part of your body has pain or discomfort. If you have issues, you can come see our podiatrist to make sure that you get treatment to get back on your feet before race day.
- Hydrate and Nourish your body: Your body must have the right nutrients to help you get through the race. Eat right the night before as well as the morning of to keep you from getting faint or famished during the race.
- Train in race day sneakers and clothing: Sneakers should be comfortable and supportive. Clothing should not make you hot and should not chafe your skin while you run. Train in whatever you plan on using on race day so that you know how they feel.
- Stretch: Stretch before the race to help prevent injury and after to reduce soreness. Rotate all joints and make circles with your feet, knees, legs, and hips. If you have any issues doing these movements, it’s best to see our podiatrist.
If you notice any pain or discomfort, come see our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy at our Clark, NJ office. Make an appointment so that we can keep you walking toward your Thanksgiving meal!