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Extreme Shoe Modifications

182 bytes removed, 23:46, 12 September 2011
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This modification was to remove the sole and upper on the inside of the left shoe. This worked well overall, and allowed me to run for several weeks while the blister was healing up. The downside was that I removed enough of the heel to put twisting stress on my foot and trigger a little Plantar Fasciitis.
http[[File://jfsavage.smugmug.com/photos/953586228_Q2Mu3953586228 Q2Mu3-M.jpg]]
http[[File://jfsavage.smugmug.com/photos/953584130_hiAyC953584130 hiAyC-M.jpg]]
==Forefoot Blister==
This blister was much harder to deal with, as the forefoot pressure is harder to avoid. My first attempt was to cut a hole in the forefoot with a margin around the blister area. This did not work, as too much of the shoe was removed, creating stress around the blister as the foot was squeezed through the gap.
http[[File://jfsavage.smugmug.com/photos/953587950_E2zn7953587950 E2zn7-M.jpg]]
===Second Attempt===
Cutting less of the shoe away was the next attempt. This was better, but started to feel like the blister area was being pinched. I think that the hole in the shoe was closing up as the foot lands.
http[[File://jfsavage.smugmug.com/photos/953589664_j69ak953589664 j69ak-M.jpg]]
===Third Attempt===
My third attempt was to just remove some of the midsole to reduce the pressure, without creating a hole that could close up.
http[[File://jfsavage.smugmug.com/photos/953590990_XNEsE953590990 XNEsE-M.jpg]]
http[[File://jfsavage.smugmug.com/photos/953592809_mGvpz953592809 mGvpz-M.jpg]]
===Root Cause Analysis===
The blister on my forefoot was caused by new callous rubbing. The presence of a callous indicates pressure or rubbing in a spot, and my best guess is that it is caused by the shoe squeezing the side of the foot slightly. I therefore also removed most of the sides of the forefoot, to create more of a ‘running sandal’. So far this option is working well.
http[[File://jfsavage.smugmug.com/photos/953594560_dPo8h953594560 dPo8h-M.jpg]]