Training your feet

When preparing for a long trek one of the most overlooked areas in our training regimen is our feet.  Just like with backs and legs, if you do not train properly you are setting yourself up for lots of pain and potentially some ill-timed injuries.  One of the best and most simple things you can do to prevent that, is get a good pair of shoes and walk long distances on hard surfaces on a regular basis.  While you might develop some light muscular discomfort in your feet as you go longer and longer, it is important that you know what kind of discomfort you are dealing with.  If you start to feel pain on the back of your heel, down the center of your sole, or anywhere else where you feel tendon pain stop working out for that day.  The last thing you want is the injure a tendon because those can take a very long time to heal, so take a day or two and then try walking on a smaller incline or at a slower pace and see if that does not keep the pain from returning, but as always use common sense and if anything is hurting too badly or doesn't seem right to you get it checked out (and of course: disclaimer).  Also if you start to feel isolated sections of your feet getting warm, that is a warning sign that you are getting a blister, you might want to refer back to the article on how to deal with them.  If you find yourself getting blisters or warming spots you want to take some time and check out your shoes and socks.  If they are rubbing and irritating your skin as you walk you might want to look into new shoes or socks depending on where the problem is.    Just make sure when you can you walk on hard surfaces for extended periods, because while other kinds of training can build the muscular and cardiovascular strength to go on a hike, only by walking on hard surfaces like cement can you avoid getting painfully sore on mile 12 of 15 and ruining the end of an otherwise great hike.