Nasty Feet

I've been pretty lame about posting to my blog. I actually enjoy reading other people's blogs -- it contributes to my already spiraling ADD. (I think the internet has created a pandemic of ADD, esp. Wikipedia's Random Article button, man I love that! Try it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random )

Anyway, it seems to me fairly obvious that everyone can't read everyone else's blog -- but I've also discovered there are a lot of smart (and dumb) people out there. I decided that I should continue to write, not because I expect a big audience, but because, just like with my SpinCycle music stuff, and my motorcycle adventures around the world, the people that do seek me out based on what I have written or done, are often people with whom I make a genuine connection. I have a friend like that in Vancouver. We've never met in person, but we have become great friends because she is an Indian from Kenya and she read about my motorcycle ride across Africa.

But I digress. Tonight I want to complain about my athletic club, and generally how uptight America is. I have plantar fasciitis, which means my foot hurts like hell. I consulted a doctor and he told me, amongst other things to do some exercises in my bare feet, and referred me to an article on the matter:
http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2002/07_02/fields.htm

I went to my gym, Club One and started to go through the routine. It actually felt pretty good. Apparently, walking and exercising in your bare feet is really good for them. Alas, in fairly short order, I was instructed that working out in bare feet was "against the rules". Why? I asked innocently, only to get the most predictable responses:
1. Liability, in case someone dropped a weight on my foot.
2. Disease, I could pick something up from other people's sweat.
3. It's the rule -- this is the only one that came close to making sense.


Let's see -- liability. So, if someone drops a weight on my shoe, there won't be any liability? Or, injury is much more likely with a bare foot -- I don't think so, in fact, I'll hop out of the way quicker if I'm barefoot. Shouldn't we be required to wear gloves then?!

Disease. Give me a break! Is the skin on my feet more porous than on my legs or arms? I'm being exposed to all kinds of nasty sweat on the exercise machines. Then I walk around in a men's shower. Again, if this is really an issue, we should all be wearing body condoms.

It's the rule -- this is the one thing -- and probably the only thing -- most people charged with enforcing rules understand: it's the rule.

Here's the real issue: people are uptight about seeing other people's feet. Admittedly, some people have nasty feet. My feet are not beauty queens, but they're clean and groomed, and really shouldn't send anyone off to the shower.

In any event, I proposed that I work out in my socks. Still a no-go. By then, the rule enforcer had dug in his heels (pardon the pun). By now, sandals, slippers, or clogs were all out -- it was going to take army boots to satisfy this guy.

The funny/ironic thing is that the injury I am trying to address with my barefoot exercises occurred while playing basketball at this same club, WHILE WEARING SHOES. So, does the club consider itself liable for my injury? I assure you it doesn't :-)