Okay I Lurve My Skates Again

I'm pleased and quite relieved to report that I seem to have figured out how to resolve the foot cramping issues with the new skates.

You must understand this is all relative. My feet still cramp throughout practice, especially if we are practicing quick feet or something where we are trying to remain stationary. Do my feet hurt? Yes. Do I need to stop periodically to circle my ankles? Yes. I am not, however, in miserable agony.

The trick for me is to make my skates feel all super snug without actually putting any pressure on the middle part of my foot.

Here's how my skates are set up:
The boots are laced normal at the toe, super loose through the middle, and crazy tight at the top. I'm talking they're really crazy super tight at the top, plus I pull the strap tight. Sometimes my toes fall asleep and I know that means I need to loosen them a bit.

I pulled out the insole that came in the boot, replacing it with the arch support kind I use in all my sneakers. Over top of that insole lies a second one. The second insole is a plain cheapy flat white job. It gives a bit extra padding, is soft and cushiony, and also can be replaced cheaply when the skates start to stink.

I bought a bunch of those heel cushions that are meant for women's pumps. They are supposed to keep that back part of a woman's shoe from rubbing and causing blisters. I line the heel of each skate with these. It allows the heel of my skate to grip my foot a bit. This helps a BUNCH, but isn't really sustainable. They don't stay in well. They sometimes wind up jammed into my toe by end of practice. I have to replace at least two every time I wear my skates, and they're not especially inexpensive. I have therefore ordered some little neoprene booties called Ezee Fit. They fit around the heel and ankle, providing some cushioning and also some traction against the heel of the skate. I have extremely high hopes for these.

The most important modification I made to my skates, however, is . . .

WEARING THEM.

I put them on around noon and wear them until night. I skate on the tile and walk on the carpet. I lean from one side to the other, plow stop and t stop, and generally try to put the same kinds of pressure on my feet and skates as I do at practice.

My feet and my skates have become acquainted, and are now forming a friendship.

I Don't Lurve My New Skates So Much

I kind of hate my skates.

I'm so miserable. We shopped and shopped and researched and spent an ungodly amount of money. My skates are Wickeds. A lot of girls wait and save for a year or more before spending this kind of cash on skates. A brand new girl really has no business being on a set of these, but we got them and they're beautiful.

The thing is, they HURT. Bad.

Ten seconds into skating, my feet cramp something fierce. Throughout practice, my feet scream with a pain that takes my breath away.

I fear the skates may be too big. The next size down swished my toes, but my heels slip a little in these. I'm certain this contributes to the pain, as my poor toes keep gripping the bottom of the skates for dear life. Every time I pick up my foot, I feel like the skate will fall off. My foot's effort to keep the skate on is killing me.

I feel like crying. Is it really possible I bought skates that don't fit? I've already scuffed them so they can't be returned. Such a waste. I can never tell my husband. He is more excited about the skates than I ever was. He is so happy to have found and bought them for me. How can I ever tell him they don't work, that I want my old crappy skates back?

Some of the girls look at my skates for me. They are not too big. Whew! Cramping is a common problem in new boots. Not only do the skates need to break in, but your feet have to get used to the new skates. In my case, in particular, my previous boots were high top. I'm having to get used to not having the extra secure feeling of laces up my ankles. This leads me to lace my skates too tight, which causes -you guessed it - foot cramps.

The girls offer lots of advice about different lacing styles, insoles and padding that will help in the short term. The real fix, though, is to just give it time. I've just gotta take my potassium and ibuprofen and suck it up.

I'm so relieved that the skates aren't too big.