What is Club Foot?

One of the reasons it has been difficult to run is because I was born with Club Foot.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/clubfoot-topic-overview

From the website:

Clubfoot (also called talipes equinovarus) is a general term used to describe a range of unusual positions of the foot. Each of the following characteristics may be present, and each may vary from mild to severe:
The foot (especially the heel) is usually smaller than normal.
The foot may point downward.
The front of the foot may be rotated toward the other foot.
The foot may turn in, and in extreme cases, the bottom of the foot can point up.

As an infant I had surgeries to correct them. Tendons were removed from the back of my legs, and I had to wear casts as a baby. In my younger years I had to wear braces when I slept. I also had to endure orthopedic shoes - no kids wants to wear those.

The left foot took to the operations, but the right foot didn't. In my teens I had another surgery. This time bones in my foot were removed. It has greatly limited my range of motion. I am not convinced the surgery worked.

My doctor believes it is because of this limited range of motion that my hips have been working over time, and now I am dealing with arthitis. I can accept it. In my teens I was told I might develop arthritis, but it was more to do with my weight, and I was told I would not be able to walk by the time I was 65. So I think I have done a good job to this point to make sure THAT doesn't happen. Now I need to do some more to make sure I run and am happily mobile for years to come.

It's going to be a challenge, but I think I am up for it.

Charlie