Robyn's Foot Training

Last I wrote I was working on increasing my arches and walking en-pointe in my ballet boots as much as possible. Well, I have accomplished that and have even achieved another of my goals.

Here are some pictures of me in my ballet oxfords with a normal arch.
I wear them as much as possible during the day and even on some shopping trips.

Then you will see some pictures of my ankle boots which my hubby has modified to increase the arches. He started out with just bending the sole and foot and clamping them so the sole touches the heels. The heels were short so all of my weight was on my toes. He decided to extend the heel with a tube which slid over the heel so that it was just a slight bit longer than the toes.
This worked great and I have been able to walk in them most of the time, as my weight is distributed to both my heels and toes. To do this, he added a short tube to the heel and clamped it with short screws to the sole of the boot. Although the screws protrude into the boot they are positioned so that I do not feel them.

Well, then he got the idea that with a longer tube I would be taller and standing on just the heel tubes. So he got longer tubes which extend about 3 inches past the toes.With help I can now master walking on the tubes.
We call these my platform ballet boots. Amazingly, as long as keep moving I can walk in them. Standing still, balance is almost impossible.

In order to make standing easier, he screwed a flat flange on the end of the tube which provided a 2 1/2" round footprint. No picture of the flange on the boot. He thought I looked funny walking around in the boots with a flat flange on the bottom so he added a shoe.

Well, now for my other goal. You see, I am only 5'5'' tall but I wear a US Ladies size 11 (almost 11 inches long). I have always wanted small feet and knew I would never been able to have them.Well, with my new boots attached to the shoes I now appear to have small feet even if I look over six feet tall.

There are some pictures attached. The first picture is of me in my 2" heel black oxfords. The short heel extensions of my ballet boots are screwed into a small plate in the heel of the shoe. The heel extension screws into a threaded plate in the bottom of the shoe and with my longer slacks you can not tell that my feet are en-pointe and that there is nothing but filler in the shoes. These are US ladies size 6 oxfords, I love the look. I had to buy new slacks as mine were 25" long and the new ones are 38'' long and as you can see they cover the heels and look great. The way the boots and shoes go together doesn't look very good so I can't wear skirts but that is okay. Hubby did an ingenious job of putting the two together.

You know walking in the ankle boots only takes time. A lot of practice. I spent a lot of time around the house with a cane before I really got the balance and the step right. You have to lean forward a slight bit more than normal. Also, I can look close to normal if I keep moving. It is kind of like a runner who sets a pace and things flow smoothly. By the way, I can't walk in the ballet oxfords or the little ballet MaryJanes, just no support in them

Oh someday I wish I could send you some video of a grocery shopping trip, especially now when people don't realize I am wearing ballet boots.

I have been able to walk fairly well with practice in the small shoes and am having a lot of fun. You asked at one point whether the boots were painful and the answer is yes, initially but now not at all.

Hope you enjoy the pictures. Sorry, they couldn't be of a better quality.

Robyn

P.S. I know our story may not be mainstream as it is different from most couples but we are having a great time. If you don't feel comfortable putting this in yourweb site I understand. Really we are normal folks just have different play habits. Oh yes, I do wear regular shoes sometimes but they are big and ugly.

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page last changed: 12.06.2004