Heel to Toe Foot File, $2.89

This weekend marks a milestone in my life, as I embark on a 26.2 mile journey through Philadelphia. Marathon day has finally arrived! And although I’m super antsy about the race itself, I’m more concerned about the state of my feet when the miles are clocked. Runners have reported epic blisters, chronic calluses and even (eek!) lost toenails through their training. Gross! I love running, but I’d like to keep my feet from ever looking like they’ve been to hell and back. My weapon of choice for fighting the “ick factors”? A $3 foot file from Sally Beauty Supply. It’s got two sides to help me combat any unwanted roughness, and is the only tool I’ve found that can take on my runners’ feet. Sure, it takes a little bit of elbow grease on my part, but when I weigh that against the cost of a pedicure every couple weeks, I’m okay with putting in a dash of effort each morning in the shower.

And while we’re on the subject, are any of you Chic Thrills readers dedicated runners, too? How do you treat your feet after workouts? I’ve mentioned before my top picks for foot creams, but is there anything I’m missing? There’s nothing less chic that gnarly-looking feet, so if you’ve got some tips, throw them at us here. We’ll post our favorite money-saving pedicure ideas next week in a post-marathon trial wrap up!