TBR New Invention: The Bunion Butas

Tuesday, 11 September 2012  |  Gear + Gadgets

I can almost visualize Hector Yuzon of Secondwind shedding a tear.  I can hear my good friend Alvin yelling: “Why the hell did you do that?!”  Worse, I can imagine a hundred other running shoe addicts slamming their laptops shut after reading this post.

After running 35km last Sunday, our last long run before Berlin Marathon, I knew I had to find a solution before I injured myself.  My left bunion caused a lot of discomfort during the latter part of the run.  With each step, I felt as if my foot was being squeezed tight and I worried that this tightness would only awaken my currently dormant injury, Morton’s Neuroma, on the same foot.

So, here’s what I did to my favorite marathon shoe, the KSwiss Kwicky Blade Light…

IMG_0004
– Peekaboo! –

Yup, I sliced it up!

Sure, it looks awful. And, Planet Sports may never ever sponsor another one of my marathon shoes again. And, um, seeing my bunion protruding like that may be minus points to the boys out there (as if I care! hah!) But, man oh man, this “Bunion Butas” (should I copyright that name already?) offers great relief and I’m just happy that I can actually use my favorite shoe without pain anymore!

Here are 3 easy steps to creating your own “Bunion Butas”:

  1. Wear the shoe.
  2. With a pencil, mark the portion where your bunion protrudes out of the shoe.
  3. Using a cutter, create an X along the area you marked.  (The X will keep the thread from running vs just a slit.)
  4. Sew up the edges.

Good luck!  And, to all of us who have Bunion Butas, let’s all say a prayer that whenever we use the shoe, it doesn’t rain! Haha

Note: The Bunion Butas was inspired by Ani de Leon’s slit on her adidas seen on Facebook a few months back.