Why Listening to Your Body Matters: My Foot Pain Journey Back to Strength

It’s not the “cool V-cut abs” situation. Nope — I’m talking about feet. The kind of “V” you get when you put your bare feet together and your big toes turn in to form the letter “V.” Hot, right? Welcome to the Storm Family curse: bunions.

They might not sound like a big deal, but let me tell you—they can be brutally painful.

Growing up, my bunions were more of a quirky thing. I ran, played sports, and lived a normal (just slightly funky-footed) life. A few podiatrist visits and some custom inserts were about as dramatic as it got. But when college rolled around, it was a whole different ballgame.

Walking across campus, working for an AHL hockey team—hours on my feet—wrecked me. It got so bad that some days I couldn’t even make it to my car. I’d call my roommates for help because the burning pain was unbearable. Finally, in 2013, I had surgery—a full-on, bone-breaking, screw-inserting foot overhaul that left me hobbling around for six months with a medical boot and a purple cane.

By 2016, I found CrossFit. It was love at first WOD. I went hard. Maybe a little too hard. My old foot pain came roaring back, but everyone told me it was “normal.” I figured I was just weak and needed to toughen up. Spoiler alert: ignoring the pain was not the move.

Eventually, it got so bad that workouts were excruciating. I couldn’t jump. I couldn’t run. I could barely walk the next day. Lifters became my security blanket. Modifications became my middle name. And inside, I felt defeated.

Fast forward to 2023—finally smart enough to ask for help—I found an amazing PT (shoutout Gavin at Power Up!). He gave it to me straight: my feet were weak AF. My range of motion? Virtually non-existent.

I started from scratch—barefoot shoes, embarrassing little foot exercises that made me sweat, all of it. It’s been a long road, but slowly, we’re getting there.

Today? I’m jumping rope. I’m running. I’m hitting PRs that felt impossible a year ago. More importantly, I feel grateful instead of broken. Not just for the big lifts, but for every step, every jump, and every win along the way.

The moral of the story? Leave your ego at the door. Tough isn’t pushing through pain. Tough is showing up, doing the work, and honoring your body.

You’ve only got one body—take care of it so it can take care of you.

Huge thanks to the Train Denver family for cheering me on—whether it’s tossing me a lacrosse ball for post-WOD recovery or shouting encouragement during my first real runs. The journey is still unfolding, but one thing is for sure: RX Murph, I’m coming for you. 😎

• Coach Abby