This 2012 Goal/challenge/resolution hurts. Literally. It's been super easy to make sure I get out and run miles. I love it, it's never hard to find time to do things you love. It's painting the basement floor in the old house that is like a thorn in your side. I digress... Anyway, as you probably saw, I pretty much owned January and I'm off to a very good start this month. However, this something that is just a tad bit worrisome to me. I took the dog out for a run last night and was only going to go two (junk miles? I'll probably blog about this later because I want to do some research...) because it was really just to get him some exercise so he didn't keep us up at night. Around mile 1'ish the bottoms of my feet started to hurt so I stopped to stretch them and then took off again. By the end of my 2+ miles, I was limping, trying every way possible to make it back to the house without using my feet. Try it.
A few days ago I could feel knots on the bottom of my feet and was rubbing them on Husby's foot ball roller thing for his planter fasciitis and it felt SO good but I tried to do it last night and it was pure agony. I was running in new'ish shoes, they're not expensive but Nike Air Pegasus will forever hold a special place in my heart because they were the first pair of shoes I ran in. Surprisingly enough though, through all the pain, when a friend called and asked if I wanted to go 4 today, while apprehensive, I never turn down a run. I thought I'd switch it up so ran in my old favorites, my Asics Gel Kayanos. Personally I feel as though these are the best shoes I've run in. They hold up well and I feel like they last longer than other shoes. They're a "structured cushion" fit and I can tell they really support my foot, and more specifically my arch and make for a more comfortable run.
This fall I was switching between them and a pair of Saucony Pro Grid Triumph 8s and while I really like running in both pair (and I know, I shouldn't judge a shoe based on something I shouldn't be doing in the first place) the Asics hold up better when I take off, and put on, my shoes without untying them. The back of the Saucony just broke down so bad!
Anyway, the point I'm trying to get at after evaluating my shoes for you... is that, I hope this 2012 running schtick isn't going to get me hurt. Before this I would typically run 3-4 days a week and now I'm running 5-7. That's a lot of stress on my body no matter what kind of shape I'm in.
The only other thing it could be is downhill skiing. We're going out West this week and since I've only been skiing once, thought I should, oh I don't know, take a lesson so I don't Sonny Bono it. (Too much? Too soon?) I can absolutely feel a strain on my knees over the past couple weeks (since I've been taking lessons) and it makes me wonder if it's doing something to my feet as well.
If you have any thoughts of opinions I'd love to hear them. I'm probably just being a hypochondriac.
PS-Kind of neat, Asics stands for Anima Sana in Corpore Sano translated, A sound mind in a sound body. I like that.
PPS-NO, I don't work for Asics, they're just been good to me so I like to return the favor. :)
Wow, that sux! I used to have this problem. For me it was tied to other parts of my leg. Namely the two major muscles in my calf, also, my hammies and IT band seemed to have antagonistic qualities if I didnt stretch enough. The real issue is when you are at rest, the Plantar Fascia tightens up and when you put weight on the foot, you micro tear the over taught fascia-which really HURTS! There is a real effective invention I found effective:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpage-STRASOC.html
I know...yuck, but it works! It keeps the fascia from over tightening over night. It also takes a while to get used to. Also, you can run with PF, but it really hurts.
In regards to skiing, it is a whole different stress on your legs (I raced from age 8-21), it can really effect your IT band which, in turn, can effect the outside of your calf-which will tighten your PF if stressed enough. If you have a roller, I would advise you roll the IT band out, and also the outside of your calf/Achilles.
I hope you get better soon and back to what you really love to do!
Thanks for the tips, I've been foam rolling my IT band hoping it starts loosening up a bit. I also ordered a sock, I figure I will wear switch between feet each night. Injury is scary, I just don't want to not ever run!
ReplyDeleteWow! This could be one particular of the most helpful blogs We've ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Great. I'm also a specialist in this topic therefore I can understand your effort.
ReplyDeleteRule 25S Marine Rule 500 Automatic Marine Bilge Pump (500-GPH, 12-Volt)