New to running

[sandra]

I just started running recently and started with the Couch25K plan. Everything was going great and about two weeks into it I experience knee soreness and had to wait until I recovered from that until I started again.

In the meantime I went to have my gait analyzed and got new shoes. I discovered that I need a neutral shoe. I was in a supportive shoe with Superfeet!!!! and since changing everything feels much better.

I do have a little pain in toes that are right next to the baby toes. I only notice it when I'm starting out or warming up and when I'm cooling down. Once I'm running it seems to get better. I have no idea what this could be. I thought maybe I had my shoes laced too tightly but it hasn't made any difference.

I'm following the C25K plan but I'm increasing my distance slowly. I'm up to three miles.

I'm registered to run a 1/2 M in February. I'm not too concerned about time or if I run and walk. I just want to finish and whatever time it takes will be my personal best and I'm not worried about it.

I'd love to have any tips, suggestions or ideas you might have for me. I'm really loving it so far and look forward to my runs, even the hard ones.

[jessmarimba]

What kind of pain is it and where on those toes? Tips? Base? Sharp pain or dull pain?

Congrats on the running! I hope you're having fun

[sandra]

Thank you. I am having fun. The pain is in toes next to the little toes. It's on the bottom underneath right about where it joins my foot. It's hard to describe (burning ache?) but from what I've read I almost wonder if I have a neuroma.

[jessmarimba]

That would be my best guess. Feet are pretty complicated though. Can you reproduce the pain by pushing on your foot or bending it a certain way when you aren't running?

[sandra]

I never thought about it but I just tried and no, I can't reproduce it.

Occasionally, in certain shoes that I wear to work, I do have the same pain.

So, do this mean that is might possibly be the shoes??? and if so, why would it stop once I got warmed up and running and then start back once I slowed down.

[oxysback]

Congrats on the running, Sandra. I started the C25K program on Nov. 1st. I'm really anxious for week three. Three minutes seems like a long time for this overweight runner!

I don't have any advice, but I hope you get your toe situation figured out!

[KnottedYet]

Occasionally, in certain shoes that I wear to work, I do have the same pain.

So, do this mean that is might possibly be the shoes??? and if so, why would it stop once I got warmed up and running and then start back once I slowed down.

The multiple-body-weight impact of running might be enough to overwhelm the fabric of the shoe and briefly allow the forefoot to spread out properly. As you slow down, the force exerted on the shoe from impact and push-off decreases, and the fabric begins to resist forefoot expansion again. It wins at low impact, and loses at high impact.

The older Nike Free shoes (not sure about the new ones, as I haven't looked at any) had slices through the leather of the forefoot to allow expansion; something I think all shoes should have in some form.