Barefoot Running

[colby]

I finally saw a podiatrist for my foot pain on Friday. I saw one about 6 years ago for the same pain (back then it was in both feet - now it's just my right one) and he prescribed custom orthotics. When they never really resolved the pain, I bought a road bike and stopped running/impact all together.

Fast foward 5 years: Last November I started running again in the interest of getting into tri. I hoped that if I started SLOWLY, I could get up to distance without pain. It didn't happen. The pain started about a month ago. It hurts when running in shoes and when wearing certain shoes (usually narrow flats or most anything with a heel). I was astouned that running barefoot didn't hurt at all (I'm only up to about 0.5 miles barefoot).

Turns out that I have fibular sesamoditis caused by my shoes. My prescription? Run barefoot! Woohoo!!! (starting slowing - which I already understand)

I also have to buy only certain types of shoes (my VFF's got a big thumbs up) and I have metatarsal pads in most of them now. I also have these things called 'Correct Toes' to wear when I don't have my VFF's on. All of this should allow my toes to realign back to where they SHOULD be and the extraneous pressure on that sesmoid bone should go away (overly simplified, of course).

I really *heart* my new podiatrist for not just sticking me in some orthotics!

I've been following his advice all weekend and my legs were aching yesterday. They are so NOT used to having no heel elevation. Wow, what a difference! I can't wait until my body gets used to this....

Interesting. I have described to some people the effect of wearing VFFs as like the toe separator dealies. I have before/after pics of my toes (more or less, it's a crappy before pic but still visible) that show how far they have separated/straightened just from wearing FiveFingers.

In other news, I was told there were four "barefoot" finishers at the Ironman yesterday (including myself) - one of which was fully barefoot, the other three "barefoot".

[GLC1968]

In other news, I was told there were four "barefoot" finishers at the Ironman yesterday (including myself) - one of which was fully barefoot, the other three "barefoot".

So awesome! I had one guy pass me on my last tri wearing VFF's. I heard him coming (we were on a paved path at that point) and I wondered what the 'flap, flap flap' sound was...until he passed and I smiled to myself.

I don't think I'll ever be a VFF runner. I wear mine as walking around shoes. They are too loose in the heel to run in (I think). They are too tight in the toes to wear socks, too. I plan to be either a true barefoot runner or perhaps run in hurraches if I can't go barefoot.

Tonight is my first run in my Terra Plana 'Aqua' shoes. These are my 'transition' shoes for going from structured running shoe to barefoot (under doctors orders). I can't wait to see how it goes!