New to running

[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.

[nscrbug]

Sandra -

Your description of your toe pain sounds exactly like something I could have written myself. I've been having the same toe issues, except only on my right foot. It feels like a burning, tingly, sensation...at times when it's really flaring up, it almost feels like my toes are broken. My podiatrist did an ultrasound and thinks there might be a small neuroma there...but isn't 100% positive. So she wants me to get a NCV/EMG test done to see if this could all be stemming from a nerve issue that originates in my lower back (I have a spinal deformity at my L5 vertebra). In the meantime, I have gone through a myriad of running shoes, with nearly all of them causing pain in my 3rd & 4th toes. Then on a whim, I decided to try a pair of Nike Free Run+ (the latest version), and to my surprise...the toe pain has diminished immensely. It has to be due to the very forgiving material of the Nike Free...it really "gives" and accommodates my toes, allowing them to spread out with plenty of wiggle room. You might want to give 'em a try and see if they help.

Linda

[sandra]

Do you have a pair of running sandals? Or running shoes that lace well down into the forefoot? Maybe try running in them to see if the problem shows up even in a more open toebox (mind you, a sandal doesn't really have a toebox, but you know what I mean.)

No, I wish I did. I have my other running shoes and they felt fine but apparently they were too supportive and I didn't need a supportive shoe and they were causing my knees to hurt.

Since changing to these shoes my knees have been great but I've had this toe issue. It's really hard to get it all fine tuned, isn't it!

Also, pull out the other shoes that cause this problem and compare them to the shoes that don't. Pay close attention to the width and depth of the various toeboxes.

I think you may be on to something. It also might be that these shoes just aren't quite long enough (even though I thought they were) and when I run my foot slides upward??? I'm not sure.

Sometimes it's fun to stand on a piece of paper and trace your bare foot, cut the tracing out, and hold it up to the underside of the shoes that irritate your toes. It can sometimes be an eye-opener, especially if the tracing is wider than the shoe.

I'm going to try that!

[sandra]

Linda, you were posting at the same time I was posting. I think I'm going to go back to the running shop next week and talk to them about these shoes. I'll check out the Nikes.

Thank you all.

[sandra]

I did three miles this afternoon in my old shoes minus the superfeet inserts. I was planning to do 4 and it started raining but the biggest problem was that it did feel just like those two toes were broken!!!

Other than that, everything felt great. I hope I can get this worked out.