XC-skiing question (running?)

[DebW]

LPH, are you kick-and-glide skiing or skate skiing? Do your ski boots have stiff soles or flex at the ball of the foot? I don't know how these things would affect your foot pain, but seem like useful information for a diagnosis. I ski in leather 3-pin backcountry boots that flex at the ball of the foot but are otherwise pretty stiff and have not had foot pain. Well-worn and overly-flexible boots will certainly make skiing harder on your feet and decrease control. Maybe rent some different boots and see if the pain is the same?

[lph]

I kick and glide, only skate every now and then to get a break but it kills my ankles. I have lightweight synthetic training boots that flex at the ball of the foot. I feel like I just lack support under the arch, but it's weird it's just the one foot. I have no trouble running in minimal running shoes, at least not there, so I've never thought I had particularly weak feet.
There's no ski boot rental around here that I know of (ski trails are like bike paths here, free use for all), but I could try to borrow a pair from a friend I guess. Problem is that snow season just suddenly started so no-one wants to give up their boots :-)
Oh well. I went out today too :-) My feet ache but the trip was great!

[Ered_Lithui]

lph, I had the exact same problem a few years ago when skate skiing. Ball-of-foot pain that then became arch pain, only in one foot. It turned out to be the insoles. I got some green Superfeet insoles and swapped them out for the ones that came with the boots, and that fixed it.

In my case the boots were new, and one foot just needed more support than the boot provided. If your boots are old, I'd bet new insoles will help, since the insoles break down over time. Hope your foot feels better soon!

[lph]

Great, thanks Ered. Come to think of it, I have some soles that are molded to my feet in my AT boots. I can try wearing them for a bit. In fact I think I'll wear hem to work today, my feet are telling me all about yesterdays outing...