Hey all,
Total newbie, so I hope you'll forgive me if this question has been posed/answered on here somewhere -- but I didn't see it.
Not-so-brief background: I started running in January 2015. I was using traditional (brand-new) running shoes, heel-striking, etc. By April I was up to 10.25 miles for my longest run and 23 miles the week I stopped, due to, yes, a stress-fracture in my left knee and plantar fascitis in my right foot.
A friend suggested I read 'Born To Run' and I quickly adopted a barefoot lifestyle. I bought VevoBarefoot street shoes and Shamma sandals for when being barefoot is discouraged and otherwise have been walking barefoot the rest of the time (probably 85% of my waking hours).
The stress fracture healed up but the plantar fascitis has not, despite my efforts in icing it, stretching it, etc. I have done a little running now and again (I read Robillard's book to figure out how) and am definitely not heel-striking anymore, but the pain still comes back. I intend to buy a boot to sleep in to try that out.
What's plaguing me now, though, is numbness of the second toes on both of my feet. The right toe is worse. Additionally, I feel like my foot pads have expanded such that they're putting uncomfortable pressure on my feet -- sometimes I feel like I'm stepping on a rock or something but there's nothing there, especially under my left footpad.
So I'm a mess. And very discouraged. I feel very enthusiastic about being barefoot; it makes sense to me and I would prefer not to reverse course. I also really want to get to a point where I can join you all in running this way! But if I'm going to be in ever-increasing discomfort, maybe it's not for me.
What should I do?
Thanks -- and sorry for the long post.
Jess
Total newbie, so I hope you'll forgive me if this question has been posed/answered on here somewhere -- but I didn't see it.
Not-so-brief background: I started running in January 2015. I was using traditional (brand-new) running shoes, heel-striking, etc. By April I was up to 10.25 miles for my longest run and 23 miles the week I stopped, due to, yes, a stress-fracture in my left knee and plantar fascitis in my right foot.
A friend suggested I read 'Born To Run' and I quickly adopted a barefoot lifestyle. I bought VevoBarefoot street shoes and Shamma sandals for when being barefoot is discouraged and otherwise have been walking barefoot the rest of the time (probably 85% of my waking hours).
The stress fracture healed up but the plantar fascitis has not, despite my efforts in icing it, stretching it, etc. I have done a little running now and again (I read Robillard's book to figure out how) and am definitely not heel-striking anymore, but the pain still comes back. I intend to buy a boot to sleep in to try that out.
What's plaguing me now, though, is numbness of the second toes on both of my feet. The right toe is worse. Additionally, I feel like my foot pads have expanded such that they're putting uncomfortable pressure on my feet -- sometimes I feel like I'm stepping on a rock or something but there's nothing there, especially under my left footpad.
So I'm a mess. And very discouraged. I feel very enthusiastic about being barefoot; it makes sense to me and I would prefer not to reverse course. I also really want to get to a point where I can join you all in running this way! But if I'm going to be in ever-increasing discomfort, maybe it's not for me.
What should I do?
Thanks -- and sorry for the long post.
Jess