Run Run Away

Question:

At worst, it is the onset of plantar faciitis.

At 3 miles on a treadmill? Not likely.

Response:

I’m not sure if I should worry about this.  Any wild guess on what might be causing the pain?  Maybe my crummy 4-yr old worn-down tennis shoes or something?  A trip to the doctor essentially means wrecking the entire day’s schedule for everyone in the family and everyone at work.  So really… I don’t want to go out of my way to see a doctor unless I’m reasonably sure something’s afoot (sorry for the pun).

It’s not that usual for someone taking up a new activity to have some temporary pain.  It can simply be muscles/tendons being used in ways they’re not used to being used–one reason to take it easy in the beginning. What stands out, though, is the 4-year old tennis shoes.   The standard prescription around here, which I agree with, is to go to a real running store and get fitted with a proper pair of running shoes for your running style.  My sense is that you’re at least somewhat of a pronator with at least somewhat flat feet, and your feet need (at a minimum) some arch support that they’re not getting.  If you do not deal with the source of this pain, it is vey likely that you will get injured as you run more. Lyndon "Speed Kills…It kills those that don’t have it!"  –US Olympic Track Coach Brooks Johnson

Response:

I started jogging regularly five weeks ago.  I’ve been doing 3 miles on the treadmill for half an hour, six days a week.  In that time, I’ve experienced various minor pains along my shins, calves, knees, etc.

And you expected what? You’ll find lots of new pains for a month or two, until one or more becomes chronic, or repeated, it’s really not worth commenting on.

Response:

I started jogging regularly five weeks ago.  I’ve been doing 3 miles on the treadmill for half an hour, six days a week.  In that time, I’ve experienced various minor pains along my shins, calves, knees, etc. In the past few days, however, I started experiencing a relatively significant pain along the front arch at the bottom of my right foot. It hasn’t been painful enough to affect my 30-minute jogging routine… but it’s enough of a bother so that I wouldn’t last longer than my half an hour on the treadmill if I wanted to. The pain usually starts halfway through my workout.  It subsides within an hour after I stop jogging.  This same right foot was the source of a fairly severe ankle injury a couple of years ago.  But I’m quite sure the problem I’m experiencing right now isn’t related to that, because this pain is along the bottom arch on the front side of the foot (not along the ankle). I’m not sure if I should worry about this.  Any wild guess on what might be causing the pain?  Maybe my crummy 4-yr old worn-down tennis shoes or something?  A trip to the doctor essentially means wrecking the entire day’s schedule for everyone in the family and everyone at work.  So really… I don’t want to go out of my way to see a doctor unless I’m reasonably sure something’s afoot (sorry for the pun).

Response: