A Much Needed Adjustment
THE NEXT NEEDFUL STEP: In my last posts I've shared how much my feet hurt. It could be that I was too much gone-hoe about running, but I don't think that's it at all. It could be that I went recklessly gone-hoe. Yeah, I can go with that. The thing is, when you're going to do something you've never done before and that you're not a fan of, it's hard to go at it half-heartedly; you have to overcompesate - I think - and go bold.
That being said, there probably is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. I might have gone a little too far into the extreme when I decided to go barefoot style. For someone who hadn't ran before - as in the sport of running; running for an extended period of time or distance - it might have been a wise deed to ease my way into the whole thing. Barefoot style running does have its advantages and it got me excited enough to start running, but for a newbie, it is just too much too early. They gave me a good running form (this according to the expert at the running store), and that's a great thing because it reduces the risk for all the different injuries that runners are subject to; such as knee or ankle injury and/or hip and back pain. I liked hearing I have good form, I never considered myself good at anything related to running.
THE LESSONS LEARNED SO FAR
Ok. Let's forward to the lessons I learned: Barefoot style running shoes are awesome, but you do have to ease your way into them. In my case, it caused me to have massive pain on the balls of my feet ( so they are obviously man feet, LOL), but also on top of my feet. They were specially sore in the mornings although they got better as I walked and warmed them up. However, as soon as I'd sit for an extended period of time, the pain would come back. It wasn't getting better despite the fact that I kept running trying to get my feet to be stronger. Regardless of the running and training with all the ibuprofen, the pain wasn't getting better. I even was starting to suspect a fracture on the bones at the bottom front of my feet. Though I am not quite ready to go see a doctor for X-rays yet.
A good friend recommended I get a Gate Analysis, a test where you are evaluated to see how you run (your stride, how you step) then they try to match you to a shoe that fits your running form. One tip: if you do get one, don't show up in your office attire, especially white shirt, tie and slacks. It's very un-sexy, especially when you have to roll your slacks up to reveal your ankles. In my case, the analysis didn't do as much because there was nothing specific that could be recommended; so I ended up trying on shoes until I fit into a pair that felt good. And gosh they feel good!!! The advantage is that I got recommendations from people who actually run, they know shoes from experience; not from what they were told by the manager. They know what to put in front of you. I can see the value of it in for anyone wanting to start on the right foot - no pun intended. For a lot of other people, they might find specific recommendations. If anything, it gets you to try different shoes and you can find one that feels right. You might end up paying a pretty penny but the fun of staying in the game is worth it. Buy the shoe that does the best for you.
Try not to look for shoes that are too fancy. The girl who helped me told me I have a good form and I am sure it had a lot to do with my Fila Skeletoes because they forced me to run in a way our bodies are meant to run. Too bad it was so stinking painful. What I did, was feel for something that had the cushion I needed - my first and foremost need/concern - and keep the feel I was used to, which is the near barefoot "minimalist" style. It's what I know and what was working so, why get away from it? Now I'm not saying go cheap, I am also not saying go expensive and fancy. Definitely not fancy, we don't need all the "engineering" and "ergonomics" shoe companies want to entice us with as of late. Though that seems to be going away.
If you are interested in what I went with, here they are:
These are the Brooks PureContact. I LOVE THEM! They have a thin sole but not too thin. Plenty of cushion so (to me) it feels like I'm stepping on clouds. They are light. They lack the heavy heel which helps you avoid the heel landing style that, according to Chris McDougal in Born to Run, is responsible for most running injuries involving knees, ankles, hips and back. The have killer looks in super bright colors - freaking awesome - and they are on the lower end of the price scale for this type of shoe. I love them. I recommend you at least give them a try when you go to shoe store. You can click on the shoe if you want to check them out a bit more. It'll take you to amazon.com where you can learn more about them.
That being said, there probably is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. I might have gone a little too far into the extreme when I decided to go barefoot style. For someone who hadn't ran before - as in the sport of running; running for an extended period of time or distance - it might have been a wise deed to ease my way into the whole thing. Barefoot style running does have its advantages and it got me excited enough to start running, but for a newbie, it is just too much too early. They gave me a good running form (this according to the expert at the running store), and that's a great thing because it reduces the risk for all the different injuries that runners are subject to; such as knee or ankle injury and/or hip and back pain. I liked hearing I have good form, I never considered myself good at anything related to running.
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| FILA SKELETOES - Thumbs Up! |
THE LESSONS LEARNED SO FAR
Ok. Let's forward to the lessons I learned: Barefoot style running shoes are awesome, but you do have to ease your way into them. In my case, it caused me to have massive pain on the balls of my feet ( so they are obviously man feet, LOL), but also on top of my feet. They were specially sore in the mornings although they got better as I walked and warmed them up. However, as soon as I'd sit for an extended period of time, the pain would come back. It wasn't getting better despite the fact that I kept running trying to get my feet to be stronger. Regardless of the running and training with all the ibuprofen, the pain wasn't getting better. I even was starting to suspect a fracture on the bones at the bottom front of my feet. Though I am not quite ready to go see a doctor for X-rays yet.
A good friend recommended I get a Gate Analysis, a test where you are evaluated to see how you run (your stride, how you step) then they try to match you to a shoe that fits your running form. One tip: if you do get one, don't show up in your office attire, especially white shirt, tie and slacks. It's very un-sexy, especially when you have to roll your slacks up to reveal your ankles. In my case, the analysis didn't do as much because there was nothing specific that could be recommended; so I ended up trying on shoes until I fit into a pair that felt good. And gosh they feel good!!! The advantage is that I got recommendations from people who actually run, they know shoes from experience; not from what they were told by the manager. They know what to put in front of you. I can see the value of it in for anyone wanting to start on the right foot - no pun intended. For a lot of other people, they might find specific recommendations. If anything, it gets you to try different shoes and you can find one that feels right. You might end up paying a pretty penny but the fun of staying in the game is worth it. Buy the shoe that does the best for you.
Try not to look for shoes that are too fancy. The girl who helped me told me I have a good form and I am sure it had a lot to do with my Fila Skeletoes because they forced me to run in a way our bodies are meant to run. Too bad it was so stinking painful. What I did, was feel for something that had the cushion I needed - my first and foremost need/concern - and keep the feel I was used to, which is the near barefoot "minimalist" style. It's what I know and what was working so, why get away from it? Now I'm not saying go cheap, I am also not saying go expensive and fancy. Definitely not fancy, we don't need all the "engineering" and "ergonomics" shoe companies want to entice us with as of late. Though that seems to be going away.
If you are interested in what I went with, here they are:
These are the Brooks PureContact. I LOVE THEM! They have a thin sole but not too thin. Plenty of cushion so (to me) it feels like I'm stepping on clouds. They are light. They lack the heavy heel which helps you avoid the heel landing style that, according to Chris McDougal in Born to Run, is responsible for most running injuries involving knees, ankles, hips and back. The have killer looks in super bright colors - freaking awesome - and they are on the lower end of the price scale for this type of shoe. I love them. I recommend you at least give them a try when you go to shoe store. You can click on the shoe if you want to check them out a bit more. It'll take you to amazon.com where you can learn more about them.
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