No silliniess today. With week two of training for the North Face Endurance Challenge (50 mile) in the rear view mirror, let’s take a look at how we did.
Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: 6 miles
Wednesday: 8 miles
Thursday: 6.75 miles
Friday: 4 miles
Saturday: 16.25 miles
Sunday: 10.3 miles
Total weekly milage: 51.3
That is the first time reached 50 weekly miles. I wasn’t able to sneak in any miles on the trails, something I’ll have to work in more frequently, but I’m glad I topped the 50 mile window. Exciting right?
It would be if it wasn’t for this:
After Saturday’s run I felt a pain in the top of my left foot. Nothing happened while I was running, or at least I didn’t feel it or realize when it happened.
Post run, our running group went to enjoy some coffee and conversation and as I was leaving the cafe, I felt the pain when I was walking back to the car. It wasn’t a “sharp” pain, just more of a “I-notice-you-are-there-uncomfortable” kind of pain. I think that’s the official medical term.
After searching on google, I saw some suggestions that it could be the laces on my shoes. Too tight/too loose. It’s not that. Why? Because I don’t lace my running shoes every time. I slip my feet into them and run. Been doing that for 5 years, multiple shoes, thousands of miles and it IS NOT the problem.
My milage has increased, but I’ve stayed within the 10% range and have been increasing my long runs by 3 miles each week.
So what could it be?
I went for my run on Sunday even though the “uncomfortableness” was there. I wanted to see what the situation was. Would it warm up and get better while I ran? Would it go away? Would it flair up and cause me to stop?
None of the above. It did feel better while I ran, but was still there. I notice it while I walk, but it doesn’t cause me to limp or favor (too much) the other foot. I took my normal rest day on Monday and am also taking a second rest day today (Tuesday).
I’m on some ibuprofen, icing it and trying to rest it.
Any suggestions on what it could be?
Tips for a speedy recovery?
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Hmmm…I’m wondering if it was because you didn’t have your shoe tied up tight enough? Does your foot move around a lot?
Also, how much has your mileage increased this week compared to last? If it’s more than 10% your body could just be telling you to chill out.
Thanks… last week I ran 43 miles, with a long run of 13. This week was 51, with a long run of 16. I don’t think the increase is an issue with the foot.
Also, I don’t think it’s the shoes. I’m comfortable saying I’m 99% sure that it is not them. Not a new pair and nothing has changed with my shoe routine.
I’m stumped. Did you wear new socks? Something a bit heavier maybe?
I actually think it is because you never untie your shoes that may have caused it. When you do a long run, your feet actually swell up. So if you kept your shoe laces as tight as a normal day, the swelling probably caused pressure on the top of your foot. It’s fairly harmless, and should get better in a few days. I’d recommend for the time being to loosen your laces as much as possible without having your shoe feel “floppy” or have too much extra room. Congrats on the mileage goal!
-Brian
Thanks Brian. I wear a half size larger to compensate for the swell and have kept my shoe routine the same since the beginning. I believe if it were the case, this issue would have popped up years ago. I don’t lace them tight, and definitely not floppy. Sort of a comfortable in between. I’ve logged thousands of miles this way… this is something new. Hmmmmm.
I’ve had similar a few times. I also run minimalist and know that it’s par for the course with that form/shoe. Any chance that applies to you? Anyhow, probably a tendon that is speaking up a bit. Last time I had it (even had some swelling/bruising w/ it) I took a few days off, saw my massage therapist and saw my acupuncturist. Was good to go.
Now on your runs– I would suggest spreading out the long run and the middle distance run a bit. Maybe do the 10 (or similar) mid-week and then the day after the long run do something shorter, like a 6. I know as you get closer to the 50 it’s an ultra way to train doing them back to back, but right now, you can give your body more of a break with some distance between them.
Hope you feel better soon!
No minamilist shoes for me… I do feel like i might have strained a tendon, that seems to be “most likely.” Maybe lifting my big toe too much?
Thanks for the tip on spreading out the back-to-backs. As it gets closer, yes, it gets higher, but with this possible setback, I’m taking it easy this week, which is good because my milage drops to 45 this week with my longest being 10.
While I’m not too comfy with letting the internets be your doctor, I’ll ask this question: Do you ever do the step stretch for your calves? You know the one where you have your toes on a step and you push your heel down and hold? I did this for awhile and it caused me pain at the top of my foot. I stopped it and the pain stopped too. Just a thought. Good luck and please don’t waste time guessing too much!
Thanks for the insight… no, I stretch my calves with my feet flat, no step. I’m taking rest and icing.
I’ve had that pop up before. It went away with ice and rest. I blamed it on a ton of walking the day prior wearing flip flops. Hope the rest takes care of it!
How long did you rest it for? The flip flops would be from overusing your big toe, right? I’m going to have to try to keep that in check on my next run.
I’m gonna have to go with this one. i get that pain when i walk in flat shoes or flip flops. and is enhanced after running.
btw, if i ‘run’ with you and stuftmama… you’ll be running circles around me. ;) but i will keep it in mind.
I’m hoping your foot issue is just a response to higher mileage, especially since that’s the most you’ve done. Weird pains come out for me when I increase, even if it’s just by 10%. Hopefully a bit of rest this week will do the trick.
Thank you… that is what I am hoping for as well.
When I was training for my first half marathon I had a sudden stabbing sensation in my foot that would happen randomly, though always associated with runs. Of course I freaked out and thought STRESS FRACTURE but the Xray was clear. The doc gave me permission to use a golf ball on my foot and I freaking murdered the area between my 3rd, 4th, and 5th metatarsal. I was sore, but it did the trick. The pain went away.
Note – I’m not a doctor, just an idiot.
Good luck to you!
I’m dreading the SF word… was the golfball for the bottom of your foot? I’ve used that for Plantar.
sheesh! you are quite the runner! good for you! I need to start so I wont die over on the tough mudder course!
I find a high quality fish oil supplement helps immensely with inflammation.
Icing on the top of the foot has always helped me, but so far nothing serious has turned up.
I guess it might still be the arch, the horizontal arch, and not the one from toe to the heel.
Try using an insert.
My sports massage guy swears by heat (instead of ice) after the initial injury. It helps blood circulate which in turn helps with inflammation. He said once you aren’t using ice to prevent swelling, use heat to help heal it. This has really worked for me with my ankles (general soreness/ inflammation) and last summer my knee. Random thought in case it might help you recover too. Feel better soon!
Looks like you’ve received lots of helpful suggestions. Hope you get some answers and recovery quickly. Awesome job reaching 50 miles!! My highest week was mid-40’s in marathon training, I look forward to hitting 50 one of these cycles. :)
I’m sorry, I don’t have any suggestions! Knowledge of injuries, I have little of, I guess that’s a good thing. I also don’t know I wrote that comment like Yoda. But I’ll use that as a segway to say May the Force Be With You and I hope you recover soon!
This is good info! Where else can i find out more Keep up the good work