I've been running for a few years now, and I've built up to ~45 mpw. A problem I've had for a long is that pain begins developing on the balls of my feet, where I strike when I run. The pain usually begins around the 4th or 5th mile of my easy run & progressively worsens. It isn't terrible, but it's making my runs uncomfortable & worries me.
It hasn't led to any injuries luckily, but I'm not sure how to counteract this. If I could, I'd be fine with running farther. Any solutions?
I've been running for a few years now, and I've built up to ~45 mpw. A problem I've had for a long is that pain begins developing on the balls of my feet, where I strike when I run. The pain usually begins around the 4th or 5th mile of my easy run & progressively worsens. It isn't terrible, but it's making my runs uncomfortable & worries me.
It hasn't led to any injuries luckily, but I'm not sure how to counteract this. If I could, I'd be fine with running farther. Any solutions?
Where “on” the ball of the foot is the pain? Is it in the joint? If so, I think extra caution is warranted, but any pain in (or “on”?) the ball of the foot is a concern.
I use to have the same problem. I think the cause was that I'm a forefoot runner and the balls of my feet absorbed all the impact. I bought a pair of insoles that had an arch in the medial part of my foot. (The hollow area just behind the ball of my foot. I never needed arch supports.) This spread the area of impact and immediately solved the problem. They're hard to find. Most running stores don't have them. The ones I got are called "aetrex." If you can't find them in a store you might try on-line. They worked for me. The first pair I bought was about 25 years ago and I've had them in all my shoes ever since. They're fairly expensive, but definitely worth it.
I've never been to a podiatrist. They don't take any time to get use to and though the insoles wear, the metatarsal pads seem to last forever. Google "aetrex" and you can find them. Good luck.
I don't know why the morons are babbling about balls. Sometimes the nonsense is exhausting.
But, I had another thought. Being a forefoot runner I've figured out a few things over the 45 years I've been running. When I buy a new pair of shoes: I remove the insoles that come with them, add a pair of flat spenco insoles (no arch pad) and put a pair aetrex insoles with metatarsal pads on top of them.
I've been running for a few years now, and I've built up to ~45 mpw. A problem I've had for a long is that pain begins developing on the balls of my feet, where I strike when I run. The pain usually begins around the 4th or 5th mile of my easy run & progressively worsens. It isn't terrible, but it's making my runs uncomfortable & worries me.
It hasn't led to any injuries luckily, but I'm not sure how to counteract this. If I could, I'd be fine with running farther. Any solutions?
I can't say I've had pain. But with certain brands of shoes I'd get a burning/friction sensation on the bottom of my feet in the area you described. I finally found relief with NuBalance shoes. Never had that problem again. Sometimes it's just the shoes.