Brooks Ghost causing strained feeling in plantar area next day

Exact same thing happened to me. After the Ghosts messed me up, I used Asics Cumulus religiously for a month and everything is fine now. Lost roughly 3 months of progress with the recurring flair-ups, until the Cumulus resolved my issue. Felt like some nerve was inflamed in front of my left heel and was sensitive to finger pressure. Switched over to Saucony Ride last week and did a 5k today, but changed out the inserts, so it has no pressure point near my heel inside area.

By the way, an

8 mile 'power walk' seemed like icing on the cake, as far as 'curing' the issue (using Asics).

I believe it's YMMV. I had no problem with Ghost 15. But I had problem with VF. I think if you notice a shoe acting up your arch area, it's best to stop wearing it. There is no real pattern to this. Some shoes doesn't work for some people.

That is the sign of PF developing. You did good switching out the shoe that was causing it.

Why are ASICS Cumulus “crappy”? Actually find the newer versions quite good.

Actually I love them, and think they are an excellent shoe for the price (it's really easy to get earlier models for $60 and they are good for at least 400 miles) but they definitely give off hobbyjogger vibes.

Wow - thank you for posting that, pretty much my exact same problem. It's definitely more of a nerve or bruising type of feeling at the front part of the heel before the arch. I've had plantar fasciitis before when I worked as a waiter in college, this is a different type of sensation. Looks like the Ghosts will be relegated to walking or maybe short 3-4 mile recovery runs.

Now that I think of it, I do notice that the Ghosts feel like they are pushing my left arch up a bit.

Back to the Cumulus it is. I know they get a bad rap for being old man hobbyjogger shoes but I keep coming back to them even as a sub-2:45 marathon runner, they've literally never caused an issue for me, and they are easy to find for $60-70 and have a respectable life expectancy.

Thanks again for sharing that.

The shoe brand probably doesn't really matter. Just a matter of putting in inserts that don't have unnecessary thickness so that it presses on that nerve. I iuse old cheap Saucony 'everrun' inserts. The white foam piece and the grey foam and cloth piece. They never wear out! They provide a relatively flat footbed surface that feel right for my high arched feet.

Fisky provided some instruction on how to modify inserts for proper comfort a while back. Once you figure out the feel of what works for you, it doesn't matter what neutral running shoe you use. You can always modify. But factory inserts with "slight stability" - meaning extra thickness in the rear arch area - nead to be thinned away with wire brush in a bench grinder.

They changed the Ghost design. If you can find a pair of Ghost 11, 12, or 13's, you would probably be fine. But the 14 forward, causes my plantar and tendon damage issues to flare up horribly. Their new DNA Technology and narrower toe box just isn't as good as it used to be. If you can find one of the older versions of Ghosts (good luck, because I stalk those shoes as they are hard to find now), you'd probably be fine. But if you have any tendon issues in your feet, the updated ghosts 15-16 are probably not for you.

I wore brooks adrenalines from 2019-2024 fall. I recently got my first pair of On Cloud Monters, and now have to live in regret that I wore brooks for 5 years, literally holding back my running career.

Thank god, yeah came here for validation. Bought some Ghosts, wore them for 3 days and have been limping and hurting ever since. Put on my crappy Kohl's New Balance whatevers and feet are instantly ok. Weird that the Ghosts have so much cushion but however they're molded hits right on my plantar fascitiis. Sending them back. Luckily Brooks has a 90 day return policy as long as you have box and receipt, doesn't matter that you wore them

Same! This thread is validating. Have worn Ghosts for ~5 years, have been struggling with PF since this Spring. Went to two different local running stores over the summer, explained the history, but neither recommended switching shoes or thought Ghosts were the problem. I have been doing “all the things” including 6 weeks off and coming back with “Ghost Max”.
Just ordered some Asics. Hopeful.

Definitely sounds like your plantar tendons are being strained. Running or just walking for that matter, aggravates them as they stretch and contract.

Interesting this thread popped up. I used to disregard threads about specific shoes causing or exasperating injuries, but I am going through a similar experience now.

In prior years, I did the vast majority of daily miles in Asics Novablasts. Was very easy to find the prior year's model for $99 or similar. After my most recent pair flattened out, I bought Puma velocity nitros and deviate nitro elite 3s at a steep discount during Puma's Memorial Day sale.

During the weekend 21-miler of a marathon build peak period two weeks ago, I felt pain growing on the underside of my ankle as the run progressed. The easy run a day later, severe pain developed.

Doc diagnosis was a peroneal tendonitis. When asked for a root cause, he speculated it was likely a combination of high mileage with shoes that have a heel collar touching the aggravated area. Said if inflammation has developed, tying laces tightly on shoes where the heel collar touches the impacted area can make the pain feel worse. Asked me to compare with other shoes.

After not running for a week, put on the Pumas. Couldn't even make it two blocks without a flair up. Immediately returned home and put an old pair of Novablasts. Went 10 miles with no noticeable pain.

Am emphasizing cycling and ice in the last two weeks before the marathon, in hopes I can run the race in full while minimizing fitness loss as best I can.

Brooks foam is really outdated.