forefoot runner shoes

if you are getting stress fractures in your metatarsals, you most likely need orthotics. like arches can "fall," so can metatarsals. they need a bump behind them for support, but also padding beneath them for cushion.

i have had many metatarsal stress fractures. i am also a forefoot runner. i have gotten these fractures only when i have not been using my orthotics, or when i have been doing too many track workouts per week in spikes. i also enjoy the asics nimbus. plenty of cushion. replace them often.

hope you return to health soon.

I can appreciate your toe-style running, but are you rolling your foot back on foot strike to relieve the impact or are you jamming your foot into the ground? If it's your style and you won't change, go with Mizuno Wave Creations, and change them every 3 months. Personally I've had a lot of foot problems specifically with Asics shoes. They used to use a combination last that was a bit different than other brands. Currently I have good results with the middle of the line adidas neutral shoes (Response Cushion, etc.)

another reason you may be getting stress fractures is because of the type of shoe you are in. the 2 you named are very light. try amore cushioned shoe like the mizuno. that may help.

what is wrong with asics shoes? That is my schools sponsor so I kind of need to stick with them. I have a pair of nimbus but I hate them-- to heavy

bump

Mizuno shoes suck!

Ok time to wake up. You keep getting stress fractures, this could be for a number of reasons, it could be you foot strike, foot shape.

Stress fractures can be a sign of a rigid foot. If you have a rigid foot then you will need a more cushoned shoe. A stiff foot cant absord the shock of your foot strike, unlike a more supply foot.

BUT the most important thing is to realise that you are getting stress fractures doing what your doing. running in heavier more cushioned shoes for training, is not going to make you a bad runner.

shoesplease wrote:

I run like a ballerina...

I can't help it...

How big are you and what's your shoe size? Stress fractures can be related to a muscular deficiency. Your muscles can't absorb the shock, so it's transfered to the bone. Work on strengthing the muscles in your feet and see what that does. I run on my toes the whole time and since I've made my feet stronger, I haven't had any more stress fracture trouble.

Try the landreth. it is the 2100 without the medial post - great shoe.

I'll second the Landreth II. I run heavy on my forefoot, and love them.

Asics shoes have 2 problems, firstly their shoes witha medial post cause PF, I know loads of people who have developed PF after wearing their shoes, many who were sponsored by them, including myself. the Medial post runs through the arch and into the toe joint, take this away when you run in spikes or flats and you ahve big problems. the arch becomes weak and unable to flex strongly anymore.

Secondly asics shoes ahve a heel counter which can cause PF and other foot problems, I developed larhe callouses on my heels at teh very base of teh foot where teh achilles meets the heel bone, these spurs are a result of Asics shoes arch placement being wrong and putting stress on teh foot on the wrong place. Within 2 weeks of giving up their shoes my problems improved and I could run pain free.

Ditch the asics.

shoesplease wrote:

What are some good shoes for forefoot (toe) runner? I run like a ballerina and keep getting stress fractures. I currently wear Asics Flash or Speedstar and I like them b/c they are light and I am attached to Asics but I am thinking about switching to something better suited to my running style. Any ideas?

Sounds like you are too high up on your toes. Try to land such that weight is on the forefoot but heel comes very low (and maybe lightly touches down), then plantar-flex as you drive.

You may be staying high on the toes because you don't have either enough strength or flexibility in in the calves.

if you are a natural forefoot runner, DO NOT deliberately change your footstrike. it is possible to do. i did it. however, it will most likely create more problems than it solves.

go to a good orthopedist, and get orthotics. it's not the shoes that's the problem, it's most likely the structure of your foot.

in response to some of the above comments, forefoot runners generally have excellent calf strength. when you strike w/ your forefoot your calf is constantly contracted. forefoot running has little to do with the strength of lower leg (or core) muscles, and more do with the natural angle at which your pelvic bone is tilted. if it's tilted forward, one is already in the forward motion (like falling over) and thus more likely to "catch" oneself by using the forefoot.

to respond to everyone... I do have extremely strong calves, have tried to change my running form but it does cause more problems. I am light (female) 5'7 115 and I just hate running with cushioned shoes because they are so heavy. I have a couple of teammates who run in really light flats and have ceased to have problems. Thats all part of the minimalist theory but should I try that? What about Nike Milers (the trainers?)Oh and I do have orthotics I started wearing them after the last fracture. What kind of foot strenghtning exercises are there? I do think I have weak feet and thats part of the problem.

I to run heavy on my forefoot probably cuz I am heavy by runner standards. I most probably mid-foot strike but tend to wear out the forefoot extremely fast. I can't put much mileage on my shoes. I want a cushioned lightweight trainer for a forefoot stiker but I also don't want a high heel. What other shoes do you or anyone else here recommend. I'm 5'10'' 165lbs.

You may want to take a look at the Mizuno Wave Precision. I have had a lot of luck with it, and it is my shoe of choice for Marathon's.

I too have ran with the precisions. But they lost thier cushioning really fast and I felt the heel was a little built up cuz of the wave which felt good but too much in the back.

Do you over stride? Because that could be the problem right there. If you over stride and are running on your toes, all your body weight is focused on you that one spot on your foot. The bones are not very stong in your foot therefore it will fracture. I would suggest trying to change your center of gravity by bringing your hips forward and just leaning forward more when you run, so that your foot lands underneath you instead of out in front of you. This will help relieve some of the pressure from your foot.

hope this helps.