I have a marathon on Sunday. Two years ago, I tore my posterior tibialis and developed Achilles tendonosis from overuse. I fought back and have been feeling good the last year. I've put in a hard year of training and am ready to go. I did a few runs in the shoe I plan to race in (Saucony Kinvaras) just to make sure all is good. I train in the Liberty ISO. When I injured myself I was running in the Asics Hyperspeeds.
The Kinvaras feel great but the heel tab at the top of the heel cup is more of a pointed shape, rather than a "U" shape that cradles the Achilles. I realized that when I am toeing off and compressing my Achilles the point of the heel tab is grazing into my Achilles each time. For my healthy leg this is not an issue, but I've noticed that the small repetitive grazing starts to aggravate my previously injured Achilles over time. I think if I cut a "U" shape into the heel tab, this will prevent the problem from occurring. I want to try it tonight so I have time to test the shoe and see if it works.
My plan is to cut the "U" shape in the heel tab, then stitch it up the best I can. Then I plan to remove the insole, and run Duct Tape from the sole at the heel and go up the heel cup and over the outside of the heel tab. Then replace the insole. I may reinforce the outside of the heel tab with another piece of duct tape and maybe a little Gorilla glue at the edges (on the outside) to keep the tape from peeling as the shoe flexes.
If anybody has experience with shoe modifications or any input as to a better way to do this, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, I've searched for alternate shoe options but just don't feel comfortable with a complete shoe overhaul right now. I feel like my best plan is to make this work.