Barefoot Running Advice » Beginners' Corner

help for discouraged beginner

(3 posts)
  • Started 2 months ago by jmcgannon
  • Latest reply from pythelico

  1. jmcgannon
    Member

    I’d like to get your opinions, perspectives, insights, advice, and experiences with chronic plantar fasciitis and transitioning into barefoot running. I am a lifelong runner who has had plantar fasciitis (p.f.) for over 2 years. Unlike other cases I have heard about where folks have suffered debilitating pain, my p.f. has given me mostly that nagging , persistent, dull ache and burn that never goes away. I have iced and stretched, exercised, worn orthotics, used the Strasbourg Sock, and gone to physical therapy (and more!) for most of the past 24 months, but the p.f. persists. Then 2 things happened: 1) I read Born to Run, and 2) the folks at physical therapy (really sweet and knowledgeable people, all of them) told me that I was going to be in those orthotics for life. In other words, their approach left no possibility for weaning myself off of orthotics ever – it just wasn’t in their thinking.

    I had reached a crossroads – I could choose a well-meaning but, to my view, limited course of treatment that didn’t share much of what McDougall and others have been saying about the role of over-cushioned shoes and the weakening of our feet being at the root of our feet ailments – or I could work on strengthening my feet and working into barefoot running slowly but surely. So, I decided back in February to go with McDougall and the ever-growing barefoot running community and began focusing on making my feet stronger and thereby (I hoped) eliminate the p.f. allowing me to run barefoot in modest distances by the summer.

    Well, summer’s here, and I’m still at it, a believer to the end but discouraged because the p.f. persists and I feel unable to really get going with running barefoot. I have been diligent and patient, gone slowly and followed the essential tips most b.r. sites mention to transition well and without overdoing it. Unfortunately, it isn’t working out as I’d hoped.

    If any of you have any insights or words of inspiration, I would really appreciate them.

    Lastly, does anyone know of any barefoot running clubs or groups in Connecticut ?

    Thanks,

    John in CT

    Posted 2 months ago #

  2. nmedpm
    Member

    Hello John, I'm no expert nor doctor, and am a beginner barefoot runner myself, but I have done my research and can share my knowledge and opinions with you. There are very few scientific papers about barefoot running, so for a physical therapist to recommend you go barefoot running to cure plantar fasciitis would be career suicide if you injure yourself on their prescription. Did your doctors rule out heel spurs already? And how is your foot's arch? I'm also curious, have you been barefoot running or walking? Do you know the correct running form? Is it at all possible that your heel stretching as prescribed was executed insufficiently? Did you try strengthening intrinsic muscles of the foot by picking up marbles or something with your toes? I'm just curious and also want to know some answers to those questions before I can give you a useful response.

    Posted 2 months ago #

  3. pythelico
    Member

    John,

    How often do you walk/run barefoot? Can you provide a sketch of a typical week?

    Do you run with VFFs or completely barefoot? What surfaces do you run/walk on? What's your typical mileage with shoes?

    Thanks,
    Kelly

    Posted 2 months ago #

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