I have been running for 2 months now, pain free. The only thing I have changed is now that it is nice outside, I have been running outside instead of on the treadmill. 2 days ago I woke up to a sharp sharp pain on the inside of my foot, right above the center point of the arch. There is no pain under my foot, just right on the side, as I walk. I thought maybe I did something casually to it, and took yesterday off from running and just swam. I woke up this morning, feeling great, and it was beautiful outside, so I went for a run. 2 miles into, like I hit a brick wall, the pain started back. It went from no pain to **OMG I can barely walk** in a matter of 10 strides on the track. I obviously stopped running, and slowly walked home, taking care to not put much pressure on it.

Now, like I said, I have done nothing differant but move my runs outdoors and off the treadmill. Is that enough right there, in the way your bdy works to actually propel you forward to cause an injury? I also think it might heavily be due to the fact my running shoes are near 5 years old now, and the bottoms are pretty much flat now. I am going to take the next three days off of running, and just swim laps, which doesn't hurt at all. I will get some new running shoes, and then start my runs again and see if that was what the problem was.

I hope this is all it takes to fix this. When the pain came around on the first day, it kind of just went away on its own by night time, so hopefully the same will happen again.

Does anyone know exactly what this might be? Is there a reason this may have happened other than I have described? Could I be running incorrectly? I looked up some stuff online, and I think it is called plantar fasciitis. information on that can be found here:

http://orthopedics.about.com/od/footankle/a/fasciitis.htm

On a positive note, another 5 pounds of flab gone bye bye...only 13 more pounds until I am MEPS....and then AF ready <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Dude, if your arch supports are gone...that's probably the problem...yeah, you definately need to get some new shoes. You might want to take a day or two off...or stop running until you get a new pair of shoes.

5 years!? I'd be lucky if my shoes last me 6 months!

If pain continues after new shoes and rest, go see a sports doc.

haha, yea, I really never even thought about gettin' new shoes when I started everything. The pain is definitely still here today so hopefully after a few days it goes away.

I just got back from the store and came home with a great new pair of Saucony running shoes. My foot feels 100% better just wearing them. I also got a new pair of TYR racing swim goggles, so...now, cuz I can't run right now; its off to the pool!

bro, with the amount of running you want to do and are going to be doing, your running shoes will last around 3-4 months. Or if it's easier you can track milage on them, just like car tires. 300 miles is what I've been told for running shoes.

Definitally take some time off from running. Listen to your body and when something starts hurting like your foot has been you need to take it light or not run for a week or 2 to let everything heal. And when you start up again after the break, go slow and ease back into your running regemin.

If you haven't already, integrate ice into your recovery regemin. I ice both my feet for 10 min pretty much every night and my knees for 15-20 min. You only want to ice your feet/knees once or twice a day and make sure you let them warm back up, usually 20+ minutes.

Also, you will probably need to look around for a running shoe store that can help fit a good shoe to your stride and body weight. As you lean up you may also need to get refitted. Make sure you let them know what you're training for, and explain how much running it involves if they don't know what PJ/CCT is.

Trust me. I hurt the ball of my foot running in shoes that were a little too big, was knocked out from running for over a month, and had to go through the BS of getting a letter from the podiatrist saying I was cleared to run to include in my flight physical/med records.

It's easy for us wannabes to want to continue training while injured. It's possible, but you need to let your body heal and then ease back into what ever training you had to take time off from. Getting ready for life as an Operator is a long process filled with physical and mental challenges that will test your dedication to earning that beret. I know mine has been and I still haven't gotten the opportunity to try out for CRO, let alone enter the Pipeline. I bet I'm not the only one around who's been in the same boat.

remember you're building a foundation of physical and mental endurance. If you rush the foundation, everything else will be weakened. Take the time to build a strong foundation and your chances of reaching any goal will be better.

Thanks guys. With the help of this forum, and military.com, I really feel like I am preparing myself well for what is to come. All of the great advice on everything is really great.

After taking the last 5 days off of running, my foot feels great now, and I think tomorrow I will slowly work it back into my regimen. My daily swims have been going great, I always feel so good and lean and strong after them. Today was a bit of a landmark as I successfully swam the first 500 yards in under ten minutes, and then was able to do another 300 yards on top of that without stopping. I am glad I started swimming so early in my training. I wasn't originally planning on swimming before I got to weight, but because of the leg/foot problems I have had over the last 3 weeks, I started it up early. The results have been great, and the weight is still pouring off. I guess swimming really is one of the best things for you! I only have 9 more pounds to go before I am at AF standards! (202) So, I think my MEPS goal of June 15 is definitely in sight. 55 pounds in 3.5 months...entirely healthily...just kickin' my butt hardcore.

HOO YAH

Good job Matt! Keep it up!

Well, it seems my body isn't ready to let me run I went to the track today, and walked the first lap, warming up as always. It only took half a lap of actually running for a slight disturbance in my foot to come back, so I stopped immediately and went to the gym to swim. I guess 6 days wasn't enough. I didn't re-hurt it at all. I stopped at the first sign of anything. I really hope this isn't an ongoing problem I am going to have. I will just wait another week until trying again.

So today i swam roughly 1000 yards. 40 laps. It terms of caloric burn, what is that about? Does it compare at all with the calories one can burn with running?

Matt, it's a common misconception. 40 laps would be 2000 yards/meters (depending on the pool length). 1 lap is down and back - so I'm betting you only did 20 laps <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

For minor injury recovery, about 2 weeks is needed.

You've got me on burning calories. Rob Brandenburg would be best to answer since he is the resident nutrution expert. You should give him a shout, I'm sure he can help you more with your situation.

Um...did you get new shoes...cuz if you didn't, your foot's probly gonna be hurtin' after just a few strides...yeah. Good luck on th' MEPS goal. (th' 15th's my B-day <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ).

Yes, I got brand new Saucony running shoes. I waited 6 days to try and run, and after a 1/2 lap, a small tingle/pain started to come back and I stopped immediately. I am going to go to a foot store and get some sport orthodics, wait another week, and then try running again. If the pain is still there, then i will go to a dang doctor.

This is really disconcerting. I love swimming, but I want to run! I was making such good progress. Up to like 5 miles at a time.

dude, I know what you're going through with wanting to run but can't. I had to take over a month off for my foot pain caused by poor fitting shoes, which I only ran in twice. So you're feet may need some more time to heal up.

I was at REI yesterday and found this amazing foot massaging ball. Called Foot Rubz, it works and it really did make my foot feel a ton better after a few minutes of rolling it around. Something you might want to try to help heal and prevent any future problems.
REI.com

one of the things that you might want to try is sitting in a chair with both feet on the ground...take a golfball it put it under your foot and just move your foot around on top of it...you are going to hit spots that are really tender or feel like they have huge bumps but you have to suck it up and dig in there with the ball

i've been running in college for 3 years now and this is the simplest thing that you can do to prevent plantar fascitis (aside from proper shoes)....time is not a problem with this the more the better and once you get rid of the pain it starts to feel pretty good

I tried that a few days ago and that really didn't do much. I couldn't feel anything. I went to a foot store 2 nights ago and go some sport orthodics. Cost me 60 bones, but well worth it. Those paired with my new running Saucony's are making my foot feel very nice. I am scared to actually try to run though. I am still going to wait a few more days of walking around with the orthodics first.

YES! I just ran for the first time in a while. Just been swimming everyday to keep the weight loss/training going, and I am proud to say I ran a full mile pain free!!! So tommrow I will just swim and do cals, and then thursday run a little more. I want to work back into this swloy so I dont hurt myself again, as I can;t afford to be out again. Thanks for all the help and support!

I had a similar thing happen to me, one of the things I was told was to stretch it by putting your toes about 3-4 inches (varies with feet size) up a wall and putting your weight on it, stretching the bottom of the foot a little. I don't know how accurate my P.E. teacher's knowledge was, but it helped me a little for the pain. Just thought I would add my $0.02 USD <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Well, about a week after my last post, my foot was fine to run, and I have been doing so since. A lot has happened actually. Ran a 15K, did well on my PAST for SERE, and have a signed contract and ship date. Anyway, cut to 3 days ago. I was running outside on some trails at a local park, I'll admit this run struck me as odd from the get go. For one, I just wasn't feelin' it. I didn't feel like working out at all; but I made myself. After about 3/4 a mile, for some reason I was wiped, legs hurt, out of breath...weird, but I pushed on, at about the mile point, that D*** tingle in my right arch started creepin' up. I noticed it, and figured it was just cuz I was obviously being a wuss today, but after about 15 more strides, I knew to stop. So I stopped, and walked home. After 20 minutes of rest, the pain was gone, and I was able to walk around pain free.

I took yesterday off, because of the poor poor performace from the day prior. I stretched up real well today and got to running about 2 hours ago. Everything was great. I was relieved to find the rest helped a lot, and I was floatin along. After about 2 miles....the pain started again. I ran for another quarter mile or so, and then stopped again and walked home. I don't know what is up.

There is one thing that it might be. I noticed the pain started after I pushed myself up a VERY large hill...so much of an incline the hill has a name on the road it;s on. I got to thinking about it, and when you are running uphill, especially at that kind of a grade, you are really only landing on the balls of your feet with each stride. When this happens, a LOT of force and weight is being stressed on the arch. The pain started about a football field's length from making it up that hill....whatcha think?

Again, I am just gonna stay off it for a few days, and I will just swim laps.

I ran cross country in high school and a few of the guy's that had arch pains sometimes ended up with collapsed arches. Running is really hard on your whole body I love doing it but I try and cross train with swimming to let my body rest up in between runs, that's what I think, good luck.

Ward, I can relate to what you're feeling. I've felt that pain while running a few times. My best suggestion, as spwarren mentioned, is to crosstrain. Try taking a break from running for a while, keep stretching out, and try alternating swimming and biking for a while. Hope this helps. Best of luck.

Could be one or more of the tendons under your arch, could be stress fractures, could just be torn muscles. How long until you ship out? If you have about 6 weeks or more, take a two week break from running, swimming, biking or anything else that stresses your feet then see a Doc if pain persists after the break. (Swimming? you say. Yes, even swimming puts stress on your feet because you flex your toes and insteps or soles of feet against the water. If the pain is muscle or tendon related, the swimming will slow healing. If it is bone related, it won't make any difference if you swim or not. Muscle injuries heal fastest, bones next and tendons a lot lot later.)