[juliemboyle]

All:<br><br>
As many of you know, I got a stress fracture in my ankle during a half mary last September. I took 8 weeks off and have been slowly ramping my long runs back up over the last few months. I'd been doing 8 milers in Jan and Feb and just started adding 9 miles and 10 last week. (I have a half mary on 4/6).<br><br>
The problem I have had on my last 2 LR (9 & 10) was my feet were BURNING from mile 7 on. Very painful, the bottom of the top part of my feet and several of my toes. I think it will just get better over time and that I probably just don't have the callouses on my feet that I used to???<br><br>
Anyway....any advice on how to avoid the burning feet, or is it just a matter of time until my feet are "fit" for long runs? I am really hoping the Half Mary is not spent in agony for the last 6 miles!

 

[VictorN]

Are you wearing quality socks? Do your shoes fit?<br><br>
Victor

 

[txdave13]

New shoes?

 

[juliemboyle]

Wearing good quality light socks.....(same as always)<br><br>
Asics gel Kayano 14's (been wearing versions of these for 3 years)....the shoes are 3-4 weeks old, so not brand new.<br><br>
I do remember back in the day when I first started running long that the first few runs over 9 miles this happened, then either my feet just got used to it, or I developed callouses that stopped it from hurting? or both......

 

[Thor]

Sounds to me as if it is one of more of the following:<br><br>
o Shoes too tight.<br>
o Toe box not big enough.<br>
o Laced too tightly.<br><br>
Your feet will swell, so although the shoes may *feel* right and be your right size, they may not any longer after your feet start swelling. And maybe yours swell more than others to make that small box even tighter. Try lacing the shoes up a bit lighter, or stopping 5 miles into the run to loosen them.

 

[juliemboyle]

Thor: You have probably hit the nail on the head.....I tied them pretty tight (in toe box area specifically) cuz they felt so lose (makes sense when it's colder out)...then 5 miles into the run, the feet are all puffy (you should see what my fingers look like at this point...sausage fingers).......great idea. I will start out with them looser and maybe adjust them around mile 6 if they are starting to hurt.

 

[Thor]

It can be tricky nailing down the exact tightness. I used to bump into problems on really hot days, especially during the run portion of a triathlon, but since then I have found a system that works where I just tie my shoe without thinking about it. Believe it or not, when I'm focused on tying the shoe, I typcially do it too tight. In that case, I untie and look away as I retie, and things are good. This, of course, will likely not work for you, but the point is that most of us face this sort of problem when we are pushing hard or when the temperature is high and for me especially during both.<br><br>
Also, I sometimes tied the upper a bit tigher but leave the toe box loose. That might work for you as well if you indeed like the shoe itself to feel snug.

 

[Yo Mikey]

I try to keep my toe box area really roomy (I can literally spread out my toes). I also put Chamois Butta on the inside of my sock (I flip the sock inside out first) where I get hotspots / blisters and also around my toes, ball of my foot area.<br><br>
All of my long runs and my marathons are now blister/hotspot free!!! I've tried other things such as Blister Free powder, Body Glide, Moleskin, nothing worked this this.<br><br>
I do also have to say, my running technique has improved using Chi Running. I used to be a really inefficient heal striker and that allowed my foot to move around quite a bit. Now, with a loosely laced shoe, no problem anymore.

 

[corrade]

I get that sometimes on downhills. I think this is what's called a 'hot spot' but it can cover the entire ball of my foot. Usually I'm braking too much, absorbing too much foward momentum with my footstrike. Concentrating on light-footedness helps, pick up the feet faster. If the burning lasts a quarter mile or more I've got a big old blister pretty soon after.

 

[3chilipeppers]

Yeah, I actually have to lace my shoes differently than your typical way. I always feel it on the top of my foot. The toes are fine, and the heel is fine, but the top of my foot will start to hurt. So, if I just skip the hole right over the top of my foot (don't cross the laces there), it relieves the pressure. I have to have it tight around my ankle because I have small heels and ankles, but the rest can be loose. Jeff Galloway's book has all these different lacing patterns to relieve pressure in different areas. I never knew you could do such a thing! I did the one to relieve my pressure, and it worked!! I've been lacing my shoes every since.<br><br>
Anyway, I bet it is the swelling because I have the same problem when it is super hot.