I've been stupid - running injury

[kerry19834]

I usually run up to 7 miles a couple of times a week then the occasional 5k. I have my first half marathon at the end of August.

I have a plan but I didn't follow it. Myself and a friend got carried away at the weekend and ran a half marathon around town. Stupid as it's a big step up. But distance wise it felt okay

On Sunday and Monday I felt a little stiff. Yesterday I went out for a gentle 3k run road testing new shoes and recovery. Today my right foot has pin and needles and my little toe feels tight and looks a little scrunched up.

I'm now worried I've hurt myself badly and my training plan is ruined. I should be at the 7 miles mark now. Wish I hadn't been stupid.

I should say it's my little toe which is the most uncomfortable.

I’ve done things like that before, are you sure it’s the long run and not the shoes?

Runners get injured, it’s part of the sport. In fact I would say you’re not a true runner unless you’re prodding some part of your lower body trying to decide if you’ve got a proper injury, a niggle or if it’s all in your head! Seriously though, this doesn’t sound too bad- I’d take an extra rest day and then try something gentle in your old shoes and see how you go.

Don’t panic about your training plan. One dodgy week won’t change things, just pick up where you left off.

Hope it turns out to be nothing…

Don't let it dishearten you! However, these days, I would take a week or two break from running after that sort of injury. I have had similar, and found it impossible to stop running, only for it to keep coming back. A short break won't dent your fitness. Are you worried that you won't make your half marathon if you stop? I think you have time to have a healing rest, personally.

Have you got a podiatry clinic that you could attend. The one near me charges £25

I am hoping so, it is just gentling throbing today, with pins and needs. I have never had anything like it before. I am gutted as I should not have ran so far.

It could be the new shoes, but they were recommended by a running shop I spend £140 so hoepfully it is not them as I can't afford to by another pair!

It's maybe the shoes..... some shops let you try out shoes and will let you return them??

It could be that the shoes are too small or that you have laced them too tightly, or it might be nothing. Try not to panic and see how things feel in a couple of days. It is a rare runner who realises that they might be about to do too much before they actually do it- for every one of them there are 99 others lamenting that last ill-judged run!

On the plus side, you know you can do the distance now.

It does sound like the shoes. I’d take a few days off then try with your old shoes. It’s worth going back to the shop if you do think it is the shoes, as different running shops have different policies on returns.
Good luck!

Most running shops let you return them even when you've done some running in them

They sell them at running events.

Shoes should be a good size as i went up half a size to normal as the brooks felt tight at usual size.

They stopped making my go to running shoe so trying to find a new go to.

I really hope I've not injured myself badly as my foot feels rubbish today.

So it sounds like if it was a Post half injured I would have felt it straight after I ran not two days after. So more likely shoe.

Could it be a combination of the above. Wondering in a couple of days if I should give the new shoes a go again or attempt to take them back

They’re not carbon plated are they? My shoes had me running a marathon with 2 possibly stress fractures in both feet. My free running entry cost me a fortune in podiatry appointments, X-rays and scans. Haha I was hoping they’d all say don’t run, but no ..all said I can have surgery post run if need be 🤣 long story made the marathon in pain, turns out it’s the shoes! Carbon are common for causing stress fractures in some people and the nerve damage I was diagnosed with- also shoes!

Just don't want to lose my fitness as I was getting loads of PB. Recently.

Ooh sounds expensive. No not carbon plates. Very bouncy lots of cushion.

Going up half a size is probably too little for a running shoe. I'm a small 5 and my (Brooks) running shoes are a 6.5. Anything smaller feels too tight once they're laced tightly and I'm doing any distance, because feet swell a lot - particularly in warm, summer temps - and my toes bump up against the front. This can cause lots of discomfort, blisters, sore toes, etc. I strongly suspect that your shoes are the issue.

I meant from my usual running shoes. It's probably 1.5 bigger than my usual shoes. There is plenty of room at the toe end. I can literally push my fingers down into the space. The guy in the shop seemed to think they fit well

My carbons were very bouncy and cushioned. lol they were a dream to wear and made me fast!!!! Sad my feet didn’t like them. They were top of the line expensive ones too lol seeing I was throwing myself in there I wanted to be like pros 🤣

Sometimes issues like this can be helped by lacing your shoes differently



I think it’s your shoes. The only people I know this happened to had the wrong size running shoes on.

If you look at the Brooks website there is a questionnaire there about the right ones for you, or better yet, go into an actual shop and get fitted and treat yourself.

Better you know and get it sorted before the big day. Don’t fret about overdoing it, people have run actual Marathons with NO training and mealy cut the feet of themselves and have recovered, you’ll be grand!!!!

Yeah I have checked the Brookes website and it came I with the shoes I purchased on advice at the running shop.

My little toe is throbbing tonight (low level) and my foot is swollen to the extent it feels uncomfotable in my usual runnig shoe.

I am half thinking I have a stress fracture

On the treadmil the shoe felt really good.

I am just mentally gutted

My birkenstocks are a size 34.
My runners are a size 38 (wide).
Things like boots, I'll usually wear a 37.

Longer distances and warm weather mean more foot swelling than shorter distances and cooler weather.

It turned out that my size 37 runners which I was on about the 5th pair of had been the root of my achilles tendonitis, and a bigger pair with space to spread and wriggle my toes mean that it hasn't flared and impeeded me since despite the marathon.

It's most likely to be the shoes and resolve with a few days rest. Changing lacing can often help with pressure points. If its still persisting after a week, I'd get it looked at.

I would rest until the weekend, foam roll properly and roll the base of both feet over a tennis and golf ball and then go and do 10 minutes in your normal shoes before you decide you're actually injured. New shoes do weird things when you're breaking them in. That's why you break them in.

And honestly, just because a running shop recommended them that does not mean they are the right shoe. Have you looked to check if you can get your old shoe online?

If you find a shoe you actually like, buy several pairs because brands have this obsession with "upgrading" shoes and generally that seems to misfire at least 50% of the time.

Thanks, yes my go to shoe has been discontinued. Decathlon. Looked online to see if I can find them with no luck.

The new version doesn't fit me well.

It sounds like your new shoes could be too narrow round the toes. I wear men’s trainers as they are wider.
(Also hate that women’s shoes only seem to come in pink, purple or pale blue!)

Brooks do a wide fit version in all womens sizes. Maybe try those.