Gruco said:
Past couple times I ran, foot sorta like....fell asleep. Loss of circulation I guess. I'm trying to figures out whether this is a serious circulation/nerve problem or if it's a short term injury from overstressing. And what to do about it. It happens to my right foot, around the 2.5 mile mark. Accompanies a really sore achillies and was notably alliviated when I stretched that.
Anyways, those old working out threads always had good info, hopefully someone can help me out with this....
Well, having trained for a marathon (which got cancelled on me 3 days before the event due to the event organizing company going bankrupt--fuckers) I would agree with Doth that it's extremely important to stretch after running (not as much before--for distance runs (over 10 miles) it's sometimes better to just run for a few minutes to warm up instead of stretching). In the end, as long as you are not trying to set new yoga world records with each stretch, stretching can never hurt you.
As for your specific foot injury, you may want to go see a foot professional (a doctor or specialist would be the best bet, although some specialty athletic/running stores could give you the information I'm about to highlight) to find out what type of foot you have and what shoes would go best with it. Does your foot pronate (shift inwards) or supinate (shift outwards) when running? Do you have flat feet or high arches (the latter I have, and I benefit from a special type of running shoe)? Your achilles hurting may derive from your over-pronation (hyperpronation), but it would most likely be fixed with proper footwear and stretching.
You mention that it starts hurting at 2.5 miles...have you just recently started a running routine? When I first began my 6-month marathon training, I would start hurting around the same time. In fact, when we first ran 6 miles, my right foot was numb for the last half-mile.
If you're only planning on running a few miles (less than 7) at most every other day or so, don't worry too much about this foot pain (although still see a foot professional to get the info and get new shoes and stretch), as it will go away with time and more running. If you're planning to run long distance (10 miles or more),
SUCK IT UP.
You will experience pain, even with good stretching. It's just what happens when you push your body through tens of thousands of footsteps on hard surfaces. With time, over my training period, the numbness only set in if I tried running too fast or at the extreme lengths (18 miles or greater), and even then, it went away with time and more muscle memory experience and running.
Marathoning is not something you do all the time however, so don't get too gung-ho about taking the pain in stride. Long-distance running
will put extreme stress on your legs and feet. There are those crazy people who will try to join the "50 by 50" club (50 marathons by age 50), which basically means training year round for a marathon in the spring/summer and fall/winter. Usually these people weigh little....the best marathon runners are "a pair of legs and a pair of lungs." I am a big guy for my height (185lbs, 5'8"), so I have extra stress placed on my feet when I run, and I'm not ever going to be a long-term long-distance runner (at least until I lose a few pounds
).
With that said, I encourage everyone to take up running, especially long-distance for at least one attempt at a extreme distance (15 miles or more). The sense of accomplishment you get from realizing how far you've run with nothing more than your own body and willpower is quite amazing.
Edit: oh, and I forgot one of the most important parts. Drink water. 8 ounces every 2 miles in colder temperatures, every mile in warmer temperatures. Also add in 8-12 ounces of Gatorade every 45 min-1 hour of running, and if you're running more than 6 miles, get yourself something edible (health bars, GU gels, etc) to nibble on for an energy refill every hour.
