Discussion: Shoes?

Nice run and I couldn't stay with you on the first loop! A thought re shoes and foot injury rehab- xtalons (luv em BTW) have very little arch / heel support. Not an issue if you are not aggravating the injury- otherwise something more substantive might be worthwhile- I wonder what your podiatrist would recommend?

Good to see you running well again - and in time for the Western Mass 5-day!

Thanks! Bill, seeing you behind me was definitely good motivation to push hard.

I have considered getting more substantial orthotics than my O-shoes and running shoes currently have, but I'm worried I might become dependent on aids and implements for running. I have a somewhat irrational aversion to using supplementary remedies. In the long run, that reluctance makes sense because the goal is to build up body strength and resilience, but in the short term, using what is most helpful seems to make sense.

PBricker: I'm not completely restored - I still experience morning heel pain, but I seem to be improving. I will have a conservative week leading up to the 5-Day to try to maximize my performance and structural integrity there.

I have a somewhat irrational aversion to using supplementary remedies.

Then stop wearing shoes too.

I'm as anti-medication as the next non-American, but if your biomechanics suck, then wearing orthotics is no more a supplementary remedy than choosing well-fitting shoes is.

Yeah, orthotics aren't some kind of temporary crutch thing that you have to worry about developing a dependency on, they're just a way to make your shoes fit right. Because the shoe manufacturers don't have any way to make a separate shoe model for each person's diverse feet.

I guess if you really want to build up body strength and resilience, you should wear shoes that don't fit right at all. And run with a weight belt. And maybe a hair shirt.