Background:
-I'm 6'4" ~180-185lbs and have been practicing running with a mid-foot strike (essentially just working on getting my damn feet to hit below my center of gravity) for the last year and a half. I've been wrestling with tight calf mussels for the last few months, but they've actually been feeling better during the last month or so.
-I've been averaging about 30-35 mpw for the last couple months now after a slow build up from the 20ish that I'd been holding for quite some time before that (following BarryP's plan.)
-I've been running races and training in Kinvara 2's (replacing every 300 miles or so) until ~2 months ago when I picked up a pair of Brooks Pure Flows which I've been using for training miles. (I will note that my casual shoes are a pair of Nike Free 3.0's that are probably more than worn out.)
-I also wanted to add that I've really been in endurance sports for about 3 years (was prior military, so had a light run load) and completed IMC last year and have been pretty much injury free this entire time.
Problem:
During my last middle distance run, 8 miles at a cruise pace, I started to feel a bit of a sensation that reminded me of when I'd done a run with a tiny sliver in the ball (somewhere in the area of the of my foot. It was enough that I noticed it, but not enough that I felt the need to stop and even try to scratch at it or anything. This was probably around mile 2 or so and I don't really remember feeling it during the rest of the run. Upon returning, I stretched and it wasn't until coming home that I felt anything again. That night (last night) I felt just an ever-so-dull pain in the area around the base of the 3rd and 4th toes and mentioned it to my wife in passing.
This morning it was slightly worse, but still not much more than a dull sensation. However, after moving about during the entire day it started to feel more and more like a really deep bruise at the base of those two toes. When I made it home today I convinced my wife to take a look at it and there was (barely) noticeable swelling in the area compared to the other foot. After taking my shoes off, it definitely hurts more barefoot and on hard flooring. Also, it hurts more during the push-off phase of walking; essentially when using the toes to push off. There's no pain at all from the top, and even pushing and prodding from the bottom doesn't really hurt much at all. Most of the pain comes if I pull my toes back a bit.
Solution?
I'd love some opinions from y'all in the time that it takes me to make a doctor's appointment next week. The only big race I have this year is Leadman Bend in September, so I really don't mind taking the time off that I need (see my screen name) in order for whatever this problem is to heal correctly. Though I must say really enjoy running and was trying to build eventually up to ~50 mpw so I could have a go a several running benchmarks and sprints this summer / fall.
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It seemed like a good idea at the time. . .
-I'm 6'4" ~180-185lbs and have been practicing running with a mid-foot strike (essentially just working on getting my damn feet to hit below my center of gravity) for the last year and a half. I've been wrestling with tight calf mussels for the last few months, but they've actually been feeling better during the last month or so.
-I've been averaging about 30-35 mpw for the last couple months now after a slow build up from the 20ish that I'd been holding for quite some time before that (following BarryP's plan.)
-I've been running races and training in Kinvara 2's (replacing every 300 miles or so) until ~2 months ago when I picked up a pair of Brooks Pure Flows which I've been using for training miles. (I will note that my casual shoes are a pair of Nike Free 3.0's that are probably more than worn out.)
-I also wanted to add that I've really been in endurance sports for about 3 years (was prior military, so had a light run load) and completed IMC last year and have been pretty much injury free this entire time.
Problem:
During my last middle distance run, 8 miles at a cruise pace, I started to feel a bit of a sensation that reminded me of when I'd done a run with a tiny sliver in the ball (somewhere in the area of the of my foot. It was enough that I noticed it, but not enough that I felt the need to stop and even try to scratch at it or anything. This was probably around mile 2 or so and I don't really remember feeling it during the rest of the run. Upon returning, I stretched and it wasn't until coming home that I felt anything again. That night (last night) I felt just an ever-so-dull pain in the area around the base of the 3rd and 4th toes and mentioned it to my wife in passing.
This morning it was slightly worse, but still not much more than a dull sensation. However, after moving about during the entire day it started to feel more and more like a really deep bruise at the base of those two toes. When I made it home today I convinced my wife to take a look at it and there was (barely) noticeable swelling in the area compared to the other foot. After taking my shoes off, it definitely hurts more barefoot and on hard flooring. Also, it hurts more during the push-off phase of walking; essentially when using the toes to push off. There's no pain at all from the top, and even pushing and prodding from the bottom doesn't really hurt much at all. Most of the pain comes if I pull my toes back a bit.
Solution?
I'd love some opinions from y'all in the time that it takes me to make a doctor's appointment next week. The only big race I have this year is Leadman Bend in September, so I really don't mind taking the time off that I need (see my screen name) in order for whatever this problem is to heal correctly. Though I must say really enjoy running and was trying to build eventually up to ~50 mpw so I could have a go a several running benchmarks and sprints this summer / fall.
--------------------------------------------------------
It seemed like a good idea at the time. . .