Here’s another one of those interesting stories to encourage frustrated plantar fasciitis sufferers; there are treatments that are not aligned with conventional ideas.
Stumbled across your barefoot experiment via the Runner’s World forum. Great stuff!
Anyway, I have a good neutral running style and I’m a forefoot striker…
I picked up Plantar Fasciitis in both feet back in Jan whilst training for the Brighton Marathon (I totally overtrained. Completely my own fault!). It was really really nasty ( I could barely walk without a searing needle pain in my heels/arches) and consequently, I’ve had about 5 months off from running, doctors orders.
Saw a couple of physios, all of whom said the same stuff (rest, stretch the calves and get yourself some nice supportive shoes with orthotics).
Tried a few different orthotics/in soles, and they didn’t help at all! They just felt too un-natural.
Then a month ago I started doing foot strengthening exercises (picking up a sock with my toes whilt sat at my desk, writing the alphabet a few times with each foot too). I lobbed the orthotics and started wearing wearing my little plimsolls again.
Then the Merrell Trail glove came out and I thought ‘Why not? It can only make my feet stronger’.
That was 3 weeks ago and I’ve walked in them ever since (couple of miles a day). Last week I took them out for a small run. I feel stronger than ever, I have my confidence back and more importantly, I can get back into running, slowly but surely! I’ve signed up to Athens Marathon in Mid Nov as a target (I’m not looking for a PB, but after 5 months of no running, just crossing the finish line will move me to tears!).
I’m not looking to run marathons barefoot, but I’m definitely going to incorporate some barefoot runs into my training schedule. Buying the Merrell trail gloves was the best move I ever made in terms of recovering from Plantar Fasciitis.
Just thought I’d share my experience with you.
Keep up the blog and happy running!
Nick offers some good down to earth advice based on his experience of pf on his blog here
Thanks Juan, you are not alone, plantar fasciitis can be very hard to shift. Take heart that much research seems to indicate that the condition does improve over time. Hopefully your feet-strengthening exercises will speed things along.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
I am so glad to hear your story.I thouht there was no way out of this injury,at least there is for you.I have made so many moves,none of them worked for me.I have been running with pain the last year and can´t find a solution.Wore three types of orthotics,been infiltrated three times.
I needed trail shoes,and thought why not giving it a go to the Merrell,but I ended up buying a pair of brooks cascadia and asics Cumulus,I definitely made a mistake but I will start running in the beach barefoot that´s for sure.
Thanks for sharing your experiences,perhaps one day I´ll get out of this,for the time being the pain is unbearable.