Running Hiatus

The foot issues that have plagued me for the last 18 months or so have gotten better since the worst period, but they're far from gone. I've been to a podiatrist several times, tried resting the foot, gotten new shoes and orthotics, and nothing has cured me. I don't have numbness and pain every time I run, but it occurs often enough that I know something isn't quite right.

So when my local running store advertised a free injury prevention clinic with a chiropractor, I decided to give it a try. I'd never tried chiropracty before but I know many people who have had good luck with it, so why not?

I went to the clinic last week and the first thing the doctor did was look at my shoes and shake his head. I should've known better than to walk in complaining about foot problems wearing shoes like these:

Despite the shoes (and more head shaking on his part), he seemed optimistic that he could help me. So I went to his office a couple days later for further consultation and discussion of a treatment plan. He's going to be trying something called Active Release Technique (or ART) to "free the nerves from entrapment" and he'll give me an insert for my non-running shoes to help re-develop the arch in my toes. (My foot arch is high and healthy. The toes have lost their arch as a result of wearing heels. I know, I know - this should be enough to conince me not to wear heels, but I can't give them up!)

I'm excited to envision a day when I won't have any pain in my toes/foot when I run, but I'm a little bummed that I have to take a break from running for 4-6 weeks. I can still work out at the gym - elliptical, bike, stair master, swimming - but no running. Of course, as soon as the doctor told me that, I've had the running ITCH like you wouldn't believe! But I'm getting back into biking and enjoying a different challenge.

Here's hoping the break will do me good...