Why I may have to stop BFR; but I don't wanna: help!

megabarefoot

Barefooters
May 11, 2011
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0
6
So, here is the run down: I started running barefoot in January this year. It was slow but steady progress. I did fracture a metahead from running VFFs so that slowed me down for several weeks. Fast forward to now with a retrospective on the past 4-5 weeks: My body has adapted faster than I thought it would in the sense I'm capable of running a 10k at about a 10ish min/k pace. I can go faster but I'm still discomforted that form will fail at higher speeds in the sense that I"ll switch to more forefoot striking than midfoot; hell I'm just now starting to finally get into a relaxed habit of running barefoot.

Which brings me to my problem. The area directly underneath the metaheads (all of them, especially two, than one) on my left foot is aching. After my last run of 6k it seemed fine; even during the mild stretching I do afterwards. However, when I got out of the car the second metahead (bottom of foot) hurt like hell. I had to ice it. It started off only happening every once in a while but would go away; now it isn't going away and that last run I mentioned has resulted in a persistant ache; just at the edge of being painful but mostly just annoying. It's just sort of there, especially when I have my foot resting flat. It happens to both feet but the left one is persisting. Odd thing, it doesn't happen during movement. I"ve tested it countless times, it never fails me or hurts during movement but I think I did find a limit where after a certain distance I start to feel it bit. The rest of my body is capable of these longer distances with the BFR form but perhaps my feet are not just yet.

so here were my goals: Two short runs and one long run per week and keep doing this for a long while. Short runs to equal a 5k, long run for anything in the 6-10k range; this is what I had been doing, oh I'd say for the past 3 weeks. I can run on pavement, trails and gravel, no problems. This was going smoothly for the most part. I'm not ready to go further and now I'm wondering if I should back off. Perhaps to something like two 3k and one 5k per week. I'm starting to wonder if I have damaged my foot from going too far too soon. It wouldn't be the first time I push my boundries to the point of failure. These last two weeks I have been focusing on relaxing while keeping a decent pace and distance.

I'm going to the podiatrist today for some scans and examination just to be sure if there is no bone damage. That aside, why is this even happening at all? Am I doing something wrong? Please tell me some one else had something similar. My first idea is that I'm putting too much force on the forefoot and not enough mid sole striking; I THINK that may be the issue, but I'm not sure. When I run, I don't feel like I'm doing something wrong. I can take some pics of the soles so you can see where the skin is adapting; it seems most prevelant in the forefoot directly under the metaheads; which doesn't seem all that uncommon or incorrect to me. Perhaps the aching is just part of the process for me; it's not like it's unprecedentated as evidenced by some searching I've done of other BF runners. This seems to effect a very small percentage of them and resolves itself but nobody really went into detail about it. It feels like I can keep running but I'll have to reduce my milage and REALLY, really focus on softer midsole landing. Ug. It's always something; I would like a refund on my body.

I dunno; I just want to run and I can't go back to shod running (already tried, it hurts and is uncomfortable; no way I'm buying more footwear) and if I'm gonna run in huarches or VFF I might as well do it barefoot. I'm not ready to quit and I'm rather well known for pushing limits so perhaps that is all this is about and I just need to chill out for several weeks. Perhaps take 2-3 weeks off running entirely then restart with the 3-3-5 routine I mentioned. I would think at this point I would be able to run reasonable paces and distances withouth hurting myself. Sigh; despite the odd ache it feels like I can keep going and there is nothing that stops me while running; that is what sucks, I get no signals that I'm doing something wrong. Expect afterwards.
 
Unikely to be metatarsalgia

Unikely to be metatarsalgia since it only hurts at rest, which leads me to think tendons and ligaments which usually feel okay on exercise and hurt when resting. If it is what I am thinking it won't go away without resting it and letting it heal up. If it is this, I don't think it's a form issue, but an overuse issue... TMTS. Hope you get better soon!

John T.
 
My gut reaction is, my

My gut reaction is, my current foot conditioning has been 30+yrs in the making...it ain't going to be Shou Lin tough in 3mo. I still get a sensory overload in the mornings and the middle of the night when I get up to use the bathroom after running the day before and I lotion and massage my feet like crazy and have been known to ice them after a longer run or after gravel if they are feeling beat up.

I notice something similar to what you're describing when my foot falls are less than stealthy or I get lazy with my knee bend.

I hope you figure it out and it's no big deal! Keep us posted.

-Jonny
 
I feel for you, Mega.  I know

I feel for you, Mega. I know what it's like to not be able to do something you love. Hang in there though. I do think that perhaps you should stop running completely for a few weeks and come back with a very conservative routine. Then only run barefoot to ensure you are running as lightly as possible.

Please let us know what the doctor says just as soon as you hear.
 
Mega,  I started BF about the

Mega, I started BF about the same time. I have similar pain when I do to much gravel running. I don't have much of any fat in the forefoot. You may be able to continue running on smooth surfaces, try to avoid the small sharp stones for awhile. Keep us informed.
 
well, the dr. said there

well, the dr. said there certainly isn't anything damage as far as bone is concerned. I do have a slightly injured tendon from not paying attention, but that is healing normally.



The forefoot ache wasn't something that surprised him. He said in time it will go away but it's something some folks have to deal with when they engage in this type of activity. Dancers get it a lot and I have read of other BF runners that experience something similar. He thought perhaps it was the fatty desposits being broken down and that over time the foot as to adapt to the change, including thickening of the skin and the tissue that impacts the metaheads. He did suggest I tone it back a bit, which I already considered as much. I'll start my new routine next monday. I'm just gonna have to accept this is how my body adapts to BFR. It's not so bad and at least I can still run, so long as it doesn't get any worse. I think the reason it seems so mysterious is because I've never heard any one mention this as part of their transition to BFR; at least not until I did some google searching and came across a runner's world post or two. Both said it goes away after several months. The Doc also mentioned the muscles in my left ankle seem less defined and weaker than the right. I'm not surprised since every damned thing that as every gone wrong with my running over the years has happened to my left leg, amoung other annoying issues I've had to deal with over the years. It's just a weak limb; so I'm not surprised this is happening on that foot.

Side note, running on gravel is actually easier on me than sidewalk. Gravel at least shifts around, sidewalk does not :) I'm not stopping BFR, I'll keep going as best I can when I can and trust I'll adapt in the fullness of time.
 
Jonny00GT wrote:My gut

Jonny00GT said:
My gut reaction is, my current foot conditioning has been 30+yrs in the making...it ain't going to be Shou Lin tough in 3mo. I still get a sensory overload in the mornings and the middle of the night when I get up to use the bathroom after running the day before and I lotion and massage my feet like crazy and have been known to ice them after a longer run or after gravel if they are feeling beat up.

I notice something similar to what you're describing when my foot falls are less than stealthy or I get lazy with my knee bend.

I hope you figure it out and it's no big deal! Keep us posted.

-Jonny



Lazy knee bending; this is what is happening with my runs, a lot. The muscles in my thighs haven't completely adapted to running in this form and so after a few clicks, the right starts to get sore and the knees start to straighten. Folks are kidding when they say you really need to keep you knees bent and springed more than you think. It's a lot harder to do than it sounds over the course of a run.
 
Again, run barefoot, not with

Again, run barefoot, not with something on your feet. This will ensure you run lightly, gently. And yes, bend those knees. This will help you to lift your feet, so you are not pushing off, prevent heel-striking, and lessen your impact on the ground. Good luck, Mega! Keep us up-to-date as you progress.
 
I think you're still

I think you're still adapting, as several folk have written. Go with it and give yourself a healing rest if that's what it takes. You're doing fine.

And, yes, I think there's probably a lot more of what Jonny wrote about - midnight walks that HURT - than is is mentioned. I know that at 14 months of BFR, I'm not that long past laying in bed and wiggling my feet in bed in the morning so I didn't wimper out loud the first few steps.

I think it was a matter of my body coming into shape and my form coming smoother. They don't generally happen overnight for most people.

Good luck!
 
Dude, I'm right exactly where

Dude, I'm right exactly where you are. Been BFR since March and have just come off a two week rest after straining my foot running over a stretch of mulch (I don't think that's what Ken Bob was referring to when he said 'challenging surfaces') which gave me a serious little bout with TOFP. During the rest period I realized that that same nagging metahead bruise-type pain that's only (but always been) there when I rub it with my thumb, and when I'm cold outta bed in the morning, was worse than it'd been in the past. I have Morton's Toe, which I firmly believe is contributing to this because my shorter first digit creates a little pocket of pad which is callusing up as it pinches with each stride.

Long story short, I feel your pain, almost exactly as you describe it. Not just the physical pain in your left foot (my left, too) but in the emotional toll it takes on me by NOT being able to run as far or as fast or as frequently as I THINK I should be able to. Then I stop and tell myself, "dude, you are running barefoot on concrete and you're expecting overnight success? because four months equates to 'overnight' in the big scheme of things."

So good luck... right there with you... struggling to get it right and refusing to give up. Find me on Dailymile if you're there (and you should be) and let's commiserate on a run-by-run basis.

Cheers!
 
See this is why I'm compiling

See this is why I'm compiling a list of and making a map of barefoot running coaches. People need help. Hearing about and reading about are great resources, but seeing it first hand, getting face-to-face instruction, and having someone critque your form will go a long way in helping others to transition safely. AND...when we can get people to do it safely, then we win.
 
Barefoot TJ wrote:See this

Barefoot TJ said:
See this is why I'm compiling a list of and making a map of barefoot running coaches. People need help. Hearing about and reading about are great resources, but seeing it first hand, getting face-to-face instruction, and having someone critque your form will go a long way in helping others to transition safely. AND...when we can get people to do it safely, then we win.



You're not kidding! When I noticed the swell of new VFF runners at the race yesterday in comparrison to the last few I've run, I could decide if I was excited about it or scared for them. I was pretty focused on helping my wife finish, so I didn't get to observe the form of any of the fivefinger runners, but I remember a couple I passed in the Firefly race last month and it made my feet hurt watching and hearing them run!

-Jonny
 
VFFs are certainly novel foot

VFFs are certainly novel foot wear, I'll grant them that and they do make for a nice running/walking experience; but damn people seriously over estimate the regenerative abilities of their bodies; though some seem to handle it just fine. I wonder how many of those folks are really committed to minimalist running or if it's just "a thing" for them until they get tired of it or hurt themselves then say BFR/MR is dangerous. Sure it is, if you run like a damn rhino!