I'm an old soldier, so I've been running for 25 years, all distances, all speeds, with or without weight, road or forest. I'm no stranger to running. But I've developed a right hip problem (confirmed over-use induced arthritis plus who knows what else) that has pushed me to try to find a way to run more sustainably after a 1-year hiatus from running entirely.
I love to be outside, I don't want a hip replacement if I can avoid one, and I can confirm that I now passionately hate elliptical machines, although I'm grateful to the one I used to keep my heart in shape for that year off from running.
I started running again about 3 months ago, but only 3x/week, and no more than 4 miles at a stretch. In looking for a more sustainable way to get outside and to keep running if at all possible, I started barefoot running 3 weeks ago. I'm going slow as Christmas, and I'm all the way up to 3/4 of a mile at a time, 3 times a week now. I'm trying to focus on form and tactical injury prevention, watching my path ahead closely, keeping my toes out of sidewalk cracks, and trying to land mid-foot in contrast to my 25 years of landing hard on my heels.
The soles of my feet are toughening up a little bit as I had anticipated, but I have just developed a blister about 1/2-inch across in the center of my left heel pad.
Can one of you more experienced folks help the grasshopper out - what am I doing wrong?
Thanks,
Phil
I love to be outside, I don't want a hip replacement if I can avoid one, and I can confirm that I now passionately hate elliptical machines, although I'm grateful to the one I used to keep my heart in shape for that year off from running.
I started running again about 3 months ago, but only 3x/week, and no more than 4 miles at a stretch. In looking for a more sustainable way to get outside and to keep running if at all possible, I started barefoot running 3 weeks ago. I'm going slow as Christmas, and I'm all the way up to 3/4 of a mile at a time, 3 times a week now. I'm trying to focus on form and tactical injury prevention, watching my path ahead closely, keeping my toes out of sidewalk cracks, and trying to land mid-foot in contrast to my 25 years of landing hard on my heels.
The soles of my feet are toughening up a little bit as I had anticipated, but I have just developed a blister about 1/2-inch across in the center of my left heel pad.
Can one of you more experienced folks help the grasshopper out - what am I doing wrong?
Thanks,
Phil