Freethinker ~ Freerunner

I rested today.  Still recovering.  I did some research on metatarsal, or "ball of foot" pain, and discovered that I need a different kind of insole than the one I bought at the running shoe store.  I need one with padding in the fore foot area.  I went back to the running shoe store today and talked to the nice sales associate who sold the my last pair of Brooks Ravena shoes with the insoles.  He gave me an exchange on the insoles, which I found to be a very nice gesture as I expected to have to buy the new ones.  

I spent the day walking around my house "breaking in my new insoles" in my old running shoes during a Dallas Cowboys game.   I am often on my feet during a game because I get excited about the goings on.  I figured it was a good way to get my feet comfortable wearing the insoles before actually running in them.  

I rested today.  

I ran today for the first time since Christmas morning.  I also ran for the first time in my new Super Feet Orange Insoles.  I replaced the green insoles with the orange ones because it seems that I need extra padding under the ball of my left foot. 

To recap, I have struggled for about two months or more with "ball of foot" pain there.  I almost never feel the pain when I am running.  Usually I feel the pain walking around barefoot the day of the run or the next day.  I also feel the stiffness or soreness when I get out of bed in the morning.  As a result I have taken it really easy for the past two weeks.  I only ran once each week.  Last week I ran ten miles, and I felt a little pain in the ball of my left foot after the run.  I also felt my right calf muscles tinge up somewhere around mile 8 last week.  I iced both areas for the rest of the day and waited until today to run again.  

So today I am pleased to report that I ran in the new insoles (Superfeet Orange) with forefoot padding.  I kept my pace nice and easy (8:12 miles) as not to over do it.  I want my right calf muscle to heal up from whatever injury it has, and I want to see if I am capable of running a moderate distance without feeling the "ball of foot" pain in my left foot in the hours and days after the run while walking.  So far I am pleased that neither injury seems to have shown itself.  As I type it has been two hours since I finished my run today and I have not felt a thing after the run.  I did feel something in the ball of my foot and something in my right calf on the run itself, but it was very faint.  I may be overly analyzing my body at this point, but for a good reason.  I want to be cautious during this part of the year.  I probably still have a few weeks before I need to get back on a training schedule for the Oklahoma City Marathon.