I'm on my third pair of NEW shoes. Yep, it all started about two months ago.
The week of the Silver Lake Tri I started feeling pain in my left hip and knee... It started out in my hip, a super tight feeling - then the knee kicked in... it was awful!! Turns out it was an IT Band issue.
It's caused by a couple of things: over use and worn out shoes! Check & check!
So being that it was the week before a race, I decided to not change shoes until afterwards.
After that tri, I went to get a new pair of shoes. I was excited - my last pair was pretty worn, I had had them for over a year... not that I used them, but they were that old. :)
So I walk in and a super nice college kid said "what can I do for you?" - I showed him my old shoes and wanted something similar since they had worked in the past. He went to the stock room and came back empty handed. They didn't make that specific shoe anymore - so he showed me something different.
I super cushy shoe! Oooohhhh, I like!!!
Took them home and went for a quick run - it was like magic! My IT band issue disappeared!
I was ecstatic!! No more pain!!!
It was short lived - in the weeks to follow I started feeling my inner shins act up. A dull agonizing pain.
Then the left calf - a nagging pain that felt like a tight muscle. No matter what I did, it just wouldn't loosen up. I was stretching, icing, heat, Ibuprofan, massage... you name it, I've done it!
About 2 weeks into my new cushy shoes - my calf finally locked up!! It was excruciating!!!
Sent me into a two week pain ride! No fun what so ever - couldn't even swim. Pointing and flexing was too much to bear.
My coach, my Dr. and myself all put 2 and 2 together and decided it must be the shoes! So I went back and tried to exchange them. Luckily the store was happy to do so.
It was then that I ran into my first "a-ha"... my cushy shoes weren't the right type for my feet. Apparently I have flat feet. Who knew?? I really need a shoe with arch support. Otherwise my ankles are rolling enough to cause the inner shins and calfs to pull in directions they should be.
Because I'm in the middle of training for another race the "expert" advised me to get into a more structured shoe - like my original shoe because it had worked for me in the past. (meaning no arch support) ... and next time get the "right" shoe with an arch support. So I took his word and went home. Again - went for a short run, calf still hurt - then the IT snuck back in. Another 5 days go by and I just can't take it anymore - I'm still in pain, now going to Physical Therapy, 2 weeks behind in training - the list goes on. I end up going back to the shoe store and getting a correct fit in shoes this time.
My first run went well, and I'm hoping this will be one of the pieces of the puzzle that will help get me back on the road with no pain.
I tell ya!!! 2 months of ridiculous pain all due to shoes!!! Who knew??
