Sunday, August 23, 2015

Numb feet while running: how I handled it

This is really strange. I've been running 35 minutes and, as precise as a Swiss watch, my left foot goes numb. It happens every time I run longer than half an hour. Damn, it's frustrating! I would like to run longer and faster, I feel fit and great, but I have the impression that my foot has turned hard as a piece of wood. I must stop.

All over the last 4 years I've been trying to collect information about this awkward reaction. On the internet I found some explanations and some suggestions on how to prevent it. It seems that the most probable cause is a nerve compression, therefore many runners and doctors suggest to wear comfortable shoes and to avoid tight socks. First problem: in my case, I am sure the tingling is not caused by my shoes. How can I be so confident about it? 4 years ago, when the problem first appeared, I went running barefoot on the beach, and my foot tingled. So it could not depend on the tightness of my footwear. 

Back then, I used to keep track of my daily running performances on a small diary (very useful habit indeed!). I started a training programme at the beggining of June 2011, and I detected the first signs of tingling after 3 weeks of light training, always after 35 minutes of running. It went on for around one month, then it never occurred again, and I could run long distances without suffering any problem. 

In April 2015 I resumed my daily running after a sedentary winter season, and here it comes again, the damn tingling! However, my previous experience taught me to keep my spirit up. Whenever the foot got numb, (always after 35 minutes!) I bit the bullet and I kept running for 500 meters before stopping. After two weeks the tingling disappeared and now I can run any distance I like. I want to be clear: I am not suggesting you to do the same! This method worked with me and honestly I don't know why. I tend to ascribe the numb foot to the lack of training after a long stop, but being no doctor I am not 100% sure!
 



Monday, August 10, 2015

My running shoes after 1 year and 1000 km

On September 2013 I bought a pair of Kalenji running shoes. Exactly one year before, on September 2012, I had bought the same model, which I used throughout the year, running around 1000 km. Experts recommend to buy new running shoes after 800 km. Mine were pretty worn-out and dirty, as you can see in the pictures below. Comparing the two shoes (the new and the the old ones) I had the chance to learn something interesting about my running style. For example, observing the soles, I realized that while running the external segment of my heel applies a considerable power on the ground. I don't know whether this is correct or not (I will try and get more information about it). 
I am currently running with a pair of Reebok Dash Runner. The Kalenji are for sure cheap and good quality shoes, but I experienced that they are not suitable to cover distances longer than 5 km (or running longer than 30 minutes a day).