Guess what, it might not be your fault.
Click here, the truth about running shoes: What happens to our foot when we wear traditional running shoes?
A couple of years ago I was introduced to barefoot running, pose running and running in minimalist shoe. The idea of barefoot or pose method, wasn't that foreign to me since I was never much of "heel striker" to begin with. I was honestly just happy I wasn't running, "the wrong way". Well it turns out after plenty of research and a seminar on the pose method, I was. Naturally, I decided to do whatever necessary to fix this issue. If you know me, you know I'm not a big fan of running. YES, the run club was my idea and I do take part. But I am also a firm believer in attacking weaknesses and doing things you flat out don't like to do sometimes.
SIDE STORY: I hurt my foot (nonexistent arch) and ankle, wearing minimalist shoes. People will warn you, if you have never worn minimalist shoes, break your feet/legs into them slowly. (No, Nike Frees are not minimalist shoes) I owned a pair of Vibrum 5 Fingers (these had great arch support due to the strap), and I LOVED THEM! Running felt really natural in them, but boy did my calves get sore. Then I got a pair of Inov8's. Wrong move. I have painfully flat feet. These guys had no arch support at all. First time running in them, I sprained something in the arch of my foot and that put a whole bunch of strange pressure against my ankle. I couldn't really run for a while, even walking hurt.
After a few sessions with a PT for a bit, I realized a few things:
1. Flat shoes with no arch support were not for me
2. My feet were flat
3. Having a duck footed stance is bad (and is a product of my flat feet)
4. I needed to do something about it
My foot and my ankle, was an injury that stuck with me for about a year. Throgh PT I learned that I never really had the proper mechanics in my feet. Shoes (yes all of them) in general hid all of these things. Sadly even walking in normal shoes hurt my feet. But, I was encouraged to believe that if I worked at it, I could start to build and arch (a small one) in my foot and develop proper habits walking, running, lifting, etc... Remember, everything starts from the ground up. So if you feet are jacked up, so is your posture, the way you walk, the way you run, squat and even sit down.
I like minimalist shoes, I actually prefer to run in them (now). But just beware, not everyone is equipped to just put them and start running. (especially if you are a heal striker)
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