I’ve been dealing with a nagging foot injury.  If you’ve been there, you know how I feel: unhappy, very unhappy.  I’m dealing with it by resting of course and using the time off from running to research foot injuries.  In the process I’ve been exploring natural-style running with the help of our guest blogger, George Colombo who has gone all the way with barefoot-style running.  Thanks George but I’m not sure I’m quite ready for that. Barefoot running scares the heck out of me.

Enter natural running and shoes that encourage that style of running.  My recent and as of yet limited experience in the new Puma Faas 500 model has been exciting: a very comfortable fit and it encourages a natural style of running.  I’m looking forward to this being the long-term solution that will allow me to continue running injury-free for many more years.  Plus, I have the 2011 Reggae Marathon to look forward to!

Plantar Fasciitis

In the course of my research, I found a number of excellent articles by Mark Cucuzzella a Family Physician at Harpers Ferry Family Medicine and Associate Professor at West Virginia University School of Medicine. As a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserves, he is coach and captain of their marathon team and designing programs to reduce running injuries in military personnel. His passion for health extends beyond the walls of the clinic into the medical home’s “backyard”- the trails and open space that create the arena for optimum wellness. Take a look at the links below if you’ve ever had a foot problem or know someone who has:

• This first one is a really good article on Plantar Fasciitis written in non-technical language that explains what the Plantar Fascia is, what causes Plantar Fasciitis and how to recover from it.  It includes some great tips on how to strengthen the affected muscles:  Plantar Fasciitis
• The second article talks about proper fit and explains how most runners get it wrong.  Mark offers suggestions for how to get it right: Proper shoe fit.
• The “land of bent knees” and ‘under centre of mass”:  Mark blogs about his running experience and offers some tips on natural-style running: Natural Running

If you have your own story of running with and through foot injuries, please take the time to share with us.

Until next time…

Reggae Marathon RunninGuy

(NOTE:  Feature photo courtesy of Karen Fuchs)