Runners please advise me!

emtrem

I have started doing couch to 5k, and have bought trainers in my normal shoes size (3). I have been getting pain in my left leg and toes, although the right foot and leg is fine. I read recently that you should buy running shoes a size bigger than your normal shoes. Do you think this is the reason for my pain? If so, why only one leg/ foot? Any advice? Thankyou....x

meerkat70

Did you get fitted in a specialist running shop for your trainers? If not, then I'd say that's what you need to do. Get your gait analysed, and your shoe properly fitted.

I do wear about a half size larger than my current shoe size in a running shoe.

bluefox9er

Did you get fitted in a specialist running shop for your trainers? If not, then I'd say that's what you need to do. Get your gait analysed, and your shoe properly fitted.

I do wear about a half size larger than my current shoe size in a running show.

^^ this ^^

kylTKe

It doesn't really sound dire. You may want to try describing the pain better. A common result of shoes that are too small is a nail may turn black. I've never heard of leg pain resulting from tight shoes. I believe some people have different sized feet but I would venture to guess that your problem is either from poor running form or because you're running a lot on one side of the road and the road camber (curve) is causing the issue.

Also, remember that you just began running and some aches and pains are definitely to be expected. I wouldn't waste money on shoes unless it becomes obvious that they're the problem.

live2runnj

Any and all of this could just be attributed to the shoe that you have chosen. If you are new to running, go to a "RUNNING" store and seek the advise of a person at the store who is a runner. They can look at your stride, your strike, your posture and overall style and lead you down a path to "seek" the right shoe for you. If you are new to this you should try MANY different types of shoes by different makers. Eventually you will find the one for you and your specific style.

live2runnj

Did you get fitted in a specialist running shop for your trainers? If not, then I'd say that's what you need to do. Get your gait analysed, and your shoe properly fitted.

I do wear about a half size larger than my current shoe size in a running show.

^^ this ^^

****....
What "they said". Missed this guys. Sorry. I bascially repeated it.

Moving on!

myscaleaddiction

It's totally possible that your feet are different sizes, even different shapes! That's why, like the others have said, it's important to get help from someone who knows their stuff when buying running shoes. Good luck!

kylTKe

If your feet were different sizes it wouldn't be difficult to figure out, just measure them. Also, just because you're experiencing the problem in one side only doesn't mean much. Plenty of running related soreness / injuries only occur on one side for people. It might be from form deficiencies in one side, differences in tendon strength, road camber, or just chance.

it's pretty easy to tell if your shoes are too tight. Just put them on and see where your toe ends. I believe you want ~ 0.5 inches of room. If your toes jam up into the end of the toe box then they're too small. You can also take out the insole and stand on it, if your toe is hanging off you might want to think about new shoes. Like I said previously, if you get black toenails you almost definitely have shoes that are too tight.

meerkat70

I think it's possible that experiences *other* than black toenails might be associated with small shoes... And of course 'too tight' might be width as much as length.

If you're going to run in shoes (as opposed to barefoot like kyitke), get your gait analysed and your feet measured. I've had similar pain to the one that you're describing, and sorting my shoes was a very important aspect of dealing with the pain.

If you go to a good shop, they'll stick you on a treadmill and video your footfall, to judge the degree to which your foot is rolling. They'll try you in a good range of shoes, and they'll check the fitting of each as well as the impact on the way your run.

sadams137

I went to 2 specialty shoe store and tried on dozens of shoes. I bought several pairs and took them home and tried them out. I actually wear a pair that is 2 sizes bigger when I run. My feel seem to swell a lot so it's definitely possible!

ChangeYourPace

My running shoes are almost always a half size larger, depending on the brand. I also found it helpful to use ones that are breathable instead of overly padded.

madmickie

I think the answer here lies in the fact that you are new to running. People have been buying running shoes for decades without gait analysis so I wouldnt look at that as the solution.

Your shoes should be comfortable, although like any shoes there may be some breaking in required. Most of us have a bias to one side that may explain why you only get pain on one side - who knows. Stick with the plan but dont push through any bad pain and you will likely be ok.

drgndancer

I think the answer here lies in the fact that you are new to running. People have been buying running shoes for decades without gait analysis so I wouldnt look at that as the solution.

Your shoes should be comfortable, although like any shoes there may be some breaking in required. Most of us have a bias to one side that may explain why you only get pain on one side - who knows. Stick with the plan but dont push through any bad pain and you will likely be ok.

"People have been living on fast food for for decades, so I wouldn't look at that for a solution..."
"People have been vitamin D deficient for decades, so I wouldn't look at that for a solution..."

People have done lots of things for years. Some of them are good ideas, others simply the result of ignorance or misunderstanding. In the case of gait analysis, how can it possibly be a bad idea to get a someone to figure out what your problems are and recommend ways to correct them? Over and under pronation are classic causes of shin splints, correct the cause and the pain goes away. Correct sizing is a classic fix for toe pain, again relief can be nearly instant. Over training can cause both conditions of course, but someone properly following c25k isn't likely to be over training. It's a pretty gentle intro.

camrunner

I got fitted for shoes by Ian Adamson, Newton's director of research and education... it was a pretty interesting experience. I've always been a size 13 or so, but he put me in a 15 and said it didn't matter that they were a little bit long and the important thing was that they were the right width. I went ahead and bought those shoes and I've since run hundreds of miles in them with no foot problems whatsoever.

So I think, yeah, generally it's good to make sure your running shoes are pretty roomy.

madmickie

I think the answer here lies in the fact that you are new to running. People have been buying running shoes for decades without gait analysis so I wouldnt look at that as the solution.

Your shoes should be comfortable, although like any shoes there may be some breaking in required. Most of us have a bias to one side that may explain why you only get pain on one side - who knows. Stick with the plan but dont push through any bad pain and you will likely be ok.

"People have been living on fast food for for decades, so I wouldn't look at that for a solution..."
"People have been vitamin D deficient for decades, so I wouldn't look at that for a solution..."

People have done lots of things for years. Some of them are good ideas, others simply the result of ignorance or misunderstanding. In the case of gait analysis, how can it possibly be a bad idea to get a someone to figure out what your problems are and recommend ways to correct them? Over and under pronation are classic causes of shin splints, correct the cause and the pain goes away. Correct sizing is a classic fix for toe pain, again relief can be nearly instant. Over training can cause both conditions of course, but someone properly following c25k isn't likely to be over training. It's a pretty gentle intro.

Exactly where did i say gait analysis was a "bad idea". Who knows what that most likely solution to the poster's problem is. But given we know they have just started running it sounds pretty reasonable to me to suggest that as a cause. Therefore working through that is a good first step rather than running (limping?) back to the shoe-shop!

BetterMike

Entrem, are you experiencing the pain on treadmill, outside, or both? I ask because I sometimes experience some pain in my left leg when I run on treadmill but never when outside. I use the same shoes when doing both.

Most likely, in my case, it's a gait issue having to do with treadmill running.

bizorra

Shoes are important, but it might also be form. Try watching videos on running form and pay attention to how you run. I know when I run for longer (ie, get tired and lazy at the end) I get sloppy and my right shin hurts.

I'm not sure if form can overcome bad shoes, but I don't think good shoes can overcome bad form...

nickhuffman74

Yup! ^^ Is it a sharp pain or a dull pain, how long have you been running? If I run sloppy outside on hills I get terrible IT band pain at the 5+ mile mark. If I run sloppy on the treadmill I get pain in my right toe.

While yes you can get fitted for high dollar shoes, your basic running shoe is more than enough for beginner runners.

timboom1

I think the answer here lies in the fact that you are new to running. People have been buying running shoes for decades without gait analysis so I wouldnt look at that as the solution.

Your shoes should be comfortable, although like any shoes there may be some breaking in required. Most of us have a bias to one side that may explain why you only get pain on one side - who knows. Stick with the plan but dont push through any bad pain and you will likely be ok.

If you are properly fit for running shoes, there should not be a "break in" period for today's shoes. If the shoes are not comfortable from the first run then they are not the right shoe. A comfortable shoe is one the fits right when you are running in them, not standing, getting fitted at a running store where this is assessed is the best way to do this, otherwise it is just trial and error (and more pain than needed) to find out if you picked the right ones. Running through pain caused by building endurance and strength is one thing, running through pain caused by the wrong shoe, when you can control that, is just silly.

kylTKe

I think the answer here lies in the fact that you are new to running. People have been buying running shoes for decades without gait analysis so I wouldnt look at that as the solution.

Your shoes should be comfortable, although like any shoes there may be some breaking in required. Most of us have a bias to one side that may explain why you only get pain on one side - who knows. Stick with the plan but dont push through any bad pain and you will likely be ok.

"People have been living on fast food for for decades, so I wouldn't look at that for a solution..."
"People have been vitamin D deficient for decades, so I wouldn't look at that for a solution..."

People have done lots of things for years. Some of them are good ideas, others simply the result of ignorance or misunderstanding. In the case of gait analysis, how can it possibly be a bad idea to get a someone to figure out what your problems are and recommend ways to correct them? Over and under pronation are classic causes of shin splints, correct the cause and the pain goes away. Correct sizing is a classic fix for toe pain, again relief can be nearly instant. Over training can cause both conditions of course, but someone properly following c25k isn't likely to be over training. It's a pretty gentle intro.

Because "corrective" running shoes may cause or exacerbate form deficiencies. That's why people believe that highly cushioned running shoes may be damaging or at least not beneficial. I don't think this is the appropriate place to start this discussion but since the question was asked (disingenuously?) I feel that someone should respond.

Here is a video of what I mean. This is not supposed to be some kind of irrefutable proof that corrective shoes are bad; it's just a small clip that should illustrate what I mean when I say that a runner's form may be damaged by the use of cushioned shoes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9itkEkcQ8WM

It seems like every time someone says they're sore the first response on here is to get analyzed and buy (several?) new shoes. Running is so terribly upper-middle class...

And just for the record I wear shoes...

heatgal976

Like what others have said, I would go to a run store to be fitted on the type of running shoe that you need. Most runners go a bigger in shoe to prevent black toe nails and provide extra room for swelling. My shoe size is an 8 regular(maybe wide in some shoes). In running shoes, I usually go to an 8 1/2 wide because a lot of run shoes are more narrow. Recently I switched to a Brooks shoe and I have to go to a 9 wide, because the shoe itself is made a little shorter in the toe box. You need to shop around and try on different shoes from each brand to see what works for you.