Morton’s Toe, Flat Feet, and barefoot running
2009 November 13 (11:00)
categories: Foot Pain
I have been transitioning into barefoot running since the summer, doing no more than a few miles a week. Up until about July, I was running in full support shoes with arch support orthotics. These past few months have been my sorest in all my years of running – which I expected… I have been rocking a pair of VFF KSO’s recently for some running and just walking around. Recently I have felt a lot of soreness in and around the tops of my feet- metatarsals, etc. Also my second toe on my right foot feels somewhat stubbed. I have morton’s toe on both feet( longer second toe than big toe by about 1/2 inch) and substantially flat feet. Anybody else have similar geometry with their feet, or experiencing the pain on the top of the feet?
Comments
Comment
from kayetech
Time 2009 November 13 Fri at 1:21 pm
Greetings! Mikenor, I live in Burlington, so I know exactly what you mean. I also have flat feet, used to wear orthotics for over a year before this April when I started barefooting. My feet would get tired throughout the day until I completely made the switch to barefoot/minimal shoes. My shoes that I bought (just so I could wear them at work) are FeelMax Panka’s. They are super thin and lightweight, I love them. Plus they look more like “normal” shoes so you can probably wear them at work. As for winter running the FeelMax don’t hold heat well, and I haven’t gone through a winter yet with them so I can’t comment, but I imagine they would be cold. Try looking into mukluks/wool sox if you are going to be in town (salty conditions), but if you are going to be out in the snow you could wear 3 layers of wool sox and your feet will be nice and toasty. =)
Comment
from mikenor
Time 2009 November 13 Fri at 1:47 pm
Thanks for the info Kayetech! I’ve been running for years (with bad form – heel stricke) with Nike’s – cold has not been a big problem with me. I usually get by with only one pair of cotton socks and don’t feel my feet getting cold at all – even at -25C! I started bf running late in the summer and loved it – I just found bf running on cold pavement was a problem and like MS211807, have the longer second toe which makes the Vibrams very uncomfortable. I’m searching now for a lightweight runner with low heel, and very little support. Like I mentioned on previous post, found the Nike Free way too constricting and the arch support was over the top! Winter has always been my favorite season to run – want to find something that will enable me to “simulate” as best I can the bf feeling while I am out there. Not sure BF Ken will agree with me on that one though… 
Comment
from saloncolorist
Time 2009 November 13 Fri at 4:16 pm
I too have Morton’s Toe. If I’m not running barefoot, I use regular watersocks from Academy. Got them for $4.99 on sale. They work great for me. Although one day I aspire to be running completely barefoot =)
Comment
from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 2009 November 14 Sat at 5:27 am
ms211807,
Yes, I get dozens of these reports, almost exclusively from folks trying to run barefoot, with footwear, specifically, Vibram Five-Fingers. read more: http://runningbarefoot.org/?p=2684
Comment
from climbhoser
Time 2009 November 14 Sat at 5:55 pm
I had top of foot pain when I started bf running. I thought it might be a stress fracture for the longest time, but couldn’t figure it out..just didn’t seem to fit SFX descriptions. It was accompanied by 2nd toe nerve pain and nerve burning. Really odd.
I don’t know where I came across the story, but some guys had something similar and found that deliberate calf massage and stretching alleviated it. Even Ken Bob notes how n00bs protect their heels and run too much on the balls which places lots of stress and tightness on the calves. The goal I to loosen them up.
For me the solution was three parts:
A) I started stretching my calves more and massaging with one hand while at work, on the couch, at lunch, etc…
B) improving my technique and running more loose in regards to my calves
and the most important
C) just putting in mileage. I’m convinced a large part was due to weak muscles that hadn’t been used for years upon years. I swear there was a breakthrough one day when I felt like a muscle was getting sore mid-run that I had never felt. The more I ran the more worked this muscle got and the less the top of my foot hurt! It was the oddest thing. Since that run I haven’t had anymore of the weird pain.
I ended up with the same thing in my other calf solving the problem there two runs later. I keep up the stretching and massage and am pain free!
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Comment from mikenor
Time 2009 November 13 Fri at 12:05 pm
You sound like you are describing my feet… Although I don’t have the soreness you describe, I find them (VFF’s) very unconformable and wont be wearing them once I find some type of replacement. I’ve tried the bf thing this fall but find the cold up here in the great white north (Montreal) just doesn’t make it possible (for me anyways). I bow to bf Rick for running in the snow – don’t know how he does it… My next dilemma, finding a shoe that will suffice until the spring – I tried the Nike Free and hated them – too constricting, too much support. Does anyone have any suggestions?