I completed my 8 miles this morning so feeling super proud but also slightly concerned with a niggle I have picked up.
The run consisted of joining together two of my regular routes and started off perfectly. Of late, I have huffed and puffed my way into my rhythm which settles around the 4 km mark. Today was different. I was immediately in a good place at a nice steady pace. So much so that by 3km I was already celebrating my 8 mile victory !!!
Then it all went a bit pear shaped. My legs decided they were aching and by 5km I was in negotiations with The Gremlins. I was almost home. Just stop. Go home. You're not feeling it now are you? The next route has a 3km incline. You don't fancy it do you?
Out of sheer stubborness I turned and started on the incline. Run smart. Slow yourself. Manage your run. All of Coach Bs mantras were driving me forward. By the time I had reached the 8km point I knew I could enjoy some gentle downhills and I would get to the finish.
At 9km Coach B threw in some party tricks 🤪 which helped me get through to 10km but then I started to feel pain - in one of my toes. This quickly increased in pain threshold until I was eventually running the last 2km with a lop sided limp. As I crossed the finish line and began walking the pain increased further still.
There is nothing broken I don't think and there was no incident of note. I suspect that maybe one toe has been crushing the other. My toes are not spaced out but are cramped together (even with no shoes). Does anyone know if there are such things as "toe spacers" or something similar to tile spacers?
I certainly won't be able to run another 8 miles unless I can prevent this from happening so any suggestions would be appreciated folks 😊
28 Replies
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Sounds like a painful run! I know I would have stopped when it started. But my pain threshold is very low. And I know there do exist toe spacers for people whose toes tend to crawl under each other while walking. I just don't know if you can run with such toe spacers. You'll have to look it up in online pharmacies or so. And no, I don't mean those thick spacers used by women to paint their toe nails, haha. I do mean actual medically meant spacers.
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Oh yes. You are right BS. I've just done a Google and found some. Wow! I was thinking about spacing out tiles and we can actually do it to our toes. Amazing. Thank you.
I have my silicon things on next day delivery so hopefully can try out on my next run. Hoorah! 😊
You may find you will need to work up to actually running with toe spacers by just wearing them around the house at first. You may also find your shoes do not have enough room for them, but see how it goes! I have been using toe spacers just at home for a good long while, although for a different problem to yours - I have found them helpful xxx
I’ve got correct toes which are approved for running but I haven’t run in them yet. It’s still too hot here at the moment to add another thing. I wear injinji toe socks and Altra’s for running & correct toes do work with those 👍🏻
Thank you for that RunWillie. I have just had a look and they look very good. I have clearly purchased a very cheap version in my initial rush post run. Hmmmm!
Oh, no! I do hope you can find a solution to this problem, Hidden That doesn’t sound good. Sending virtual hugs and best wishes for a speedy recovery.I know that foot specialists can design all sorts of bespoke orthotics to spread out metatarsals (and thus toes), for example. That’s not a ‘toe spacer’, but addresses the issues from back in the foot. Just thinking that the solution might not necessarily be where we’d initially expect. Maybe visit a podiatrist for a professional assessment?
Enjoy! I was hoping something similar might return from the shops with M. It didn’t. I think there might be some chocolate in the cupboard, though.Fingers crossed that those silicon things work.
13km (8 miles) is when I discovered I needed fuel for longer runs. My first attempt at that distance left me with rubber legs for about 10 minutes after finishing the run.
You are spot on nowster and I have started thinking about how to carry water and fuel following my run. Well actually, I've been stressing about it.
I found today that I really needed a drink and I suspect some fuel. It was getting somewhat uncomfortable and I don't think I could gave gone much further.
Do you have any recommendations? I'm not a "proper" runner so doubt I would need those runner bladder backpack things (well, I've never really seen one in real life so difficult to say )
Sorry about the toe situ Hidden , hope getting spaced-out helps! 😉
I too have a Decathlon backpack, bought ludicrously cheap in their sale last year. They also do soft bottles which, dependent on size, can fit into pockets or running belts: decathlon.co.uk/browse/c0-s...
Do try on a backpack before buying if you possibly can. I was really lucky that mine fits me well and doesn't rub, except last summer when I stupidly wore it with a racerback vest and didn't realise the pack straps were merrily sandpapering away my skin. Lesson learnt!
Huge thanks for that link Cmoi Those soft water flasks look ideal for my needs. I have to admit though, I feel totally out of my depth now though with all this equipment needed for longer runs.
So much to learn. I've even learned my feet have been damaged through 50 years of incorrectly fitting footwear and I can buy tile spacers for my toes 🤣
This forum is totally invaluable for support and advice as we progress through our running journeys 👏👏
Congratulations Runforjoy on your longest run yet. 👏🎉🏃🏻♂️Overcoming Gremlins and aching legs - well done to you! Coach Bs mantras driving you forward and his party tricks are clearly something I have to look forward to. 😊 But the toe problem and pain level sound pretty bad and you mentioned that there was a possibility of back trouble being the reason that this run may not happen. I do hope that your silicon spacers work wonders.
Ooo and ouch! Fantastic to run 8 miles but (sorry don't want to nag), perhaps you might havebenefitted from not doing that last few k to save your poor toe!There are toe spacers, or you can get toe running socks too. I hope you recover soon!
Oh and when I was running much longer distances, I bought a large waist belt with room for two soft water bottles. Haven't broken it out for a while though!
I've just followed the link provided by Cmoi and those soft water bottles look ideal. I just need to get a running belt as you mentioned to fit it too. Looks like a trip to Decathlon in the next few days I think. Thank you👍
Firstly, well done on your long run - that’s a great distance! 👏🙂💪 Hope the toe ‘issue’ gets sorted soon too.
I agree that now sounds like a good time to explore fuel and hydration, especially if you are planning on running further.
My go-to choice is Tailwind. It’s a powder which you add to water so it’s hydration and fuel combined! 🙂👍 Link to their website below and you can also buy it via Amazon.
Thank you Sandraj39. This running malarkey is starting to go to a new level as distances increase. Lots of food for thought (or nutrition and hydration 😉).
That Tailwind drink does look like a good option. Thank you.
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Planned a 13km run... did a 10k PB instead.
TEN WHOLE MILES!!! 
8 miles to come.
Goodbye 2020 and a 500 miles total!
