My foot hurts when running on the treadmill!

[Madnuss]

Hi! I have just joined the forum.

With winter coming, I thought it would be a good idea to switch from running outdoors to running on the treadmill in my gym. However, the tendon that attaches my big toe to the foot itself starts hurting like h*** when I'm done. I have been running an hour at the time three times a week since summer, and I've never had problems like this one before.

What can I do? Running is my favourite form of cardio, and I'd hate to give it up.

Don't know if you can, but change treadmills. I find that each treadmill is different even the same model, don't know why. I definitely have my favorite at my gym.

Due to a left knee problem, most of my running is on a treadmill because it is kinder to my knee.

Also, play with the incline. A slight incline would probably be kinder to your foot. I do all my treadmill work at 1% incline.

[gymgirl]

Originally Posted by pierini

I find that each treadmill is different even the same model, don't know why. I definitely have my favorite at my gym.

i'm glad to see i am not alone on that one. i too have a favorite treadmill and people think it is werid. when i run on others, it just doesn't feel right.

as for your toe...maybe try adjusting your shoes? my feet cramp up and i get weird pains all over the place when running on a treadmill and find that i have to readjust my shoes a few times during the run.

[Madnuss]

Thanks for the advice guys!

My gym offers two different brands of treadmills and four of each, so I will definitely try some other ones for a while to see if it gets better. I just stuck with one of them out of pure lazyness I guess.

Incline also sounds as an important factor, when I run outside I like to run either uphill or very, very slightly downhill (though i know this can be a killer on the joints in the long run. No pun intended), and I've never had any problems whatsoever until now.

[sooner_ed]

Given the hour duration of your run on the treadmill, it sounds like your shoes are not properly fitted. I had that problem when I first started running and fixed it by wearing a shoe two sizes bigger than my foot.

Shoes should always be the first thing you look at. I know many people can't afford $80 shoes but I promise you it will be the best investment you could make. And your feet will thank you.

[Madnuss]

The thing is, the shoe has been properly fitted to my foot by people who really know what they're talking about, and I've only had them a few months. I will get a second pair as soon as I can to have something to alternate with, but where I live good running shoes can cost as much as $200 (at least my Asics did)! If they were $80 I would consider myself lucky.

[CF-OC_gal]

It's like that here, expensive shoes. If you live in Canada or have a good insurance plan how about a trip to a sports medicine doctor. They are in business to help keep you doing your sport, not live off of a bunch of pills and leave workouts to the young and injury free.

I was told the limits of my arthritic ankle by one. I've learned to live with it knowing what kind of pain from it is normal and can't be fixed.

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by Madnuss

The thing is, the shoe has been properly fitted to my foot by people who really know what they're talking about, and I've only had them a few months. I will get a second pair as soon as I can to have something to alternate with, but where I live good running shoes can cost as much as $200 (at least my Asics did)! If they were $80 I would consider myself lucky.

How much bigger are they than your foot?

[Madnuss]

Sooner ed: They're like 1 and a half sizes over what I'd thought I needed. Fitting fine, I think.

Today, I switched treadmills and jogged carefully with a 1 percent incline, and whaddayaknow, no pain at all!

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by Madnuss

Today, I switched treadmills and jogged carefully with a 1 percent incline, and whaddayaknow, no pain at all!

What do you know! We are going to have to call Mr. P., Dr. P. from now on!: