Read about PF from other Ultra runners. I found this to be very intersting. Part 2 next week.
Many thanks to Kevin Sayers for this inofrmation.
Andy Holak wrote:
"I've had similar foot pain, that I believe to be plantar fasciitis. For the past three months or so, maybe longer, I've had a pain in the arch area of my foot, between the heel and big toe. From what I've read, this is plantar fasciitis.
The interesting thing is, it rarely hurts when I run. Before the ST50 in September, my arch was pretty sore, and I thought it would bother during the race, but it didn't at all. Maybe because all of the other aches and pains were worse! ;-) Anyway, I feel the pain most readily at night when I get up at 3:00 am to go to the bathroom. I limp all the way there, ouch, ouch, ouch! Also, I haven't been running regularly lately, and it seems like my foot hurts more on days that I don't run, than on days that I do run. I assume that the activity keeps the tendon or whatever stretched and loose. When Blake states that stretching helps, I really believe that this is true. Hopefully, it will remain just a nuisance."
Boy, does this sound familiar! With the pain of recognition literally. I've had something similar on the bottom of my foot where you would expect plantar fasciitis - however it wasn't that. It was spasam of muscles in the foot which took a shot of long acting anesthetic to quell, and 48 hours later no pain.
The night/morning pain I have fought through too. My doctor felt it was adhesion of the fascia on the tendon - very painful to touch so massage was difficult. But running was not painful and was helpful. His suggestion, which worked, was to wait it out but handle it very gingerly before it loosened up - to the extent of NEVER walking barefoot, even in the shower, always having some form of arch support. And before even attempting to put weight on it, rotate and stretch your foot muscles and ligaments for at least a few minutes.
It went away after several months but never restricted my running.
Dave Cooper
I have suffered from PF for almost 2 years and as several have pointed out it rarely bothers me while running. Blake was right on the money with the stretching and ice but I would like to elaborate if I may. In my mind the most useful stretching is that which is done most often and I hate to stretch.
