PTT? Or something to do with a tendon in my ankle/foot arch

So, I seem to have a problem with my ankle...and it's super frustrating. But all things that make us slow down are I think.

Anyway--I noticed that on my 5 mile runs I was getting a pain on the inner part of my ankle, right near the bone. I found that if I walked for a bit and stretched, that it would go away. I would run for a bit more and the pain would come back...

At first it was annoying but no big deal. Now, it's still annoying and not as big of a deal as when my IT Band was all inflamed, but it's definitely something that I'm concerned about.

I have absurdly high arches and have always had crampy feet. A lot of my previous problems seem to have cleared up once I learned how to run properly, however. I've been running in minimalist shoes for about 2 years now. Typically the cases of PTT I've read about happen early on when the foot is still weak.

I would resign myself to just staying off of it for a while (though I'm supposed to be training for a half marathon in April...) except the pain goes away when I'm running up-hill.

So--if it's true that you can't run up a hill wrong, then to me that means that when I'm running normally, I'm still not quite on target.

Anyone dealt with what I"m describing? Thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Melinda on January 29, 2013 at 4:06pm

Hey Larissa, how's it going?

Do you think it is a shin splint? I used to get those and it sounds similar. You might want to rule out stress fracture though. I'd get thee to a doctor to be safe.

For shin splint prevention, consider walking around on your heels a bit every day. Ever since I started that 2 years ago, my shin problems went away.

Are you doing Rock the Parkway?I did it last year. It's a fun course. I'm still on the fence about that one. I got a local coach and she said it would be a good gut-check for me if I wanted to pick it up. I'm training for a full marathon in the fall, yet to be selected.

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Permalink Reply by Larissa Uredi on January 31, 2013 at 10:23am

Hey there,

I've never had shin splints so I'm not sure--the pain is definitely down by the ankle bone and along the arch. I had considered a stress fracture--I will see what a dr would charge to take a look at it--no health insurance :(

I am signed up for Rock the Parkway (c: I'm looking forward to it!

You should totally do it--I think it would fit in nicely with a Full Marathon training plan of sorts. Do you have any particular Fulls that you're "interviewing?"

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Permalink Reply by Barrie Williams on January 31, 2013 at 3:14am

Hi. If its ok when going uphill then try to replicate that style on the flat boring stuff. Do you use a treadmill? The one good use for them is to run barefoot or in socks & listen to to how you land. Try to make it as quiet as possible (no thumping). You may find that shortening the stride or bending the knees a little more on landing will help.
Then get back on the road & see if it helps.

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Permalink Reply by Larissa Uredi on February 1, 2013 at 9:50am

Thanks for the suggestions--I do have a treadmill and I will give it a try. I've been trying to relax the ankle more to allow my heel to come all the way to ground. I figure when you're running uphill the foot and ankle naturally relax to keep you stable. I think I need to mimic this on flat ground and make sure that my heel really is coming all the way down to the ground.