Barbie says:

Hello Lauradantin,
First congratulations on deciding to do your first half marathon. I think you have a good idea to look in to getting a good pair of running shoes. Starting from the bottom up is so important to everything that is above your feet. Getting fitted by your local running store is your best bet. They can assess your natural pronation and make a suggestion as to what shoe would be best for you. Do not make your decision based on brand. There are so many to choose from and your foot will decide which is most comfortable. As for your knee pain I would suggest listening to your body and rest for a few days. No running. Allow your body to recover. As for your left foot cramping up, could your shoes be too tight? or perhaps landing on the ball of your foot? Remember to land heal toe. Relax your feet and make sure you have space inside your shoe for swelling. When your feet get hot they have a tendency to swell just a tad. If you have increased your distance and pace, it might be too much too fast. When you are preparing for a marathon of any sort, to prevent injury, abiding by a training schedule that gradually increases your distance and frequency are important to follow. You can google "training for a 1/2 marathon" and you will find many weekly schedules. If your pain in your knee persists, see your Dr.
Happy running!!

markz88 says:

I agree with Barbie, getting fitted for running shoes is what you need to do,

no doubt about it. I used to run in a pair of Asics and didn't know anything

about pronation. After a couple months of running in them I started getting

shin splits and knee pain. I seeked out advice and was told to go to an

actual running store, not Dick's Sporting Goods or anything like that, and

have them examine my foot, running style and pronation. Now I have a

pair of Mizunos that actually fit my foot/arch and since then I have

experienced no shin splints or knee pain, thankfully. Go to a running store,

have them examine your feet and they will get you in the shoes that your

feet need--- It may took a few days to get used to the new shoes, but the

pain you have been experiencing should go away rather quickly

Best of luck in the half!!!

johnnyk8 says:

One word

Shoes

chrissy1 says:

I always get knee and ankle pain when my sneakers need to b replaced. So maybe u have to much mileage on them. So def look into your sneakers.

Post edited by: chrissy1, at: 2010/09/09 15:55