Last month decided that biking was just not enough and that I want to start training for a tri. Well started running last week, just short 1 and 2 mile runs after working out. tonight I went and did 5 miles at around mile 4 my left foot started getting numb. :(. Stopped for a second and it went back to normal, then started back and same thing happened after another lap. Right foot felt fine the whole time, finally I just gave up at 5 miles and stopped. What might be causing this? The only thing I can think of is just being used to running that long. Also on a side note, I did tear up my right knee and am 9 months post op, so it might be possible that im favoring my left foot and putting more pressure on it. Any advice

Thanks
Ryan

Maybe your shoes are too tight. Loosen up the laces, not so much that they flop around, but so that there is less pressure on the top of your foot.

make sure you have good running shoes for your style of foot/stride. dont over tighten them. practice.

had that happen to me every time i ran more than 3 miles. in conjunction with horrible shin splints it made running less than comfortable. just took some time and attention to the tightness of my laces and it went away. havent had the problem in about 400 miles of running.

I did try and loosen them some, but the bottom laces could have just been to tight, although they did not feel like they where. I will pay better attention to it next time. They are new shoes, finally went to a running store and got the right shoes. They felt really good up into the point my foot was going numb.

Go back and talk to the folks at the running store. If they are good, and are runners, they'll have some good suggestions as well. I swear by my running store.

I did try and loosen them some, but the bottom laces could have just been to tight, although they did not feel like they where. I will pay better attention to it next time. They are new shoes, finally went to a running store and got the right shoes. They felt really good up into the point my foot was going numb.

was your foot going numb at the ball of your foot and forward into your toes?

if so, that happens to me sometimes when im breaking in a new pair of shoes.

but like the dude above me said. go back to your running store and talk to them about it.

Thanks for the advice guys, im going out of town today and can't get by the store until tue. So ill try them out again on mon and see what happens. If the same thing happens Ill go back and talk to them.

Was it hot out when you went running? My feet swell when it is hot out and it doesn't matter how loose the laces were when I wore shoes they just went numb. Just something to consider.

You need new shoes -- you may want to try this site:

http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/content/content.jsp?contentId=content1342

They have a fit guarantee.

As some have suggested, it might just be that your shoes are too tight, or worn out. On the other hand, it might also be a problem with nerve compression that causes the feet to go numb. I have had this problem and according to my podiatrist due to variations in foot anatomy and running biomechanics some people are more prone than others to this problem. Having tried looser shoes, and newer shoes , I finally needed 2 shots of cortisone in each foot a year ago and the problem has not resurfaced.

Ouch. Needles and the nerves in the feet could not have been fun. It is probably better now, but that had to hurt. Did they hold your leg when they gave you the shots?

Ouch. Needles and the nerves in the feet could not have been fun. It is probably better now, but that had to hurt. Did they hold your leg when they gave you the shots?

The real problem was that, oddly enough, if I kept running the numbness was replaced with a fierce burning that grew unbearable until I stopped.

The shots were no big deal. The doc used some surface anesthetic (xylocaine / lidocaine / etc. ) to numb the skin so I didn't feel much. For reasons I don't understand, this couldn't be done the week before the Half IM I did last year where the problem really flared up. The doc said that giving me the shots too close to the race and then all the pounding and stress would have really messed up my feet, possibly for good.

On thing that you aluded to. I don't know how much running background you have. If you just started last week and are already trying five miles you may be going to fast. I know you are probably there cardio-wise but the impact on your bones will take a longer time to adjust to if you are not a runner. I would go about this slower and always try to follow the 10% rule when ramping up mileage. This means do not increase you weely mileage by more than 10% or your longest distance for a given run by 10%. This is the injury free way to ramp up. Once you have a year or so under your belt you will know your body enough to now what % of increase you can really handle. Again, I don't now your running experience so just my 2 cents.

On thing that you aluded to. I don't know how much running background you have. If you just started last week and are already trying five miles you may be going to fast. I know you are probably there cardio-wise but the impact on your bones will take a longer time to adjust to if you are not a runner. I would go about this slower and always try to follow the 10% rule when ramping up mileage. This means do not increase you weely mileage by more than 10% or your longest distance for a given run by 10%. This is the injury free way to ramp up. Once you have a year or so under your belt you will know your body enough to now what % of increase you can really handle. Again, I don't now your running experience so just my 2 cents.

You are probably correct. Before my knee injury I was running regularly, played rugby so lots of short distance type running. Just got my knee in good enough shape lately to feel comfortable to start up again, But I am bad about trying to push my self to hard.

Did a small run on sun, not sure of the distance, but did a 5 mile tonight and no problem. So I guess it might have just been to tight or my shoes needed to be broke in.
Thanks for all the advice.