I've been running in the same kind of shoes as everyone else for 10 years and I've experienced most of the injuries as any other runner has across the decade. Most recently, I had a strained hamstring that caused tightness and pain from the back of my knee to my butt, knocking me back from 60 miles per week to about 10-15.
I've known about Correct Toes for as long as they have been around but until now didn't have enough "reason" to get started on my foot rehabilitation. Before, it all seemed rather daunting, the idea of cutting back my mileage and gradually introducing a new type of footwear as well as Correct Toes to my body. I knew it would be a journey that would require time and patience, and frankly I just didn't have it until now. And now, thanks to the hamstring issue, my mileage has been cut back for me without any effort whatsoever, affording me an opportunity to embark on this journey of returning my joints and bones to their intended places.
I actually had the Correct Toes in my possession for at least 2 years, perhaps more, before I finally decided to go through with it. Just before Christmas, I was gifted with the most wonderful pair of Stem barefoot shoes and began wearing my Correct Toes and Injinji Socks with them right away. There was no immediate result from this aside from actually being able to walk around and be on my feet all day long without so much as a sore foot, a sore heel, pinched toes, or anything of that nature. I can feel the Correct toes in their place, but they do not bother me at all.
Following advice from Dr. Ray and my dear friend and his wife, Shannon, I wore them in this manner almost every day for about 3 weeks before I ordered a pair of barefoot running shoes and attempted my first run in barefoot shoes with Correct toes. As I have previously said, I was suffering from a hamstring issue that was restricting my running with a weird gate and some tightness and pain as well as a pinching feeling behind my knee.
On my first run with correct toes, I went to the track for a softer surface since my body is used to a big old cushiony shoe. With the first stride, I could feel the difference. My feet were now landing more to my forefoot and the hamstring pain was gone. I ran for 15:00 with no problem but then started developing a sore calf, presumably from the different shoes. My calf stayed sore for about 7 days. I used Correct Toes for 3 more days and then decided to stop and wait for the pain to go away and then start again.
Two days ago, I decided my calf was 100% without soreness, and I ran a problem-free 13:00 with my correct toes following 27:00 in my trainers. Yesterday, again I ran 12:00 problem-free in my correct toes following about 18:00 running my traditional trainers.
One of the more interesting things that I have noticed is that I do have to force a heel foot strike when I switch back to my traditional trainers, and when I use my barefoot shoes, I do not have to force or control anything.
This pretty much sums things up for now. I'm excited to see where this journey leads!
