Check this out.  I’ve always thought those minimalist shoe runners were crazy.  Welp, I am one now.  165 miles in!  I’ll try anything once, especially if its an area of struggle.  I’ve had planters fasciitis multiple times, and I can usually rehab myself out of it within a month.  I couldn’t this last time.  And I’ve been trying several different exercises to strengthen my right ankle.  My friend Ashley recently told me to ditch my running shoes and go minimalist.  I was not thrilled with the idea and mulled it over before pulling the trigger.  I was a fan right away.  The planters disappeared with 3 days and has not been back.  Within a week I noticed my hamstrings were much looser.  Hamstrings were not my goal when switching shoes but eliminating the tilt in my pelvic bone (from the lift in my running shoes) eased things up.  My running stride feels stronger as does my overall running posture.  I’ve increased my mileage over the past month with ease.  My big test was last Friday.  I ran 20 miles, mostly on a trail (Pawnee Prairie Park to the Sunset Trail). 

My previous long in these shoes was 15, but only on pavement.  The downside of my route was the thick gravel over approx. 1.2 miles each way.  My feet felt fine the first 14 miles but began to get sore.  There was pain in each step from that point on, but I had to get back to my truck.  I looked at it as mental toughness exercise and kept moving along.  And then I hit the 1.2 mile gravel portion on the way back.  It was painful, but I feel like I am building up stronger feet through each run.  I’ve been running at least 10 miles per week on brick roads in College Hill which has made my feet feel stronger.  My feet can adapt to surfaces better than a thick piece of rubber.  My foots adaptation to the surface is better on my overall body.  My toes have room for grip when they strike the ground and they’re not jammed up in a tight toe-box.  I use a standing desk during the day and spend a lot of time in the evenings and weekends on my feet at iCRYO in these shoes as well.  I’m a fan.

And hey, I recommend you visit Ashley over at ZenRX, even if you already have a PT and or/chiropractor.  She can fill in some gaps to compliment what you are already doing.  She is a movement neurologist, personal trainer, human movement specialist, myofascial therapist and an overall awesome human being.