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genuinegirly · 03-27-2011, 04:48 PM

A few things came to mind as I read through everyone's wonderful responses.

Prescription Footwear:
Flat feet are considered a medical condition, and you may be able to get specialized footwear at almost no cost. Once you start looking, you'll be shocked at what health insurance will cover. See if you can find a physician and an orthopedic shoe store that can recommend quality prescription footwear or inserts geared for the flat-footed.

Stretch, posture & form:
Stretch: Give yourself 10-30 minutes before and after your workout for stretching. Learn new stretches, try new things, and create for yourself a repertoire that will minimize the pressure that you place on your joints.
Posture Check out basic Pilates or Tai Chi workout classes, take a dance-based stretching course(as you stretch it will help with your posture) search anywhere and everywhere for what works best on your body. It may take you some time to realize the posture that is best for you. Once you settle into it, you'll be shocked at how much better your body moves.
Form Find a treadmill that is placed in proximity to a mirror, so you can observe your movements and your facial expression. If it looks like you're in pain, you probably are. Make slight changes until you find a way to run comfortably. Take what you've learned outside. Somewhere in the middle of a long run, take a moment to self-evaluate. At first it will take a concerted effort to break body-damaging habits. Correct actions that appear to place undue stress on your body. When you have the problems you've listed, you should never "bang out the steps." The mental image of someone with flat feet and improper shoes hitting the pavement with force for each footfall made me cringe.

Healing:
Your body needs to heal after a run. It is best able to do this when you are sleeping. Give your mind and muscles a break by sleeping a minimum of 9 hours when you challenge yourself with a hard run. Proper nutrition is another important aspect to consider. You want your body to be able to easily access everything it needs to recover after you push it to its limits. Read books on sports nutrition and put their advice to the test. It may not be the best book for you, but I especially enjoy Suzanne Girard Eberle's Endurance Sports Nutrition because of its sage words for women and vegetarian distance runners. Find your own sports nutrition "bible".

03-27-2011, 04:48 PM	#21 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	A few things came to mind as I read through everyone's wonderful responses. Prescription Footwear: Flat feet are considered a medical condition, and you may be able to get specialized footwear at almost no cost. Once you start looking, you'll be shocked at what health insurance will cover. See if you can find a physician and an orthopedic shoe store that can recommend quality prescription footwear or inserts geared for the flat-footed. Stretch, posture & form: Stretch: Give yourself 10-30 minutes before and after your workout for stretching. Learn new stretches, try new things, and create for yourself a repertoire that will minimize the pressure that you place on your joints. Posture Check out basic Pilates or Tai Chi workout classes, take a dance-based stretching course(as you stretch it will help with your posture) search anywhere and everywhere for what works best on your body. It may take you some time to realize the posture that is best for you. Once you settle into it, you'll be shocked at how much better your body moves. Form Find a treadmill that is placed in proximity to a mirror, so you can observe your movements and your facial expression. If it looks like you're in pain, you probably are. Make slight changes until you find a way to run comfortably. Take what you've learned outside. Somewhere in the middle of a long run, take a moment to self-evaluate. At first it will take a concerted effort to break body-damaging habits. Correct actions that appear to place undue stress on your body. When you have the problems you've listed, you should *never* "bang out the steps." The mental image of someone with flat feet and improper shoes hitting the pavement with force for each footfall made me cringe. Healing: Your body needs to heal after a run. It is best able to do this when you are sleeping. Give your mind and muscles a break by sleeping a minimum of 9 hours when you challenge yourself with a hard run. Proper nutrition is another important aspect to consider. You want your body to be able to easily access everything it needs to recover after you push it to its limits. Read books on sports nutrition and put their advice to the test. It may not be the best book for you, but I especially enjoy Suzanne Girard Eberle's Endurance Sports Nutrition because of its sage words for women and vegetarian distance runners. Find your own sports nutrition "bible". __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy Last edited by genuinegirly; 03-27-2011 at 05:03 PM..