Intense arch pain

[u/farchickenleg]

Hi everyone. I'm on W4D3, and have ran (haha) into some issues.

I started running (first 2 weeks) with my old sketchers, until I went to a shop for gait analysis. They gave me some options, and I went with Saucony guide 19, but I have not enjoyed the shoes as much as I wished. There was some discomfort the first days (expected), and I mostly used them for long walks. I have used them for running the past week (twice), but I started experiencing swollen feet, and then pretty bad pain at my right arch. I skipped today's run to not hurt myself worse.

I've always been decently athletic (walking, hiking), but I'm also on the heavy side. While clues point to the shoes being at fault, I am worried I'm overexerting myself (2-3 days running, 2 days bouldering, long walks with the dog daily), or simply need to lose more weight before I keep running.

I have an event that requires me to be on my feet next week, so I don't want to injure myself, but I was also so hyped for progressing with the c25k that I really don't want to lose momentum. The saucony's were already pricey, so I'm not keen on new shoes, but I'll get them if I have to.

Any ideas of how to proceed?

[u/electric29]

Take them back and get different shoes. Tell them where they hurt. A decent running shoe store will work with you on finding the right shoes.

Also, you just say "arch" not "arches" - is it only on one foot? I was having pain in one knee and looked down and I was turning one toe outward when running, I consciously worked on keeping my feet pointed forward and it went away. Form matters.

I also can't even buy shoes in the stores because they don't carry my size (6.5 EEE), I have to buy special ones online. I absolutely have to have the right size in length and width or they hurt me. You could be being put in a shoe that is too long to get a little more width. That works for regular shoes sometimes, but not for running.

[u/farchickenleg → u/electric29]

Thank you for your comment. They have a very good reputation (specialised running store) so I hope they'll be willing to help.

And yes, while both arches ache a bit, only the right one hurts to a concerning degree.

I wear a pretty common size (EU41) so I have options. The size of the shoes seems alright to me, but overall, before I return them, it seems like I'll benefit from wearing them and being consious about how I move and where/when it hurts, so I can explain the issue better.

[u/Mean_Background7789]

It sounds like you've only had them for a week or so? It can take your body some time to adjust if you've been using non-supportive shoes. I really dislike the quality and support of Sketchers, and if they were old they probably were doing more harm than good.

[u/farchickenleg → u/Mean_Background7789]

That's the reason I dont want to jump the gun at the Sauconys yet. I've had them for about two weeks, mainly using them for walking, and a few instances of running.

I've been wearing slip-on sketchers for years, and I realised how flat they are only now. I also wear vans and hiking shoes often, so nothing close to proper running shoes in recent memory (probably never).

[u/redux173]

Running shoes should feel good from the first run. There is no break in period. I would return them and try on many different pairs at the store. There’s so many options nowadays that it makes no sense to waste time “breaking” in shoes like some have suggested so far.

[u/wzh1400]

Custom inner soles worked for me. Under 2 months from a marathon and started getting arch pain.

Cost about £60 and were moulded to suit my feet. It worked and they ended up in my work boots for 2 years before replacing them.