Congratulations to Tammy Quinn on your massive performance in the Zatopek:10 2019. Tammy finished 9th overall and was the 3rd Victorian across the finish line. An excellent result for Tammy, who has been battling left forefoot pain for the past 12 months. Tammy's jam-packed training and racing schedule hindered our efforts to get on top of this injury. Full credit to Tammy for adjusting her expectations regarding recovery time and trusting the process.
Most people find strapping and padding helpful for this type of injury. Unfortunately, the ball of Tammy's left foot was far too irritable to tolerate strapping and padding in this region. We had to think outside the box to find a solution.
Tammy has found wearing Hoka One One running shoes for day to day activities and long runs comfortable and helpful. These shoes have plenty of cushioning and a rocker in the forefoot region. Both features have helped to offload the ball of Tammy's left foot.
We also changed the running shoe that Tammy wears for hard training sessions and racing. The Nike Vaporfly 4% Flyknit has a carbon fibre plate incorporated into its midsole. There are several proposed benefits of this feature, but in Tammy's case, the most obvious benefit was reduced forefoot bending forces.
Tammy has been using prefabricated (off the shelf) orthotics in her Hoka One One running shoes. The orthotics apply pressure to the arch region, which reduces the force applied to the forefoot region. Tammy has found the orthotics comfortable and helpful.
Tammy has also been completing foot and calf strengthening exercises regularly.
Congratulations Tammy! Hopefully, your patience and persistence will inspire runners of all abilities to trust the process and achieve their goals. Onwards and upwards!
Thanks to the team at The Running Company in Clifton Hill for helping us to determine the most appropriate running shoes for Tammy.
If you're experiencing foot pain, need footwear advice or keep falling short of your goal, our friendly and experienced podiatrists would love to help you. Get in touch or book an appointment online if you need a hand.
Author: Shaun Bergin