I never tried the slide on metatarsal pads, but in my mind they would be much more comfortable - I went from the little stick on ones to the bigger ones and although they didn’t help my pain, they were much more comfortable. I’m just trying to picture running in any of these options and I’m not sure what would work.
P.S. This is not a helpful comment…the situation is totally different but I just had the most emotional reaction to this.
After my foot surgery I ended up with a lot of scar tissue on the ball of my foot. To help break it up and avoid a second surgery they made me roll my foot on a golf ball twice a day. I actually just started crying as soon as that memory popped into my head. Scar Tissue sucks (also, emotions are weird). Again, that won’t happen to you!
If you have pain when you are just rolling on a tennis ball - definitely see someone about it!
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I am so sorry to hear about your pain. I know it is tough when you are getting so close to the end of a training plan.
I have not experienced this type of pain before, so do not have any experience to offer up. I did see an article in a serach next to the one you linked. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.vivehealth.com/blogs/resources/metatarsalgia-running&ved=2ahUKEwjqk8iRv7b0AhVHJDQIHaQ0BX8QFnoECCwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3EGOJ0eCc8cZO2h5c4wHQj
Rest is always the right call and the toughest one to make. Are you able to do a cross training activity that will not aggravate the area ?
With previous injuries in other areas, I have compensated with cycling, and elliptical running.
And of course, find a specialist that can help diagnose and provide proper treatment. The sooner the better.
Sending you my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
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But what if they tell me Something Really Bad (like, you’re not doing the marathon bad)???
I will ignore it for now. Rest, ice, elevate, motrin… and pray a whole lot!
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Yes, that’s my logic anyway. Massage around the muscles and facia around the affected area (not directly on) in hopes that any extra blood flow stimulation can help the healing process a bit. As long as your not causing pain, it can’t hurt.
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I agree with Jordan. I only got to 20 before my first marathon and I rocked it. You’ve hit the number you need to to know you can make it endurance wise. You will not lose endurance quickly. What you do lose quickly is speed so I’d focus on shorter runs maybe even speed workouts or switch it out for some type of muscle building activity. If you are truly concerned about losing endurance and can swim laps, hit the pool.
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There won’t be any running of any sort for at least the next few days I fear.
No access to bike or pool, unfortunately.
Very limited in options. Will have to hope for the best! Icing as we speak.
Extra yoga? Honestly that might be the most healing healthful thing to do. Do you do Yin Yoga? I highly recommend in addition to the more traditional Hatha or Vinyasa. Those 3-5 min stretches really get in those places that runners struggle like hips and feet.
There are free Yin Yoga for runners videos on YouTube if all all else fails. I know that doesn’t help with broken bones but tight muscles and stiff joints can lead to those types of injuries.
Also my SIL completely stopped training a month or so before the marathon because she moved from the north to South Island in NZ including jobs. She was able to successfully complete the thing and it was her first. I really think even if you rested from here on out you could do it but you’d be slower than your original goal.
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My goal this time is to finish. Time is a cherry on top.
I’m hoping that if I can get back to it in a week or so I’ll be fine. These next days will be the hardest workouts of my life — the ones where I sit them out.
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DD17 the dancer with the Achilles problems got home a bit ago and gave me some of her KT tape to apply. Following a KT Tape You Tube video I applied the tape as instructed for metatarsalgia (yes, there’s one for that)
It isn’t pain free but it certainly helps the pain quite a bit! Tape! Who knew!
Have been icing and have resigned myself to being couch-bound for the weekend. Serious FOMO as I start to see folks posting their 22-23mi runs. But I will be a good patient. It will be better in the long run!
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I will preface this all by saying I am not a runner.
Nine years ago I walked in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in NYC. We walked a marathon on day 1, and a half marathon on day 2.
As someone that is not in peak physical shape (then or now), I trained for almost a year. It was important to me to participate as I was marking the 20th anniversary of when we lost my mom to breast cancer. I worked really hard to do the walk and honor my mom.
Anyway, I was doing great until about 2/3 of the way through day 1 when I started having pain in my foot. I never knew the name of the issue until reading your post. At one of the stations the rest stop med team pulled me from the walk and sent me back to camp (We were all sleeping in tents on Roosevelt Island). The med team at camp actually had a separate KT Tape Tent!! After examining me, they sent me to be taped and it was like magic! It definitely still hurt, but no longer felt like I was embedding a large marble in my foot with every step!
I felt good enough the next day (with fresh KT Tape and more than 12 hours of NSAIDs in me) to walk the half marathon! I was really disappointed to not be able to go the full marathon the day before, but there was no way I would have made it on day 2 (big finish line event with my family meeting me), if I hadn’t stopped when I did.
So, all that to say. KT tape is amazing and magical when placed in exactly the right spot, and hopefully it will work as well for you.
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Oh no!!! You need to find a good sports PT or sports chiropractor. Don’t go to a regular Dr. They always just say rest! I have a friend in Nashua who is a PT & a marathon runner. I could give you her info if you’d like. I agree with the others that you shouldn’t run 22 this weekend. Lots of marathon plans only go to 20 miles, so try not to worry too much.
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If you want to DM me the PT info that would be great! If I’m not feeling better by mid-week I’ll reach out
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So sorry to hear of your foot pain! It is definitely good that you are not going to run on it and rest instead. I’m sure you have good fitting running shoes but do you have two pairs to alternate? When you are doing a lot of training the cushion in the shoes may not have time to decompress between runs.
Good for you for taking care of your body and not pushing through. You can always adjust your training plan. The goal is to get to the race healthy!
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I have the last pair from before these but honestly think those contributed to this starting up. They never were great shoes, and I was happy when it came time to retire them. The ones I have now have less than 50 miles on them and are my tried and true New Balance 860s that feel like home on my feet.
Been resting icing and motrining all day. More of the same tomorrow.
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It’s good when you find a pair that feel like home 
maybe you can get a pair of the exact same shoe then you can trade off between runs and you will always have a back up.
I hope the icing and rest are doing their magic ❤️🩹
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Weekly wrap up - Nov22-28:
0 walks 
5 runs for a total time of 7:05:24 and a total distance of 38.71 miles. 
- Tuesday - 5 miles in 1:00:08
- Thursday - 6.77 miles in 1:15:06
- Friday - 5.15 miles in 0:55:06
- Saturday - 8.67 miles in 1:30:07
- Sunday - 13.12 miles in 2:25:27
We are getting close! We are 38 Days away from the 5k start of MW.
The last time I logged a half marathon distance was on July 9th. Back then I finished it in 2:07:31. If I remember correctly it was scorching hot out (around 30 C). I am about 20 minutes slower than I was then. However, I am pretty happy I have finally worked my way back up to that distance in training.
For those of you training using the Galloway method, you are already way beyond this distance in your runs. I think you are scheduled for 22-23 miles this week. The method I use for training is an accumulative method. I basically run a fair distance on the day before the long run on the Saturday. This allows me to simulate running the back half of the marathon on the Sunday. Starting out with tired legs to see how I handle it.
This method worked out pretty well for me last year. The bonus of doing this method is I never do a long run longer than 2:30:00.
I hope everyone’s training is going well. Rest that foot @OBNurseNH .
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You have done phenomenally well given the setback you had early on! I’m proud of you!
For my part my week was decent until it (as you know) wasn’t:
Tues: 30 min run
Wed: yoga
Thurs: 30 min run
Friday: OUCH!
Saturday: rest, foot up, iced, motrin
Sunday: much improved foot, nearly walking normally for much of the day. Continued rest, foot up, iced, motrin
My plan is to stay off the foot for all of this week, regardless of how it feels, and if possible take on 6 next weekend. If that goes well I’ll resume the regular scheduled plan, but stretch out that next short long run by a bit and aim for 20-24 the weekend in December for which it’s planned, or perhaps that next week.
I hate having to modify because I’m straying from a plan which I know works well for people and improvising on something in which I am not expert.
Regardless I will make it to the finish line one way or the other and on my own two feet!
Have a great week, everyone!
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Related: I have all kinds of pent up energy and am bored to death from sitting here.
We all want to “do nothing” until we have to do nothing and then it stinks! 
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So glad training is going well for y’all. @OBNurseNH sorry you’re having to rest. Sounds like you are taking good care of yourself though.
Those of you that just finished the W&D, what are you doing to keep your fitness? Just trying to think about what my days (and especially weekends) look like after the Princess.
I signed up for orange theory again. I really missed it after having taken off for covid.
So this past week:
Monday: orange theory and yoga
Tuesday: 30 min run and yoga
Wednesday: Orange Theory Lift 45 class and yoga
Thursday: 30 min run at my in laws and they just moved and my phone died and I got lost in their new neighborhood. Luckily DH came and found me. Then yoga.
Friday: yoga
Saturday: orange theory lift 45 class and yoga
Sunday: 6.5 miles and I’ll do a nice yoga here in a few minutes
I think it was @gingerSnaps543222 who suggested yin yoga. I used to love me some yin yoga. My local yoga studio I loved closed down. I miss that place. They lost their lease and decided not to find a new spot.
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Supportive Heart. I hear you on that. I’m on week 2 of doing nothing and am slowly going crazy. I’m not sure how I’m going to do it for another 2 weeks.
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