Pain On Sole Of Foot

Feet don't fail me now: Sharpsburg runner bares her soles on Peachtree without ...

By Chris Goltermann

The Times-Herald

Trying to describe the thrill of running the 10K Peachtree Road Race is a lot like explaining the comfort of running with bare feet on the streets of Atlanta.

Unless you've experienced the thrills of both, it might seem difficult, and at other times impossible, to describe.

For Sharpsburg resident Tamara Gerken it comes naturally and passionately.

"I told the friend it's less of a race and more of an event," said Gerken of the Monday's annual Peachtree. "That many runners all moving together as one toward one destination together, it's like one living being."

Gerken, also known as "TJ", will run her third Peachtree on Monday amidst an undulating wave of 60,000 expected runners, similar to almost all except in one item they might take for granted.

She'll do it without the need for athletic shoes.

What seems bizarre to many is a necessity to Gerken. And after years of running barefoot without the harrowing pain she once felt when jogging neighborhood streets with her husband.

Usually "the aid of" or "the comfort of" usually precedes descriptions toward footwear. But not for the Sharpsburg 44-year-old and mother of two.

A long and painful list of procedures has been unable to rid her of an ailment known as Morton's Neuroma, which affects the nerve tissue between the toes.

"I pretty much walk around barefoot. Occasionally I'll wear a pair of flip flops outside the house," she said. "But anything with a toe box hurts too much. It's unbearable."

An empty closet, devoid of shoes might be a nightmare scenario to the majority of women. But for Gerken, it's a move -- as well as a movement -- in the right direction toward a healthier lifestyle.

In addition to the annual Peachtree, Gerken has run the ING Georgia Marathon as well as several half-marathons barefoot.

Her research into footless running, both through the establishment of the Barefoot Runner's Society, and meeting and hearing countless stories of similarly affected runners online.

As of Friday, Runner's World's "Barefoot Running" forum, which Gerken helped establish on its website has over 100,000 posts, many from others who have had the same positive experiences.

Gerken's network of barefoot runners has nearly 2,800 registered members with 84 chapters around the world. Approximately 116 are now in the Georgia Chapter, which was founded in 2009.

pain --sole of foot-- Mortons neuroma

I had a Mortons neuroma before and the bottom of my foot hurt. the podiatrist first told me my toes were bent. I knew that but did not realize it was from a growth on a nerve. He taped a pad in my shoe and it took care of my pain. Later I got orthotics made for that. He said he'd tape all my shoes for me but I felt weird going back each time I bought shoes. the orthotics cured the pain. If that did not work he'd do surgery. I did not want that! Chris what kind of orthotics are you using?? I had neuroma and cortisone injection worked for about 6 weeks. I ended up with surgery. That was maybe 10 years ago. I'm starting to have a bit of discomfort again! Doctor says the neuroma can return. UGH! Recovery from that surgery took a long time and I'm not sure (being 10 or so years older) that I want to go through that again. good luck! I had a Morton's in each foot. The doc didn't do surgery, but he did give me a shot by going through the bottom of my foot up to the top where the little nerves branch out. Holy neuroma, Batman, the cure was worse than the problem. I haven't had any more difficulty since I started wearing wider shoes with flat heels. I fear fashion has done a lot of us a disservice. I'm glad the orthotics are working for you. Surgery should be the last resort.

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