How this for ironic? I received a copy of Dr. Jordan Metzl’s Running Strong to review about a week or two before I finally succumbed and saw a podiatrist for the pain I often feel in the ball of my foot whenever I run more than 3-4 miles. (Good news .. it’s NOT a Morton’s neuroma as I was fearing!)
But seriously, I wish I had this book, like, six months ago when I first began to notice the foot pain.
I admit I wasn’t too familiar with Dr. Metzl beforehand. But as a sports medicine physician, 32-time marathoner and 12-time Ironman triathlete, it’s clear he definitely knows his stuff.
He divides the book into five parts:
- Nuts and Bolts (a quick rundown on tendons, bones, muscles and joints, followed by the mechanics of healthy running — one of my favorite sections, since I’m pretty sure I have some funky running mechanics due to what is medically known as my “waddling gait”)
- Uh-oh: What’s that Pain? (which literally covers the whole body from head to foot; you can guess which section I was engrossed by)
- Getting the Most From Your Machine (a fascinating section on everything from body work — including his IronStrength workout for runners, which I haven’t tried yet but looks challenging yet do-able — to the physiology of running to the role our brain plays when we run)
- Tools of the Trade (lots of great info here on nutrition and good shoes!)
- His and Hers (pretty self-explanatory)
I love Dr. Metzl’s style of writing. It’s conversational and friendly yet authoritative. I never felt like I was being lectured; it was more like I was having a chat with a trusted coach or physician.
And to that point, I really appreciate that he is speaking to ALL runners, not just marathoners and ultra-marathoners. The information is applicable to anyone who runs — something that, as a middle-of-the-pack runner, I’ve found is pretty rare in running guides. That definitely was not the case here.
Personally, I was thrilled to read he advocates foam-rolling as part of his Rx for building a strong, healthy body. Particularly since my podiatrist prescribed a foam roller routine to help my tight calves, quads and piriformis.
Let me just say, as someone new to foam rolling, HOLY HELL. It hurts. But my doctor suspects my front of the foot issue is not actually a front of foot issue; he thinks it’s more likely a nerve issue (as evidenced by him pinching a nerve near the back of my ankle, near my Achilles, and my yelping in pain … while the discomfort in the front of my foot suddenly disappeared). Apparently, this is something he’s seeing more and more with runners.
I was kind of surprised. How can a nerve near my ankle affect the ball of my foot? But he explained — just as Dr. Metzl does — that the body is connected, and that issues with my hips and piriformis, along with my incredibly tight calves, could all be playing a role. I think as runners (or maybe it’s just me) we tend to forget that running is truly a full-body sport.
Anyway, the other section that really stood out for me in Running Strong is the chapter on harnessing the power of the mind to improve your running. I’ve always been a headcase of a runner, so strategies for strengthening your mind and the mind-body connection really resonated.
Dr. Metzl says that in the days leading up to a race that he plays the event in his mind like a movie, envisioning it all, from the beginning to the end, and in it, everything goes right. That’s genius, and is something I’m definitely going to try before my next race in a few weeks.
I think this book is a fantastic resource for runners of all abilities to have at the ready to help you run faster, stronger, and pain-free. I know it’s something I’ll regularly be consulting as I work through this current issue.
Speaking of which, I did receive a cortisone shot in that nerve near my ankle to help us rule out whether this is really s front of foot issue (although all x-rays were negative) or if it’s more of a nerve issue. That way we know where to focus our efforts. I go back again in 6-8 weeks to see where I’m at, but I don’t think I’m going to do the cortisone shot thing again. Too many horror stories. But I think it’s a good thing that I got the foam roller and ball exercices. Based on the pain I felt when doing them, I think it’s clear that their sorely needed (no pun intended).
And on a closing note, let me share how Running Strong begins, because it made me smile:
Every morning around the world alarm clocks ring at 5:30 a.m. In every country, athletes debate with themselves: Do I hit the snooze button or do I swing my feet over the side of the bed and go running?
This book is dedicated to the millions of runners who, against all logic, suppress the desire to stay in bed. They kick off the covers ad swing their legs around to hit the floor.
You can connect with Dr. Metzl directly on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and participate in the conversation with the hashtags #RunningStrong and #IronStrength.
Runners: What tips do you have for staying injury-free?
Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy of the book for review from Runner’s World, but all thought and opinions are, as always, my own.