Moving to trail - feet are tired!

[Deleted User]

When you move to trail running, is it normal to get tired feet? Not sore (the way you would from standing all day), but tired (like if you walked too far in flip-flops) needing to stretch out. I don't know if I am in the wrong shoes or just need to adjust to the surface change (now mostly VERY heavy mud).

I am in Saloman Crossmax and have tried tighter and looser lacing already...

Please help!

Hog-mouse

It maybe that you need to try to stretch and strengthen your feet.

When you run off road your feet need to be more responsive to the changing terrain. It is not going to be flat, your feet will often land at an angle, you'll hit stones and rocks. You'll slip and slide. Your using your body in a different way to the way you use it when you run on road.

Heavy mud is not nice to run in is it. It sticks to your shoes in great big cloying clods. It's slippery and uncomfortable to run in. You may well be doing things with your feet to try and stabilise yourself without realising it.

Give your feet a post run massage, stretch them out, wiggle your toes and rotate your ankles. Also flex your foot more.

Off road shoes don't have the same cushioning that road shoes have, they can't if they want to be responsive. You are taking more of the landing impact through your feet.

So long as nothing is amiss you should be alright.

socks up to

you will use more of your foot muscles running off road, as mouse says stretch more and a tennis ball makes a foot massager!