As Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon with a registered entry famously said, “If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.” The level of commitment, dedication, enthusiasm, and let’s face it - a little bit of insanity - it takes 
to finish 26.2 miles is truly a thing to behold.
In addition to the physical and mental preparation that it takes to properly train for a marathon, something as seemingly basic as the shoes you wear will make the difference between a happy, successful running season, or a painful, potentially sidelining injury that can land you in a podiatrist’s office instead of at the finish line, race medal and glory in hand.
What are Orthotics?
Depending on a person’s individual gait and the mechanics of the feet and how they strike the ground when they run, it may be necessary to use a pair of orthotics to ensure proper alignment and arch support, which can help prevent pain and running injuries. Orthotics are inserts that are placed inside running shoes to provide extra support to the feet and ankles.
The podiatrists at Family Foot and Ankle Associates of Maryland fit distance runners in Olney with custom orthotics to address their individual needs and ultimately help to achieve their training goals. According to Runner’s World, as much as 75% of the running population are either over or under-pronators, meaning the feet turn excessively inward or outward, throwing off the balance when they run and putting them at greater risk for painful running injuries like plantar fasciitis, knee pain, and stress fractures.
Support Your Feet for a Safer Run
Although incredibly common, many runners are not aware of potential biomechanics issues with their feet until they experience pain or an unexpected injury. Getting a comprehensive gait analysis and evaluation from a podiatrist, and investing in proper footwear at regular intervals is the first step in a successful training season for any distance running event.
To learn more about how orthotics can help to keep your feet injury-free and help you achieve your long distance running goals, contact a podiatrist in Olney at (301) 924-5044 to schedule a consultation today!