I have been jogging regularly for the past few weeks. But recently the arch in my left foot has started to hurt about 10-15 min into the jog. It feels like its tearing or ripping, the pain is not severe enough for me to have to stop, but I do just in case this is the prelude to something worse.

This pain does not kick in while riding a stationary bike, playing squash or doing any leg workout. It only occurs while I’m jogging. In fact if I stop jogging I can do any of those things and it will not hurt.

I wonder if anyone has had something like this and what they did about it, or if anyone knows what to do about this. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I want to get back to regular jogging soon.

It sounds like you're overpronating (http://www.runnersworld.ltd.uk/pronation.htm). Are your shoe treads worn on the inside rather than on the outside or evenly? Left moreso than right? Ever have a foot injury (break to the small toes maybe) that could've caused you to favor the inside of your left foot?

I'm suspecting overpronation 'cause it would put a lot of weight, repeatedly, on your big toe. When your weight is off the big toe (biking) or not repeatedly distributed (squash) you don't feel the effect. That strain will make it feel like your arch is tearing every time. You may have torn the joint capsule and developed turf toe (http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/foot/turftoe.htm) but I doubt it since you would feel that doing anything. Being smart and stopping your run was a very good idea.

Check your shoes. Any running-specific store will have a host of shoes that correct overpronation for you if that turns out to be the problem.

M@

I would do a search on google for plantar fasciitis, which is a fairly common arch pain. It can occur in people with very flat feet but I think it's normally in people with relatively weak arches of normal or excessive arch height. With each step, the arch flattens out and stretches in all of us but if it stretches too much, then this pain kicks in. I have not personally had this problem, so I don't know much about it, but a lot of people do get it. It is normally dealt with by massaging the foot with rollers and things and also looking into different ways to support the foot. I think Bamadave who posts here has had it (he's got high arches) and putting in some stiff inserts with a rigid arch in them solved the problem for him.

If you feel pain in the arch of your foot upon waking in the morning during the first couple of steps, that's often used as a good indicator of PF. It can be dealt with, though. Deena Kastor, one of the best if not the best women runners out there right now has had it, for instance.

In regards to overpronating, I think it could be a cause of it although I do know that perfectly neutral runners have the problem sometimes, too. In a person with a fairly low arch, if they are overpronating I can see how they'd get PF and a shoe to counter that would stiffen up the arch and help prevent it, most likely. I imagine that a supinator (which is bad and means that the foot is not rolling in at all or is even rolling outward) would not have PF since their biomechanics are shot and they are not using the foot or arch properly ;)

A quick self diagnosis for PF can be the pain level when you first awaken. If the pain is more prominent when you gat out of bed, it is likely to be PF. As the fascia will reduce in length during rest, the initial stress of loading with body weight will be a good indicator of any inflammation.
Get yourself along to a podiatrist (foot doctor), whatever is going on, it is always preferable to start managing any foot pain as early as possible.

When I started running, I realized that good shoes are number one.

NewBalance is king.

When I started running, I realized that good shoes are number one.

NewBalance is king.I like Asics but then I've never run in anything but--currently have 5 pairs, 3 of which are not even worn out :D