Feet pains

csabour · Post by **csabour** » January 21st, 2008, 4:33 pm

Hey guys

4 year competitive rower here. My ergs are 6:49 and 21:54. lwt.

I've just started my hard intense workouts for this winter's competitions in Feb. I get an unbearable pain in my FEET after my workout. Its mind blowing. it takes far longer for my feet to recover than my body and mind between sets.

I am truly baffled. My technique is good as far as I can tell. I do lots of strapless rowing...

I want to know if this is common? When at a 2k pace I hover at 36 rate and the only thing i can think of is that I am pulling myself up the slide to keep the rate high.

johnlvs2run · Post by **johnlvs2run** » January 21st, 2008, 5:23 pm

Do your feet hurt on the bottoms or the tops?

Are you rowing barefoot or with shoes?

The C2 foot plates have a twisted raised up section at the top, and narrow flex feet, both of which can cause damage to your feet.

I keep the flex feet with 4 holes showing, in order for most of my forefeet to be on the raised up sections, and not in between where the edges would cut into them. Also I've covered the flex feet and raised sections with wide strips of non slip rubber, built up underneath to help get rid of the ridges. The strips are available from hardware stores. Now most of the area of my feet is on this rubber, rather than the narrow band of the flex feet.

csabour · Post by **csabour** » January 21st, 2008, 9:14 pm

John,

I wear Asics running shoes. I have 2 holes showing and size 10 feet. I'm 5'10''.

I'm also talking about a model C.

The pain i speak of is located everywhere on my foot. I can't even specifically tell you where it is but it is on my foot. bottom and top.

It feels a lot like my foot was being squeezed to oblivion and i stopped erging in the nick of time. I have no pain what so ever while im erging(well i do but its not located on my feet)

johnlvs2run · Post by **johnlvs2run** » January 21st, 2008, 10:26 pm

Maybe the issue is the running shoes then.

I always row barefoot and never have any problems with my feet.

However, with 2 holes showing, your feet are pushing off right on the edge of the ridges - that's between the flex feet and the raised up sections of the plates. Unless the shoes have very firm sole, which is unlikely, those ridges are going to cause problems.

I've been planning to post a thread about this, as suggestion for C2 to get rid of the raised up portions of the plates, so the plates will firm underneath all the way to the top. On top of the plates, make the flex feet wider, so they provide an even (and firm on the base) surface to the top. Also it would be nice if there was a rubberized, non slip material to cover the flex feet.

1) Get rid of the raised portions, so the plates are flat to the top;
2) Widen the flex feet, with an even surface to the top;
3) Cover the flex feet with a rubberized, non slip material.