Rocks in my shoes

This seems like a strange problem to me.  I am a beginning runner (actually jog/walk), and I have trouble with little pebbles jumping into my shoes when I am jogging. I got some in my shoes the other day several times.  I took off my shoes and cleaned them out a couple of times, but at some point, I decided to just ignore it.  So, a day later, I have a huge blister on the side of my foot where I wiggled a pebble to. Ouch!  Now, it hurts to run a little.

Does anybody else have this problem, and any thoughts on how to solve it would be much appreciated. 

hmmm iv never had pebbles in my running shoes! are you doing them up tight enough?

Yeh.  I'm lacing them up as tight as I can, but little pebbles seem to get kicked up and into my shoes at the back.  I'm a beginning runner, so I am staying of pavement as much as possible and running on a natural track through the woods made for training for running.

Does your heel slip up and down when you run?  Perhaps a thicker sock would take up some of the gap.  If that doesn't work, try visiting a running shoe store if there is one in the area.  They can watch you run and suggest something - it might be that the shoe doesn't fit properly.  Good luck!

I have this problem too, I always get grass and pebbles in my shoes.  These shoes were fitted for me too and otherwise work really well.  I'm not jogging outside anymore for other reasons but this was a really annoying problem. 

This happens to me too...it drives me bananas! I just figured it was the price I paid for not running on pavement. I run on a fine gravel trail in a park near my house.

I ignore it until it gets down so far and then I HAVE to stop and get it out. It's so annoying because I can't time myself very well when I have to keep stopping!

Sadly, I have no suggestions on how to make it stop.

I find that some shoes are worse than others.  I suspect it is the sole tread has something to do with it.  The ones I have the most luck (less stones) have a simple tread pattern that does not have as deep of groves. 

I also think that making sure that your shoes are snug  help keep the stones out does help.  

I have had this problem on a number of occasions.  And I agree with a couple of the posts.  You may not always be able to exclude it from happening, but I find thicker socks, ensuring I am lacing straight up, and tight enough do eliminate most occurances.

Good luck!

Sha

I have been running for about 15 years and had this problem when I first began.  There are several things that cause but most of the time it is a loose shoe or the shoe is not laced high enough. Ensure you lace your shoes using all the holes done skip the last few holes. I use to do this because it meant I would have to untie my shoes after I ran instead of just slipping them off. If you are running off-road ( trail) ensure you are not running in race shoes which are mostly mesh. If these steps do not fix the problem look at how you are moving your feet when you run or see if the tread on your shoes are catching alot for rocks.

I bet you could rig up something to keep the rocks out. Like a bandanna around each ankle, or a sock with the foot part cut off that can be pulled down over the top of your shoe.

There's always duct tape- it does hold the world together, I hear.

You could also try gaiters.  They are made especially to keep stuff from getting into your shoes.  I wear tall ones when I'm backpacking on pebbly trails, but you can also get short ones for trail running.

Wow.  Thanks for all the great ideas.  I have tried a couple without much success, but I will try each of the ideas until I hit on what works for me.  Right now, I am running on a trail until I have upped the length of my running part of the jog/walk training.  After that, I intend to switch alternate between trail and pavement for training.  My goal is to complete a 5K run in under 30 minutes next January 1st.  I am up to being able to run 8 minutes at a time.   Maybe with this advise, I can concentrate more on the running and timing aspect of things.

Thanks a lot.

I've just taken up jogging around Rice University this year - it's a very nice soft dirt/stone path.  I have increasingly noticed that I get pebbles in my shoes as the jog goes on, and it drives me NUTS!!!  So I thought I could avoid this by running on sidewalks instead - and then I got shin splints...DOH!!

Yes, I think some of it has to do with how the shoe fits - I have a very narrow foot and currently wear a regular sized tennis shoe, so I can see how rocks can sneak in.  But I can't really adjust my stride or my feet strokes - either way my feet will still kick up rocks. 

However, I've also looked into something like this  http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/ SCW759/#long_description  ...granted I might look sort of silly running around with those on, but - hey - anything beats pebbles stabbing the soles of my feet, right?

I'm so glad I'm not the only one with this problem.  : )

I did a 5 mile race yesterday and from the very start I noticed a funny squeaking noise but I was racing so didn't have time to look and just ignored it. At the end I looked and found a rock, an actual rock about 1" square lodged in the tread under my heel. I could probably have come 2nd instead of 3rd without that rock lol! And on the way home I got another one rammed in there. Really strange - it's never happened before.

If I were you I'd wear a pair of thin nylon sock out side your running sock and pull them down over the top of the shoes.

Okay.  A year has passed since I posted on this topic.  I still have the same problem and have just learned to live with it.  I looked at those shoes lookatthekitty, and they are cool shoes.  I use Nikes with the sensor built into the inner sole, and I love them, so that isn't an option (getting them to Japan is expensive too). 

Cajunrider - now that is an innovative idea.  And, I think I will work on this problem again.  I noticed some legwarmers on sale at the local department store the other day.  I kept thinking about buying them, but I passed on it.   My ankles usually hurt for the first 20 minutes of running, so maybe legwarmers could keep the rocks out and warm my ankles at the same time.  I'll try it.

Wow.  Ducklingerthank, good going on coming in third place in your 5 mile race.  That's great!  I bet you check the bottom of your shoe if that happens again.  It probably would shave a little more time off your run.

I have a 8K practice run today... We had a typhoon blow through here mostly all through the night, so it will be a little slippery running on the roads today.  I really want to run on the ground, but that would be asking for a fall on the rain-soaked trail.