The Run Smarter Podcast

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Chronic plantar fasciitis can quietly strip away your confidence, your identity as a runner, and eventually your belief that running is even possible again.

In today’s episode, John shares his seven-year battle with stubborn plantar fasciitis—and how he went from barely being able to walk in the morning to completing trail marathons at age 59.

This is not a story about a magic treatment or a quick fix. It’s about patience, progressive strength, smarter recovery, and changing the way you think about pain. If you’ve tried everything and feel like you’re running out of options, this conversation will resonate deeply.

What We Cover in This Episode

John’s long road with plantar fasciitis

• How his symptoms started, disappeared, then returned worse than ever
• Why years of rest, stretching, and passive treatments didn’t solve the problem
• What “first-step pain” taught him about whether he was improving or regressing

Why many plantar fasciitis treatments fail

• Over-stretching and aggressive rehab that actually delayed healing
• Why ticking “strength training” off the list too early is a common mistake
• The difference between doing exercises and loading tissue correctly

The turning point

• The mindset shift that stopped the injury from controlling his life
• How slow, progressive calf strengthening rebuilt tissue capacity
• Why learning not to catastrophize flare-ups changed everything

Strength training that actually worked

• The calf exercises that gave the biggest return on investment
• How he progressed from double-leg to single-leg loading safely
• Rep ranges, frequency, and why patience mattered more than intensity

Recovery beyond rehab

• How improving sleep quality accelerated his progress
• Nutrition changes that supported training and recovery
• Why recovery became non-negotiable as he got older

Where John is now

• Running pain-free most days after years of struggle
• Completing half marathons, mountain runs, and a self-supported trail marathon
• How he’s approaching goals differently to stay healthy long-term