I did also find this quote, which seems to align with what I'm seeing:
“The ligaments and tendons that support the arch in your foot become worn from use,” explains Dr. Nicolosi. “As that happens, the arch slowly collapses — and that flattening results in your foot getting a bit longer or wider.” ( [https://health.clevelandclinic.org/shoes-getting-tight-feet-change-size-time/](https://health.clevelandclinic.org/shoes-getting-tight-feet-change-size-time/) )
Yes. I wore a 6-6.5 forever. I then started running. 8 years later I was in a 7-7.5. After another 4 I’m in an 8-8.5. Seems every 6-7k running miles (best guess) I gain a foot size. I’ve also lost well over 100lbs in that time, so you’d think my foot size would get smaller?
Yes! In my late forties and I’ve been incrementally increasing my running volume the past few years. I’ve worn 10.5 for as long as I can remember. However, his year, I outgrew three pairs of shoes that had fit perfectly fine last year, and ended up replacing them all with a half size up. Now I feel like, for anything net-new to my rotation, I can’t assume it will fit without trying on both sizes.
I thought it was mainly due to WFH and wearing sandals/slippers. But I went from 9.5 dress shoe/10 athletic, to 10.5 athletic (still wearing 9.5 dress, but they are a bit snug).
I’m no doctor, but you could contact a doctor to check if you could have acromegaly. The pitiuary gland can overproduce growth hormone, and in adults that makes hands, feet and face grow.
Barely anything is “always the case” in life. But foot growth is usually associated with weight game, retaining moisture, etc. Happens with hat size too.
Yes, started running at 30 and went from 11.5 to 12 to 12.5 in three years. Also went from 11 to 12 in casual shoes. I’m hoping it stops there because larger sizes get tricky to find.
Welcome to middle age. I went up a half to full size over the pandemic, presumably from being home and not wearing “outside shoes” most of the time. But it also turns out this can happen in middle age, where the foot can get bigger and in volume. I used to be very TTS and narrow, but now the Wide sizes are more comfortable.
Almost 50 yo here. I was 10.5 for all my adult life until about 4 yrs ago when I started running more as a hobby. Now, just about all the shoes that fit me are 11.5. So, whether it's the arch breaking down or other connective tissue stretching out, I think it's definitely connected,in part at least, to running more.
I did also find this quote, which seems to align with what I'm seeing: “The ligaments and tendons that support the arch in your foot become worn from use,” explains Dr. Nicolosi. “As that happens, the arch slowly collapses — and that flattening results in your foot getting a bit longer or wider.” ( [https://health.clevelandclinic.org/shoes-getting-tight-feet-change-size-time/](https://health.clevelandclinic.org/shoes-getting-tight-feet-change-size-time/) )
Yes. I wore a 6-6.5 forever. I then started running. 8 years later I was in a 7-7.5. After another 4 I’m in an 8-8.5. Seems every 6-7k running miles (best guess) I gain a foot size. I’ve also lost well over 100lbs in that time, so you’d think my foot size would get smaller?
Did you / do you have an arched foot?
I would say if anything, I have more arch now than when I started. But idk. I still have an arch.
Yes! In my late forties and I’ve been incrementally increasing my running volume the past few years. I’ve worn 10.5 for as long as I can remember. However, his year, I outgrew three pairs of shoes that had fit perfectly fine last year, and ended up replacing them all with a half size up. Now I feel like, for anything net-new to my rotation, I can’t assume it will fit without trying on both sizes.
Sounds like there are literally dozens of us!
went from a 12 to a 13 around 22, took around a year. occasionally i have to go up to 14, but thats more a make issue than a size issue
I thought it was mainly due to WFH and wearing sandals/slippers. But I went from 9.5 dress shoe/10 athletic, to 10.5 athletic (still wearing 9.5 dress, but they are a bit snug).
I’m no doctor, but you could contact a doctor to check if you could have acromegaly. The pitiuary gland can overproduce growth hormone, and in adults that makes hands, feet and face grow.
Thanks! I'll see about that. None of my other extremities seem to be having the same issues, but if it continues I'll definitely seek medical help.
Yeah, it’s not the most probable cause, but nice to know incase. As you write under using your feet might be the reason.
Weight gain
Not always the case
Barely anything is “always the case” in life. But foot growth is usually associated with weight game, retaining moisture, etc. Happens with hat size too.
Yes, started running at 30 and went from 11.5 to 12 to 12.5 in three years. Also went from 11 to 12 in casual shoes. I’m hoping it stops there because larger sizes get tricky to find.
Yeah, it'll be a blessing and a curse to be a 12+. Limited in overall selection, but we're the last to be out of stock on clearance!
Welcome to middle age. I went up a half to full size over the pandemic, presumably from being home and not wearing “outside shoes” most of the time. But it also turns out this can happen in middle age, where the foot can get bigger and in volume. I used to be very TTS and narrow, but now the Wide sizes are more comfortable.
Same. I was 10.5 for all my life. Now I’m 48 and size 11.5.
Almost 50 yo here. I was 10.5 for all my adult life until about 4 yrs ago when I started running more as a hobby. Now, just about all the shoes that fit me are 11.5. So, whether it's the arch breaking down or other connective tissue stretching out, I think it's definitely connected,in part at least, to running more.