TK, did you ever get rid of the plantar fasciitis that was giving you trouble last summer? If so, I'd like to know if you have any suggestions for it. I fought it in my right foot for a year and a half, was pretty good for about a month after July RNG, and now I've got it in my left...
That sounds about right. I ended up running minimalist (losing inserts, going barefoot as much as possible, running in sandals). I started sorta slow, most folks start by walking a lot. I found muscles in my feet I didn't know existed, and running minimalist means your form will change, so if you try it, get ready for some sore calves. My pain is still there but reduced 85% - if I stretch for a few seconds when I first wake up, I'm good to go. Before I could barely walk the morning after a run.
I highly recommend reading "Born to Run" - it goes into a lot of detail about foot mechanics, and is a thrilling read if you like racing. (and a bit of history)