re: Running and pain in the balls of your feet

Sounds like you could have plantar fasciitis or you run on hard surfaces and your shoes are losing their cushion. If it is plantar, I would use superfeet insoles. They work and they aren’t those extremely hard insoles or flimsy gel insoles. I had plantar which made me researc what running shoes are made for people with plantar fasciitis. I run in the ASICS Kayano, but I don’t know what your arch looks like or your running style. You could also be running in a shoe not made for your foot/running style. Meaning your running style could be hitting the balls of your feet, but your shoe has less cushion there. Clouds are decent shoes, but I tend to recommend ASICS/Saucony/New balance to my runners. If you live in Nola go to Louisiana running and they’ll put you on a treadmill where they take a slow motion videos of how your foot hits and if you are pronating or supinating. Expensive shoes but after you buy once you’ll know what shoe you need. You could also just research how to find out your arch, and run a couple laps while trying to feel if you are overpronating or supinating(underpronating).

All of this is from over 25 years of running, as well as being a local running coach. Hope this helps!