Running pains

[G35 Mass]

Let me start off by saying: I HATE running. I get too bored, and it hurts. It hurts everything.

My primary pain is in my shin muscles. This is the part of the leg that's just outside of the midline of my leg. After one lap, it's killing. Walking is painful after running, sometimes for days. Any idea what this is from? I DO lack quite a bit of flexibility in my lower body.

I do over-pronate, but a running store fitted me with a shoe they found to be appropriate after watching me run on a treadmill.

[ltrrtl218]

sounds like shin splints. i get pain from running as well but its along my shin bone and my inner calf muscle.

[Coach]

It does sound like shin splints. They're collective micro-tears where the muscles attach to the bones of the leg. If the inflammation gets bad enough and you keep pounding them, you can develop stress fractures. Shoes to reduce over-pronation was a good first step.

If you're prone to shin splints, you really need to be patient in starting out and building mileage. Short runs or run-walk combos with a couple days off in between. Ice the sore areas after running, and an anti-inflammatory (ASA, Ibuprofen) can help. If they don't improve, ease off some more. Add days or mileage very slowly - no more than 10% a week increase (pace or distance) once the legs improve. Make sure you're not over striding and landing hard on the heel, but don't land on your forefoot like a sprinter either. Smoooooth.

There are a couple of other conditions that can feel much like shin splints, but are more serious. If it doesn't improve, get it checked out.

[MiamiG35sedan]

Originally Posted by G35 Mass

Let me start off by saying: I HATE running. I get too bored, and it hurts. It hurts everything.

My primary pain is in my shin muscles. This is the part of the leg that's just outside of the midline of my leg. After one lap, it's killing. Walking is painful after running, sometimes for days. Any idea what this is from? I DO lack quite a bit of flexibility in my lower body.

I do over-pronate, but a running store fitted me with a shoe they found to be appropriate after watching me run on a treadmill.

How about something non-impact like swimming, or you can do Tai Chi and get both your cardio and enhance flexibility and keep interested?

[G35 Mass]

Unfortunately not running isn't an option. I have physical agility tests I take every six months at work. I must at least be able to do 1.5 miles. Which I can do, it's just painful as fvck. I do most of my cardio on a stairmaster doing HIIT routines, but I can't eliminate running.

I did just read up on shinsplints, and some stretches and exercises that may help. They also suggested icing like ltrrl stated.

[giddyup69]

also try taping your shin or buying a shin support. i have a friend i used to play tennis with. he broke his tibia when he was young and used to suffer from shin splints when he ran or played sports. every time we played he used to wear some sort of foam/neoprene support to alleviate the pain.

[Jeff92se]

Where are you running? I get shin splints too. Either you have to warm up for a longer period or try running on grass, rubberized track or a treadmill. If I run on the street, I'll get them. If I run on the grass or on a treadmill, I don't get them.

[Yv12345vY]

Shin splints are normal especially for novice runners. I'd go to a running store and get a pair of shoes they fit you for. At the very least they should watch you walk and run so they can recommend the right kind of shoe.

[G-Ticket]

Definitely ice them as much as possible, I used to take bags of frozen vegetables and ace bandage them around my shins. (don't eat them after, it's gross!)

Take Aleve since it's a great anti-inflammatory and consistently do the stretches you found. I do the toe tap's all the time while sitting at my desk.

Soreness is okay, pain is not. You don't want to end up with stress fractures so be sure to rest a couple days between runs.

Like stated above try to run on a softer surface. Blacktop is softer than concrete so stay on the road if you don't have other options.

Good luck, you'll be at your goal in no time.
Lisa

[MiamiG35sedan]

I know you said you have a agility and a 1.5 mile physical tests for work. I presume these tests are given every X number of months, so you must maintain a certain conditioning level.

Since running is painful and putting you at risk for injury, why not do a different excercise that still gives you the cardio, muscular, and flexibility conditioning you need to pass this test routinely? Swimming or Tai Chi (especially the latter) would do this for you.

[G-Ticket]

Originally Posted by MiamiG35sedan

I know you said you have a agility and a 1.5 mile physical tests for work. I presume these tests are given every X number of months, so you must maintain a certain conditioning level.

Since running is painful and putting you at risk for injury, why not do a different excercise that still gives you the cardio, muscular, and flexibility conditioning you need to pass this test routinely? Swimming or Tai Chi (especially the latter) would do this for you.

Those are fantastic workouts, but they won't necessarily condition you for running.

I got into cycling (outdoor and indoor) a few years before I started running, I could ride close to 80 miles and feel good. I took many different classes at the gym, aerobics, step, power, etc.

The first time I decided to run I barely made it 1.5 blocks and felt like a tank was on my chest. My feet hurt, shin's and hips hurt the next day terribly. I kept pushing myself and after a few weeks it became easier. (and I'm not a big overweight person) It took a couple months before all my joints were accustomed to the pounding and impact. Luckily I have a friend who is an avid runner and encouraged me, and told me this was normal otherwise I know I would have said forget it. Cross training is the key to complete fitness.

It's all a matter of what your body becomes accustomed to. My same friend that runs tried to take a cycling class with me and walked out after 15 min. She can run a half marathon every Sat. morning, but couldn't handle the rigorous cycling class, and she is the most fit person I know.
Lisa

[G35 Mass]

Happens on a tradmill, blacktop track and red rubberized track. AKA: Everywhere. I stay in shape but never run because of this and just suffer through my PT tests.

[MiamiG35sedan]

Originally Posted by G-Ticket

Those are fantastic workouts, but they won't necessarily condition you for running.

I got into cycling (outdoor and indoor) a few years before I started running, I could ride close to 80 miles and feel good. I took many different classes at the gym, aerobics, step, power, etc.

The first time I decided to run I barely made it 1.5 blocks and felt like a tank was on my chest. My feet hurt, shin's and hips hurt the next day terribly. I kept pushing myself and after a few weeks it became easier. (and I'm not a big overweight person) It took a couple months before all my joints were accustomed to the pounding and impact. Luckily I have a friend who is an avid runner and encouraged me, and told me this was normal otherwise I know I would have said forget it. Cross training is the key to complete fitness.

It's all a matter of what your body becomes accustomed to. My same friend that runs tried to take a cycling class with me and walked out after 15 min. She can run a half marathon every Sat. morning, but couldn't handle the rigorous cycling class, and she is the most fit person I know.
Lisa

I hear what you're saying, and it makes sense for someone who wants to be a runner, but the OP made it clear he really only needs to run this thing for a routine test, plus he feels running is boring as an excercise, plus his lower body agility is not where he wants it to be. 1.5 miles is not a long distance to run, especially for a test once every X months. I don't see how the suggestions I made would NOT prepare him for this test.

[G-Ticket]

I guess I misread what he was saying, I was thinking he wanted to be able to run without having to suffer through it. In which case he will have to actually run on some type of a regular basis to be able to do it pain free.

I guess just keep up the other exercises, stretch and ice your shins and go for it. Maybe take an extra rest day after each test to recover. Lower body flexibility won't eliminate shin splints, it will help overall fitness though.
Lisa

[donpisto]

Go to an actual store where they sell strictly for runners (cross country and track). My brother went to one locally when he joined his XC team in high school and I went once and there's lots of info these people give out.

The shoes will make a big difference as does the type of surface you are running on. Maybe you need something with more comfort and a surface that doesn't have as great of an impact on your shins.

Definitely do a good amount of stretching before running and after...if need be, ice as others have stated.

Totally off topic, but pretty funny how the ad I'm look at on driver says "prevent shin splints" lol.