When to try again?

[firenze11]

Hello runners and walkers!

I need some of your wisdom. I just started running again this week. Tuesday was my first day and I only run/walk. 2 min on 2 min off. It felt really great, but suddenly about 1.5 miles through my shins started hurting. I walked the rest of the way and took my time. I think I have shin splints.

I haven't run since then and have been trying to take care of them by massaging the muscles and taking it easy. I've only been swimming since then. Today the pain is still there and I feel it especially when I walk on something hard. It hurts a bit more than just the usual DOMS so I'm afraid of making it worse. Do I need to wait until the pain is gone before I try again?

Thanks!

[rocknrollgirl]

Hmmm,

Are your shoes old?

Did you warm up enough?

Did you stretch?

I would ice and rest until you can walk without pain. And stretch.

[indysteel]

I'd echo the comment about shoes. Also, what kind of road surface are you running on? You might take a look at this for some suggestions:

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_5/196.shtml

[roadie gal]

1+ on resting until you can walk without pain.

You may have started doing too much. Start with only 30 minutes the first few days, even if it seems like you could go much further. Then after 2-3 times increase it to 35 minutes for a few days. Then go up another 5 minutes. Build up slowly and you'll have less days off for injury.

[firenze11]

Thanks for the link Indysteel. According to that page I have posterior shin splints. I will start icing, I was hoping I wouldn't have to ice but it's been a few days now and nothing has really changed.

Hmm, my shoes are pretty darn old. I mean like 2 (or more maybe ) years old. Since I never had this problem before I'm guessing a lot of it has to do with the shoes and overdoing it. I have a gift certificate I want to use to buy some nice shoes from a real running store but they open early May. Maybe I will stick to the elliptical until I get them. I also run on a stone chip and oil road (with some dirt road thrown in there) so I don't think that's helping either.

Part of me was hoping I could just push through it like regular muscle soreness but my gut was telling me that was a bad idea. Thanks for confirming that and the advice.

[rocknrollgirl]

Good Lordy Woman...get new shoes!!!!

[indysteel]

Yes to new shoes and rest. When I ran in high school, despite having some vicious shin splints. There were very large and discernible bumps on both shins. My guess is that they evolved into stress fractures. I was very stupid back then--and had a bad coach who thought it was a sign of commitment to run through pain. I also ran with stress fractures in my feet. It's no wonder that it took me years to want to run again!

[firenze11]

Good Lordy Woman...get new shoes!!!!

Just another example of my stubborn nature. . .I knew I probably needed them but I didn't want to break down and buy them. I will get them soon. (and wont' run in my old ones)

Holy Moly Indy, I don't think I could have run through that kind of pain. And what a coach to think running through pain showed commitment. Jeez. I can see why you would be put off of running for awhile.

I have a problem with trying to make my body do what I want it to do instead of what it can do at the time. Getting an HRM has helped me a lot with that though. And good news today, my shins are starting to feel a bit better. I can walk on hard surfaces without a lot of pain. Whee!!

[KnottedYet]

When you get your new shoes (and yes, lordy, you need new shoes!) ask the shop to show you some insoles. Pop them into the shoes you choose and see how they feel.

Sometimes good insoles (like Superfeet or Shock Doctor or Spectrum) can make a big difference, too.