Shin splints

[KnottedYet]

Oooh, yeah! Do NOT wear your cycling shoes to walk around!

[velogirl]

I agree that the cycling shoes (all day) are probably the issue.

However, I run and walk in my Sidi mtn bike shoes all the time. I've run several miles in them (training) and short paved races (24 HOA le mans starts) without issue. And I'm not a runner -- I wouldn't even call myself a walker!

[VeloVT]

Thanks everyone!

Okayokayokay, I'll start bringing soft shoes to change into. My shins are bothering me even padding around the house right now though, any ideas how to heal the damage that has already been done?

Thanks!

[OakLeaf]

I don't even go barefoot in the house any more because of my Achilles tendinitis. Crocs! Crocs rule!

[RolliePollie]

Thanks everyone!

Okayokayokay, I'll start bringing soft shoes to change into. My shins are bothering me even padding around the house right now though, any ideas how to heal the damage that has already been done?

Thanks!

The last time I tried training for a 5K, my shin splints got so bad I could barely walk. I wrapped my lower legs in elastic bandages every day for a week and it really helped them feel better. I think it was supporting the muscles...sort of holding them tight to the bone...so it reduced the pain. I have given up on ever being a runner because I get shin splints almost right away. But I've never had any issue with cycling.

Good luck...I hope your shins feel better soon!

p.s. has anyone ever tried to do a 5K without any training? I know I just said I have basically given up on running, but I really want to do this local 5K in November and I'm wondering what would happen if I just went out and did it without any training (other than cycling, of course). This does not sound like a good plan to me, but I'm tempted anyway.

[VeloVT]

p.s. has anyone ever tried to do a 5K without any training? I know I just said I have basically given up on running, but I really want to do this local 5K in November and I'm wondering what would happen if I just went out and did it without any training (other than cycling, of course). This does not sound like a good plan to me, but I'm tempted anyway.

When I occasionally am a bad girl and don't run at all for a few months (which actually hasn't happened for a maybe a year now!), I usually start out with four mile runs, and I can run the whole way. 5k = 3.1 miles, so for me, if the question were simply "can I finish this comfortably", especially given a reasonable fitness base from cycling, the answer would definitely be yes. If the goal were to "race" it, different answer (though, if you've been doing a lot of hard intervals on the bike, maybe). And once you start a race, it can be hard NOT to race. But everyone's body reacts differently to running, mine tolerates it reasonably well for the most part, but many people are more injury prone. What happens if you just go for a three mile run, if you haven't been training?

For me, if I've been biking and start running again after a hiatus, I find that my muscular endurance is just fine -- the issue for me is that running is much more taxing cardiovascularly than biking, and I can "think" I'm in good shape -- or actually be in good shape, for biking -- but then maintaining a reasonable pace running is just much harder work (for my lungs and heart) than I'm used to. And of course your body might feel floppy/sluggish/uncoordinated at first, until it "remembers" how to run efficiently. But probably all of this is tolerable for three miles as long as you're not too hyper about your time.

[velogirl]

p.s. has anyone ever tried to do a 5K without any training? I know I just said I have basically given up on running, but I really want to do this local 5K in November and I'm wondering what would happen if I just went out and did it without any training (other than cycling, of course). This does not sound like a good plan to me, but I'm tempted anyway.

I just competed in a sprint distance mtn bike triathlon without any run training in 8 months. The run was actually 4 miles, very hilly, and somehow I managed 8:18 miles. I could barely walk for two days afterwards, but no lingering injuries.

What bothers me when I run is not shin splints, but rather IT band syndrome. No ITB issues on the bike, but almost always tender and swollen when I run.

[pinkychique]

This is what I've been told too:
1.Stretch your calves!!!! I keep getting yelled at to do this, and when I remember to it really makes a HUGE difference!
2. Wearing birkenstocks makes everything amazingly better...this little tip was told to me by a doctor that I know.
3. Get a tennis ball or something similar, and put your leg up on a table on top of the ball, and use it to work out the knots, all the knots and tightness in your lower legs are related, so working out other ones should help the shin splints.
Good luck!

On the IT: (I have it too) do 1/4 squats (one legged tiny squats) to even out the strength on your legs, and stretch your hips and do a stretch like Revolved Triangle, and use a frozen big water bottle to massage out the IT by putting it on the ground and rolling over it (it really hurts but it does the trick!!).

[OakLeaf]

use a frozen big water bottle to massage out the IT by putting it on the ground and rolling over it (it really hurts but it does the trick!!).

That doesn't sound right. Stretching with ice? I'm just a group fitness instructor, but we're taught NEVER NEVER NEVER stretch a cold muscle. PTs?