Running Issue

C

chewyoatmeal

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2010
Messages
72
Alright, this would go out to anyone who runs, I am a swimmer, so I haven't up until the last few months.

I ran for about a mile today and stopped because of a soreness in my lower front shin / ankle region. I biked a couple of miles and was fine, no pain afterwords. Does anyone know what this is?


Also, would it be better to ease up a bit and have to hustle a bit more during beast, or should I tough what I have out and let my body heal itself?
 
I ran cross for four years so I'll give it a go. First of all I'd see if the pain is still there the rest of this week when you go running, don't jump to any conclusions. I know I'm going to the Naval Academy, not West Point, but I assume running is still really important and would definitely try to keep going with it. Believe me even a few weeks of running is better than no running.
 
Having been a runner for over 30 years, I can tell you that pain from running is your body telling you that something is wrong. Don't try to run through the pain, it will only get worse. First place to look is the shoes. Many people never bother to find out the exact shoe that fits their running style. Go to a reputable running store and get their advice. If they have you try on shoes and don't bother to watch you run then they don't know what they are doing. Given you only have little more than 3 weeks, my suggestion is to back off a little and let your legs heal. Do lots of stretching before and after each run, and ice after each run. Run on the softest surface you can find (not concrete or asphalt). Do not run more than everyother day at this point. Pay attention to what your body is telling you and if the pain continues then back off. Don't risk showing up lame and not being able to run, as I understand this could get you sent home.

Hope this helps.
 
STRIVE said:
Having been a runner for over 30 years, I can tell you that pain from running is your body telling you that something is wrong. Don't try to run through the pain, it will only get worse. First place to look is the shoes. Many people never bother to find out the exact shoe that fits their running style. Go to a reputable running store and get their advice. If they have you try on shoes and don't bother to watch you run then they don't know what they are doing. Given you only have little more than 3 weeks, my suggestion is to back off a little and let your legs heal. Do lots of stretching before and after each run, and ice after each run. Run on the softest surface you can find (not concrete or asphalt). Do not run more than everyother day at this point. Pay attention to what your body is telling you and if the pain continues then back off. Don't risk showing up lame and not being able to run, as I understand this could get you sent home.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Great advice. Great, great advice. And he is right...they won't send you home for being a slow runner, but they can send you home for being broken.
 
Shin splints maybe? Ice the area and stretch your calves/shins (you should be stretching all muscles but pay more attention). It might be a problem with your shoes but it could also just be an adjustment from never running before. I would continue to bike (not hurting because of no pressure on the shin) or even swim for maybe a week. Then I would I start running again but do it on a grass field. Find some athletic fields and just run around them. It will be boring but it will aggravate the shin far less than running on the ground. Another thing is that the surface of the road is softer than that of the sidewalk so if you do run on a hard surface the road would be better.

If it still hurts on a grass field when you start again I would go to a doctor. I'm not sure how you could get a stress fracture from such little running but maybe you did hurt it and it would need to be addressed asap.

http://ncrunnerdude.blogspot.com/2009/06/is-asphalt-better-than-concrete.html That article suggests alot of injuries come from running on side walks.
 
My daughter also a swimmer had same problem when she started running to train. We had her see a personal trainer at YMCA that was good at injury prevention. He told her she needed to cut running in half and he taught that her muscles were way to tight before and after running. She has gone a few times to trainer where they focus on just stretching and she has done other stretching exercises that he taught her on her own. The problem has stopped and she feels good now. We also went and bought new shoes that were approved for her to use.

I would not ignore pain. Good Luck!
 
Here are some things you can try:
1. You may need to stretch more before you run. For that specific area, try ankle rotations.
2. Another thing you may want to consider is getting new shoes. They may be worn out or not the right type of shoe. I was having the same problem but Ive been wearing the same style of shoe for 6 years. It turned out I just needed a bigger size.
 
Everyone has given great advice! Strive suggests addressing your shoes---this is what my cadet had to do. He was wearing some comfy, squishy Nikes that did not support his foot properly. He went to a specialty running store (not Dick's, Sports Authority, etc.) but where real runners go to get shoes. Turns out he had the wrong size, he pronates, etc., etc. He was fitted with the best type of shoes for his feet and they even had him run on a treadmill in the store; he ended up with Brooks. They reminded him to keep up with the mileage on his shoes and replace around 300 miles.
 
^^^
Agree. During indoor track season our daughter was experiencing knee and shin pain. We took her to the local New Balance store (ours has a pressure analysis machine). They suggested that she purchase a running shoe with greater cushioning in the ball of her foot.
The price of the shoes <GASP>, yet the result, no more pain.
Advice, find a really good store that carries good quality running shoes and have them figure out the right shoe for you.
As a runner you should also be getting new shoes based upon the 'mileage' you put on them. Our daughters are good for about 3 months.
 
Running everyday is not too much of a concern if you are not experiencing any problems. My point was made with regards to someone who is having pain during or after their runs. Trying to run through pain is not normally a good idea. If you are running everyday, I suggest the routine be varied, i.e. speed, distance and terrain. Hope this helps.
 
STRIVE said:
Running everyday is not too much of a concern if you are not experiencing any problems. My point was made with regards to someone who is having pain during or after their runs. Trying to run through pain is not normally a good idea. If you are running everyday, I suggest the routine be varied, i.e. speed, distance and terrain. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

STRIVE is, again, giving excellent advice.

To the poster who asked, no they will not run in the sense you're thinking everyday. The typical Army method of PT, which WP has long believed in, is to alternate cardiovascular PT with muscular strength and endurance (pushups, pullups, battle-focused PT, etc.). WP is very attentive to the need to build up PT requirements. A regiment of broken new cadets does no one any good. There will be long run days, fast run days, and days where the new cadets only run a short distance to the field where they'll do their MSE exercises.
 
As the Mom of 3 year round swimmers, one of them a USMA grad, I can say our swimmers also did not do much running. Except for our youngest, his coach was different. He always included a bit more cross training. Once he found our son intended to to go a military academy; he gradually increased his running starting about 6 months ahead of R Day. This running was always on grass and not daily.

Just something for parents of athletes who are not involved in a lot of running to be aware of. Many times these young athletes think that because they swim, bike, play tennis or whatever .......... they will have no problem with the running.

Most times these athletes are definitely in good physical shape but do not understand the mechanics of running. Get out there and run. Find a friend from school who is a runner, a coach, someone to assist.

Good Luck!
 
thank you everyone, yesterday i went to a running store and got othopedics and shoes, my legs feel a lot better now. Turns out the shoe was my problem
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top