The Official Thread for Runners

[SteelBlue]

Wow, nice job. Does this mean you improved your 5k time in the process from last years time trials?

Yes though I haven't officially timed one. I was averaging around 7:15/mile before.

[Sea Chicken]

A local summer race series kicked off last night. I'd had yesterday's 4.3 mile (random, I know) race on my calendar since January as the course is flat and would be a good opportunity to push and test my current fitness levels. I ended up getting 4th in my age group (40 and up) coming in at 29:32. That 6:52/mile pace is something that I haven't done since I was in my early 20's. I'm really happy about it.

Well done. It's always nice to get a new 4.3 mile PR.

[SteelBlue]

Well done. It's always nice to get a new 4.3 mile PR.

Ha. As random as the distances are, the series is really fun. We've got a guy in town who times races for a living and he puts on a 7 race series each Winter and Summer complete with points and rankings and prizes. The best part? Entry is $2/race. Considering an average 5k timed the same way can run up to $30 or more, I think these weekly races are a smoking deal.

[ERCougar]

A local summer race series kicked off last night. I'd had yesterday's 4.3 mile (random, I know) race on my calendar since January as the course is flat and would be a good opportunity to push and test my current fitness levels. I ended up getting 4th in my age group (40 and up) coming in at 29:32. That 6:52/mile pace is something that I haven't done since I was in my early 20's. I'm really happy about it.

Dang, that's smokin. Aren't you doing St G again this year? I vaguely remember seeing you come in last time and if you're running this fast, it seems like you should beat your last time by quite a bit.

EDIT: I also like this idea of random distances. I hate when there are silly loops added on just to make a distance. Fit the race distance to the run, not vice versa.

[bag]

OK, I'm a bit of a lurker. I don't post much. I have read all the posts in this thread and I have recently started running for the first time in my life. I started a couch to 5k program, so it wasn't like I started off too fast or anything, but I got tendonitis in both of knees pretty bad. I had to stop, stretch, and strengthen my leg muscles for about a month before I could run again.

I just started running again and now I'm getting shin splints. Very frustrating. They ate not too bad yet. I can still run fine. My question to you more experienced runners is will they go away if I keep running? Is this something that will definitely make me stop and rest for a while like my knees, or, if they aren't too serious, can they get better over time while I continue to run?

I really don't want to stop running again as I am really enjoying it so far.

[SteelBlue]

My question to you more experienced runners is will they go away if I keep running? Is this something that will definitely make me stop and rest for a while like my knees, or, if they aren't too serious, can they get better over time while I continue to run?

I really don't want to stop running again as I am really enjoying it so far.

I hate to say it but the answer is very likely no. The reason they're hurting is because you're overdoing it even though to you it probably feels like you haven't done much yet.

There is some really good advice throughout this thread regarding how much to run and how soon. In general, your heart and lungs are ready to progress much sooner than your muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones are ready. I've been where you are, as have many others on the board. Stick with it. You probably need to stop for a good week or two and then start slowly. Maybe run a quarter mile, walk a quarter for a mile or two and build up over a couple of weeks to running for 15-20 minutes without stopping. Once you're there and still pain free start increasing your distance by 10 percent a week. It'll feel ridiculous at first but you'll be glad you did it when you're still logging pain free miles 6 months later. Welcome to the board, hope you stick around.

[bag]

I hate to say it but the answer is very likely no. The reason they're hurting is because you're overdoing it even though to you it probably feels like you haven't done much yet.

There is some really good advice throughout this thread regarding how much to run and how soon. In general, your heart and lungs are ready to progress much sooner than your muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones are ready. I've been where you are, as have many others on the board. Stick with it. You probably need to stop for a good week or two and then start slowly. Maybe run a quarter mile, walk a quarter for a mile or two and build up over a couple of weeks to running for 15-20 minutes without stopping. Once you're there and still pain free start increasing your distance by 10 percent a week. It'll feel ridiculous at first but you'll be glad you did it when you're still logging pain free miles 6 months later. Welcome to the board, hope you stick around.

Thanks. I was afraid of that. I guess that's the price I pay for not running until my 30s. It's a bit frustrating, but I'll just have to take it slow at first I guess. Thanks for the advice.

[Moliere]

Thanks. I was afraid of that. I guess that's the price I pay for not running until my 30s. It's a bit frustrating, but I'll just have to take it slow at first I guess. Thanks for the advice.

Welcome to the board.

While frustrating, you do need to listen to your body. I went out too fast at first and paidthe price (stress fracture). I was only increasing miles by 10% but I hadn't really run in over a decade. I should have gone slower.

Now that I'm healed I'm building up very slow. I'm up to 4.5 miles per week running every other day. It sucks to shut it down after a mile and a half but I do as I really don't want to spend another 3 months on a bike. One thing I do is after my short run I'll hop on a stationary bike and pedal for another 10-15 minutes. It helps keep my cardio up as I continue to build miles.

[bag]

Welcome to the board.

While frustrating, you do need to listen to your body. I went out too fast at first and paidthe price (stress fracture). I was only increasing miles by 10% but I hadn't really run in over a decade. I should have gone slower.

Now that I'm healed I'm building up very slow. I'm up to 4.5 miles per week running every other day. It sucks to shut it down after a mile and a half but I do as I really don't want to spend another 3 months on a bike. One thing I do is after my short run I'll hop on a stationary bike and pedal for another 10-15 minutes. It helps keep my cardio up as I continue to build miles.

Thanks. I hit the exercise bike pretty hard after I had to shut the running down due to tendonitis in my knees. I'll have to do that again. The knees were a lot more painful than the shin splints are. I was shut down with my knees for a month, so hopefully only a week or so with the shins.

This is all new to me. I've always been active, just not a big runner. I've never had injuries from doing a new activity before. I guess crossing the 30 year mark caused some changes!

[Joe Public]

OK, I'm a bit of a lurker. I don't post much. I have read all the posts in this thread and I have recently started running for the first time in my life. I started a couch to 5k program, so it wasn't like I started off too fast or anything, but I got tendonitis in both of knees pretty bad. I had to stop, stretch, and strengthen my leg muscles for about a month before I could run again.

I just started running again and now I'm getting shin splints. Very frustrating. They ate not too bad yet. I can still run fine. My question to you more experienced runners is will they go away if I keep running? Is this something that will definitely make me stop and rest for a while like my knees, or, if they aren't too serious, can they get better over time while I continue to run?

I really don't want to stop running again as I am really enjoying it so far.

I agree with the comments already made. You don't have to completely stop right away, either. You can also try reducing your mileage and seeing if you find an amount of running that doesn't cause pain (1 or 2 miles a day, three days a week, e.g.) and stay at that level for a few weeks. If all running causes pain, then it's probably best to shut it down for at least a few weeks and find some alternatives in the meantime.

I know how frustrating injury limitations can be. Stay smart and stay dedicated, and things will work out for the best. Good luck!

[PaloAltoCougar]

...In general, your heart and lungs are ready to progress much sooner than your muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones are ready.

This line really resonated with me. Before commencing training for the Disney Half, I thought I was in shape, but I was puzzled/bothered by the fact that my joints and legs felt dead, and even hurt a bit, after my runs. I'm noticing some improvement, but it's taking longer to get comfortable with the pounding than I thought. SB's comment, while obvious I guess, makes me feel better about the slow progress. BTW, in addition to shorter runs, I've run ten miles twice in the past two weeks, something I've never done and which a few years ago I would have thought was impossible. My times are pathetic, but I'm following the guidance of my betters here on the board and am taking it slow.

[bag]

I agree with the comments already made. You don't have to completely stop right away, either. You can also try reducing your mileage and seeing if you find an amount of running that doesn't cause pain (1 or 2 miles a day, three days a week, e.g.) and stay at that level for a few weeks. If all running causes pain, then it's probably best to shut it down for at least a few weeks and find some alternatives in the meantime.

I know how frustrating injury limitations can be. Stay smart and stay dedicated, and things will work out for the best. Good luck!

This line really resonated with me. Before commencing training for the Disney Half, I thought I was in shape, but I was puzzled/bothered by the fact that my joints and legs felt dead, and even hurt a bit, after my runs. I'm noticing some improvement, but it's taking longer to get comfortable with the pounding than I thought. SB's comment, while obvious I guess, makes me feel better about the slow progress. BTW, in addition to shorter runs, I've run ten miles twice in the past two weeks, something I've never done and which a few years ago I would have thought was impossible. My times are pathetic, but I'm following the guidance of my betters here on the board and am taking it slow.

Thanks for the advice. I guess my legs are so out of shape that I'll have to take it even slower than I already was. That's kind of embarrassing. I'll take a week off and see how things go. Thanks again.

[happyone]

Last night for some reason the dragon flies were out in force. I passed through 3 swarms (50+) of them in my wanderings. Before last night I can't remember seeing any at all this year.

Also I've cut down on my running a bit, I was up to between 18-20 m/week. My left knee and right hip started bugging me, so I've dialed it down and am now back to mainly walking.

[Sea Chicken]

I almost gored myself this morning. I was about 5 miles into my second long run for the Pocatello Marathon and was running down a dark street. A car came up behind me and it's headlights flashed on something ahead of me. It was a temporary road construction sign that had tipped over and the base was sticking out straight at me. I reached out and grabbed it at the last second. If it hadn't been for that car, it might have gone right through me.

[Commando]

As some of you may be aware, Scottsdale Arizona has some hot nights. Yeah, so I went running last night with temps hanging at about 100 degrees. I got about a mile and a half before I was soaked and had to walk most of the rest of the way to my 5 miles.. So weird! Last summer I was kicking through 14 milers through the hills and byways of Provo without too much worry and now i feel like a couch potato. I'm sure I'll appreciate the mildness through the winter, but man heat makes me pathetic.