The Loneliness of a Long-Distance Runner

[kinboshi]

Just wrote a massive response on my phone then lost it.

Will reply later, but basically pain = bad.

[kinboshi]

Stretch AFTER running, not before.

[kinboshi]

You shouldn't run if you're experiencing pain.  Pain means something is wrong, and your body is alerting you to it and basically telling you to stop before more damage is done.

If it's just aching you're getting after a run, or at the start of a run (when you haven't had much rest from previous exercise), then that's fine.  Also, there'll be times when you feel exhausted and on the verge of collapsing - this isn't always as bad as it sounds or feels, and you can continue unless you're seriously not well.

Do you stretch after your runs?  If not, it's advisable to do that to aid recovery and reduce the chance of injury.  Even if you do stretch after your runs, it might be worth focusing on stretches for your achillies, and doing more of them to see if that helps.  Putting a cold-compress on the area after you run might also help.  It might also be worth doing exercises that strengthen the muscles around your achillies as well.

As I mentioned above, don't stretch before a run, unless you're going to be running pretty quickly or changing direction a lot you simply don't need to stretch before you run.  Stretching cold muscles is asking for an injury.  When I play hockey, we do a warm-up for about 30 minutes to an hour before a match so that we don't get injured sprinting and extending our muscles with quick changes of direction, etc.  You don't have those stresses on your muscles when you're out for a slow-paced run (and I include the speed I run in that).  In fact, the start of our warm-up is usually a slow-paced run for a good ten minutes to get the blood flowing and the heart-rate up before we do any stretching - and then the stretching is dynamic rather than static.  Running is your warm-up!

I've only ever had 'pain' when I've run twice.  Once was soon after I started and was a problem with my ITB (iliotibial band, next to the knee). Pain was so sharp and severe that I had to stop mid-run and walk home.  Did some investigation and determined that the problem was from the big, clumpy running shoes I'd been advised to get in the shop that caused me to heel-strike.  Went and got some lightweight shoes and went back to my more natural way of running (for me) where I mid/fore-foot strike.  Pain vanished and never returned - that was 9 years ago.

The other time I felt pain during a run was after I did ligament damage to my ankle last March playing hockey, and tried to go running again too soon before I'd recovered fully.  Instead, I rested up for a few weeks longer and was OK when I eventually went out again.

Might be worth you seeing a doctor, to see if they can determine exactly what the problem is.  It might be damage that you simply can't ignore and have to rest whilst it recovers.  Maybe it's something that's being aggravated by your running; and the stretching, strengthening, running-style tweaks  could help alleviate it.  It might just be that you're doing too much, too quickly from a standing start (so to speak).  I know you're 'in a rush' to increase your mileage, but it might be your body's way of telling you to slow down the mileage increases a little and to take it a bit easier.  I know that's not what you want to hear, as it would mean you won't reach your goals in the allotted time.

[Honeybadger]

Thanks for good advice. So I will rest for a few days and see what happens. I will also google some stretches for my achilles. I seem to remember from last time there was an exercise that involved standing on a step with your foot half off it, and raising and lowering your body. Idea was to strengthen the achilles I think.

So probably won't run until after the weekend, and when I do I will be very vigilant.

[kinboshi]

Thanks for good advice. So I will rest for a few days and see what happens. I will also google some stretches for my achilles. I seem to remember from last time there was an exercise that involved standing on a step with your foot half off it, and raising and lowering your body. Idea was to strengthen the achilles I think.

That sounds about right for an achillies exercise.  Again, best to stop if it's painful at all.

So probably won't run until after the weekend, and when I do I will be very vigilant.

Shouldn't do much harm.  Could go swimming, do a bit of cycling, or even go for a walk (if that doesn't hurt) whilst you aren't running?

[kinboshi]

A very respectable 9th place - well done!

 

http://www.tr24.co.uk/results.html

Hannah a little disappointed that Big Mike only made 27th in the solos

They've fixed the times.  We're now in 6th.

[Claw75]

A very respectable 9th place - well done!

 

http://www.tr24.co.uk/results.html

Hannah a little disappointed that Big Mike only made 27th in the solos

They've fixed the times.  We're now in 6th.

  just came on to post that!

[outragous76]

Thanks for good advice. So I will rest for a few days and see what happens. I will also google some stretches for my achilles. I seem to remember from last time there was an exercise that involved standing on a step with your foot half off it, and raising and lowering your body. Idea was to strengthen the achilles I think.

So probably won't run until after the weekend, and when I do I will be very vigilant.

ice yo!

[RED-DOG]

How when and why did you get into running Boshi?

[kinboshi]

How when and why did you get into running Boshi?

That's a question! Will answer when I'm on my laptop, so I can do it justice.

[RED-DOG]

How when and why did you get into running Boshi?

That's a question! Will answer when I'm on my laptop, so I can do it justice.

 

[craigbetts]

Have been watching this a fair bit this week.

[Claw75]

I got my first pair of trail shoes today - can't wait to get them all muddy

[kinboshi]

I got my first pair of trail shoes today - can't wait to get them all muddy

Pics or STFU

[Claw75]

I got my first pair of trail shoes today - can't wait to get them all muddy

Pics or STFU

I've been warned about people like you on the internet

http://funni.ly/18MUOa2