advice needed from runners/joggers please

[lewis1641]

joined a gym last year and when i jogged i was regularly getting shin splints. I put it down to being overweight and not a natural jogger so carried on through the pain.

i rarely get them now but recently i keep pulling my left calf. i warm up and stretch before i start and i do interval training so 2 minute warm up then 7 lots of 1 min @14kph/ 1 min @7kph then a cool down .5% gradient

whenever i pull it i cant run on it for a while. last night at the gym i was doing my usual and started to feel it twinge slightly so i slowed right down to a walk.

next day both calfs are hurting when i walk. it feels like if i tense the muscle it will instantly cramp.

any ideas how to cure/prevent this?

one person has suggested it is my trainers as they are not "real" trainers

 

[Raging_Bulls]

Trainers don't have anything to do with it. I run both with trainers+sneakers or tactical pants+boots, and it doesn't make much of a difference.
I have problems with my right knee, and the difference to me is hard to measure. Perhaps I can go a quarter mile further with trainers+sneakers, but then again I'll probably burn a lot more calories in the same time with pants+boots.

Proper (light) trainers will make you last a (very) tiny bit longer because your muscles have a bit less work to do. However that's a marginal amount, especially when it comes to pants.
The footwear has a much bigger impact, both in terms of weight and fit/shape.

You might want to consider that stuff that road cyclists put on their legs. It really helps to get (and keep) the muscles warm.
Shaving your legs is advised for the best effect and least amount of cleaning afterwards, but I've used it plenty of times without shaving.

If even that doesn't help, I'd suggest looking for a doctor that specializes in sports injuries.
That might be a bit more expensive, but they can set up a training schedule and properly adjust it if you still have problems.

 

[Gruff]

My Mrs started running last year and started to suffer from bad shin splints.
A friend suggested that it could be her trainers (they weren't running ones) so she went to a good running shop and they looked at how her feet landed as she ran.
They suggested a few different shoes and surprisingly they weren't all mega expensive.
She bought the middle priced ones & it cured the problem

She now does 5 & 10K runs with no probs.

She was also told NOT to run through the pain as more damage can be done but to rest as soon as you feel the pain.

 

[lewis1641]

Thanks for that. Just to clarify, when I say trainers, I mean training shoes, rather than training pants

 

[IDB1]

Decathlons 'Kalenji' running shoes are very good and under £15 last time we bought them.

 

[Raging_Bulls]

Thanks for that. Just to clarify, when I say trainers, I mean training shoes, rather than training pants

Ah, ok. I assumed you meant the pants. Thanks for the clarification.
Yeah, it could be those indeed.

However the most important bit is not which type of shoes you use, but it IS important how they suit your feet. As I highlighted in my own example, full-on boots can be just as good, albeit a bit more tiring.

 

[Russell]

I would recommend a gait analysis at a proper running shop.

I had mine done and as a result of the analysis, I was recommended Brooks Adrenaline GTS shoes as they provide good stability to correct my apparently unstable feet and ankles!

Had I not have had the analysis done, like most people, I would probably have just set a budget and bought whatever Nike/Adidas shoes came in at the right price. I would certainly never have brought Brooks trainers.

Anyway, all this waffle may or may not help you, you might need to stretch more? Daily rather than just before/after exercise?

You might just be overdoing it and need to lay off for a while?

One of my running buddies who suffers with sore calfs/shins, swears by compression socks (the ones that come up to the knee) to help him.

I'd say get your gait looked at and treat yourself to the 'right' shoes, take it a bit easier for a couple of weeks and work from there.

I'll add a bit more... if you're only jogging at the gym for exercise and not because you actually like it or want to run a 10k or whatever, then why not just stop altogether and substitute a different exercise that doesn't stress your lower legs like this? Plenty of other ways to improve your cardio performance and lose weight without pounding the f*ck out of your legs three times a week

 

[cchris2lou]

lack of fluid , and more stretching after exercise maybe ?


my new running shoes :

very light and brilliant off road . never bothered with gait analysis .

hoping for 21.30 at my local parkrun in the morning .

started running last year and really struggled at first, but slowly getting there .

 

[porkypaw]

I have the same problem but it only happens on treadmills, feels like somebody has jammed a knife trough my calf and I have to jump off, then the following few days I have trouble walking and climbing stairs without pain.
I tried warming up and a power walk before turning up the pace a bit and the same thing happens.
If I go out running on proper ground don't know why but it does not happen.

Sorry I can't explain whats going on but I would try a run off the treadmill and see if things improve.

 

[Russell]

I have the same problem but it only happens on treadmills, feels like somebody has jammed a knife trough my calf and I have to jump off, then the following few days I have trouble walking and climbing stairs without pain.
I tried warming up and a power walk before turning up the pace a bit and the same thing happens.
If I go out running on proper ground don't know why but it does not happen.

Sorry I can't explain whats going on but I would try a run off the treadmill and see if things improve.

You're suffering from a repetitive type injury that's quite common with treadmill runners.

When you're running on a treadmill, every single leg stroke is the same, the same speed (unless you're constantly playing with the +/- button!), the same stride length and hitting the same surface, thus constantly stressing the same muscles and causing injury.

You're not feeling the same discomfort on the road because you're constantly adjusting your stride length and pace to suit the conditions, going up and down kerbs, inclines etc and the surface underfoot changes.

You can go some way to avoid it on a treadmill by playing with the speed and incline functions but why do that when you could be outside enjoying the weather?