I’m trying to gauge at what point ‘normal’ aches and niggles should be taken more seriously.
I’m slowly following Juju’s plan but after each longer run either my knee or my hip flexor or my calf needs icing. Took a few days off but then the same thing happened again- ouchy knee today after 7k.
Instinct tells me to stop whinging and carry on, but increase stretching etc, however I might be falling for the sweet voice of that addictive running demon.
I think if you run to the point where you need to ice something then that should be your limit and your stop and rest signal. Of course you may ice stuff that I would ignore, I haven't actually ever iced anything though but I certainly get niggles.
I find if the niggles build up enough they put me off the run anyways, so in that they are self limiting and controlling.
My common one is the anterior tibialis or inside shin. Mine aches like it is bruised every now and again but I never get the stabbing pain some report with shin splints so I just live with it.
Thanks pinkaardvark- it might seem obvious but yes I’ll take queues from ouches whilst I’m running and not push on through. Then I won’t be as sore afterwards, durr!
Kind of felt that once I’d started I couldn’t stop until I got home, silly now I think about it! Shorter runs are a very good idea.
I agree, if you have to ice anything that is the time to stop and rest. Maybe take time off and use the time to increase stretching? I am going through a similar thing; I’ve had a pain on the top of my foot for a while, because actually running I can hardly feel it and the pain comes afterwards, I have been ignoring it but now I’ve taken time off to try and fix it. We all hate taking time off because running is addictive but it’s usually the only way to fix niggles that are becoming persistent … OK, I stop now, I have a whole load of calf raises to do before breakfast 
Oooh dear. Knees are a nuisance some times 🤨. Slow running builds legs as does the rest day. Knees have to strengthen and they do by running regularly. It’s a vicious circle isn’t it
I had a knee issue that worried me, it hurt when I didn’t run, so I made the decision to run again, after I’d been resting and seen no improvement. It was ok. Slow running and I ran it off. No trouble since, thankfully.
You could lay off a bit, do some strengthening work at home or gym and then get back to it 🙂
Words of wisdom, thank you! I’ll stop pushing for longer distances or faster pace and focus on doing it more comfortably.
Fear of the IC should be motivation enough and it’s not as if I’m competing against anyone!
That’s a very sensible approach and I’m quite embarrassed that I needed someone to tell me to stop if it hurts! Willpower needed and less of a kamikaze approach.
Oh absolutely! We have this new-found skill and start pushing it, dafties that we are. Slow running is gorgeous 👍
I’m going to try repeating that as a mantra!
Yes , thanks to folk like misswobble and others I have to let others remind myself from now on to absolutely make myself slow down.After 9 days not running due to sore shins I did the slowest run I could do without falling over this morning all on grass, so no nice river views today, but hoping very much this will work out.I too must let go of the kamikaze approach!
I’m going to trying calling it ‘ambient running’ in my head. Think I’m still in the C to 5k mindset of seeing each run as a challenge. Got to learn to relax into it.
Hope your shins are feeling better Empem.
Thanks sararara.Wishing you a mellow and ambient running state of mind.I like that.
A few niggles, am I over doing it?
Improving running when not running? 
What has become of me?
1st run after knee injury
A slow 3.5k Niggle Recovery run to re charge the batteries !
