When do people find it best to move from short... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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When do people find it best to move from shorts to leggings/tracksters etc?

7 Replies

Hi

I have been wearing shorts since starting running earlier this year, but this morning my knees hurt. This has never happened before [although I have had knee problems in the past when walking] and I was wondering if others have found this? I do have some Ronhill Tracksters that I use for walking, and I was wondering if others have any experience of when is best to change to long legs?

This may be a dumb question; but I want to keep running year-round, but I really don't want to hurt my knees.

7 Replies
NewlifeLil profile image
NewlifeLilGraduate

Not sure if this will be much help, but I changed to long leggings after I pulled a calf muscle in a hail storm. Not sure if wearing shorts was the problem, but it was to the end of a 25 min run, so my legs were warm.. and then got a severely cold dousing! I'm also still nursing the calf so want to give it every chance by keeping it warm.

Basically, I do usually get very hot, but haven't found a problem with that in long legs so they will be on for the winter now.

in reply to NewlifeLil

Thanks, I shall dig the Tracksters out of retirement and see how it goes. It certainly won't be a problem, and it may just help.

Oldgirl profile image
OldgirlGraduate

Sorry can't help I run in 3/4 length capris spring, summer, autumn & winter. I don't find my lower leg ever feels the cold and I'm just too old for shorts these days.

in reply to Oldgirl

ladies are 'lucky' in that they have the choice of 3/4 lengths; us chaps tend to look, well, ridiculous in them...that said, I suspect I do look rather peculiar in my cycling lycra!

OldNed profile image
OldNedGraduate in reply to

'Ere, you sayin' I look ridiculous?? I know what you mean but I long since stopped worrying about looking ridiculous. I wear the 3/4 lengths all the time in Spring & Autumn and they're just fine. They are actually ladies ones but they fit well and if anyone stops me and laughs I just punch their lights out and run merrily on!!!

LMS2110 profile image
LMS2110Graduate

I'm another, old, 3/4 most of the year round kinda person. Only in the really freezing temps of last Feb did I resort to wearing leggings under my 3/4 so that my knees got a bit of extra warmth. I had this vague belief that if they (knees) stayed warm then troubles wouldn't come my way - doubt if I'll ever know if the doubling up for a month or so helped, but I do know that my knee/hips/thighs didn't suffer at all.

I'm pretty sure that your gut instinct and experience from walking days will inform you when it's time for longer trews - it'll likely be one of those mornings when there's been a ground frost, mist in the air and temps around freezing (that cold/wet combination) ... Guess that could be anytime from Nov to March and depending where you are running! Good luck and keep toasty warm. Linda :)

in reply to LMS2110

Hi, and thanks for the words of wisdom. My walking is mostly done in long trousers as I seem to attract all the ticks and midges in the known world to my legs, who use the hairs as a 3D climbing frame to 'access all areas'!! I don't seem to have the same problem when cycling or running ~ strange.

I shall be running in my long legs from now on, and if I get a bit toasty, then at least my old and tired knees will be looked after...

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