New to the group - not so new to the plan

[AliM]

Just about to head out on wk5r3 and found this group - just what I needed for some extra motivation!

I've done the plan before, this time last year, but ended up stopping due to shin splints (my technique and shoes were awful so no wonder!). Knowing that it can work really helping with motivation at the moment. I just hope the shin splints don't come back when I start getting up to those longer distances. Any tips?

[Mummysaurus Graduate]

Shin splints are quite normal in the early days due to lots of new muscles being used especially the calf muscles, but are normally caused by over striding or wrong shoes or bad form so if you have good shoes try running with a shorter stride and maybe try softer surfaces like trails or grass and see if that helps, doing calf stretches after your runs can also help

[AliM in reply to Mummysaurus]

Thanks! Will definitely try this. Come to think of it, I may have been over-striding.

[Nerdio Graduate]

Welcome back.

Shin splints are horrible. I have had them several times before. You do get through them if you just take it easy. It never ceases to amaze me as to how many new aches and pains I have had to contend with since I started running. But I get through them one at a time.

[Julia321 Graduate]

Hi and welcome! I've just finished week 8.

I've been doing dynamic stretches before every run, and I think it has helped. The six different dynamic stretches seem to get everything moving. Worth a go?

runnersworld.com/stretching...

Skip the ad and go to the video. I do them in the same order, but staying in the same spot so I can do them indoors. Put your music on while you do them to get ready to run. (I'm quite sure I don't look as good as the video, far more comedy value though.)

[AliM in reply to Julia321]

Sure my colleagues will enjoy these when I do my lunchtime run. Thanks for the tip!

[SexyBexy Graduate]

Thanks Julia 321 for the link to the dynamic stretches - something I will definitely try.

[AliM]

Thanks all for your helpful advice. Much better than anything I could find on my own. Did a steady 20mins non-stop just after I posted on Friday, so am super pleased with myself. Had a bit of a break over the weekend, but ready to get cracking with week 6 this week