Shin splints

[dawncoates34]

Any advice please 😀 left leg the worst. Can't stop running as am in training for half marathon am resting in between runs. Thought I might stay away from hills too. Aldo advice on where to go for assessment for trainers etc as haven't had professional advice yet. Live in North East 😊

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

Hmm -- I can see that you are Graduate of C25K. Have you had any problems with shin splints before this?? Have you done anything or changed anything to bring this on??

I got shin splints when I first started C25K - they went away after a short while and have never returned. I can understand why they would appear when we first start running - but for you now???

[dawncoates34 Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

Hi Bazza I have increased my mileage and intensity so maybe that could be the reason?

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to dawncoates34]

I have read that we should only increase one thing at a time -- either mileage or pace -- but not both??

[dawncoates34 Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

I'm gonna have a rest until sun then have another go Bazza 😀

[misswobble Graduate]

Join the club! Currently laid up cos I ran through the warning signs and kept running. Not running now though. Laid up totally. My race cancelled! There are quite a few threads on here about shin splints. Mine is probably the most recent (see Ice, Ice Baby)

If it is shin splints, get the ice packs on the go. If it's not too bad you might get away with just icing and resting. I trust your shoes are right for your feet. If not, get your gait analysed to make sure your shoes are right. My shoes were new so maybe that's my problem. I have other shoes so I can rotate them so I'm not wearing the same ones each time. Running on trails rather than on pavements will take the pressure off somewhat

You need to relieve inflammation which is where ice comes in. It seems to work like nothing else does. Even pain killers and gel were not touching the pain but ice seems to be better than anything. I think if you're not too far gone then you have a chance of racing but you have to act now. You could see a physio or sports therapist. If your GP practice is any good then maybe that would be a cheaper route to get to see a physio. it could take ages to get to see an NHS physio. I saw a physio and had ultra sound and combination therapy, which seemed to liven things up. Ouch!

I think the bottom line is that you could be overdoing things, over-using those legs. Maybe we are doing too much too soon. We want everything too soon as we want to push ourselves with our new-found skill. I got away with it during the first year of running and managed a half marathon but this year it's caught up with me. Don't keep trying to run if you're in pain. Accept you might have to have a lay off. If your race is some distance away you could afford to stop, rest and do the ice therapy and then pick it back up once you're pain free. I can't run again until the condition has completely cleared up. I can't any way. I can barely walk

[dawncoates34 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Thanks misswobble, I have increased my mileage and am running 3-4 times a week to try and get up to half marathon will rest until sunday and ice ice ice hopefully this helps if not ive got physio for unrelated issue on my back will ask her advice on Thursday

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

When is your event? If your really close and got up to the longest run you could take some time off, if your building up it still might be prudent to give yourself a week off. I know it feels like you will fail if you don't do all your runs but I promise you most people have to miss runs for one reason or another and they are factored into any training plan. I had to take some time off from my plan to rest as my body was struggling but better to rest than end up not being able to run at all for a while. There are some very informed people here who have been where you are and have some very sound advice. Good luck.

[dawncoates34 Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Thanks for reply yeah event not until sept so think I will take the rest of this week off and ice myself up haha

[useitorloseit Graduate]

Someone put this up on fb a couple of days ago. I knew it would come in handy!

runnersworld.com/workouts/4...

Hope the link works.

[dawncoates34 Graduate in reply to useitorloseit]

Thanks useitorloseit sounds ideal gonna give it a go tonight

[AdamB Graduate]

If you can afford it, I would try and get to see a physio fairly quickly. I'm NE based too - my physio charges £30 for an initial consultation and £20 if a follow up is needed. I recently had a running related injury (though not shin splints) and went privately because the waiting time was too long for me via the GP route (which is - "here, have some pain killers, rest up and come back in a month if it still hurts. Then we'll think about adding you to the physio's waiting list"). At least the physio gave me treatment there and then and gave me reassurance about what I could and I couldn't do. I prefer to get advice and treatment from someone qualified and experienced who has examined the injury first hand, rather than scare myself stupid trying to self diagnose and treat via the internet. I consider my £30 as money well spent (when compared to the GNR entry fee).

I'll see you on the start line on September 13th

[maiden_hobson Graduate in reply to AdamB]

I second what you just said AdamB. I had some ankle niggles a few weeks back and went to see a physio and I am so glad I did. I feel much better now.

[dawncoates34 Graduate in reply to AdamB]

Ahh thanks AdamB yeah I will definitely be seeking professional advice and having some rest this week. Morrisons here I come for some ice too. Good luck at the GNR

[dawncoates34 Graduate in reply to AdamB]

and... if I don't see you let me know how you get on

[AdamB Graduate in reply to dawncoates34]

I'm sure we will spot each other at the start line. There's only about 50,000 runners there

I'll be the guy looking confused (or if my last event is anything to go by, running in the wrong direction at the start..)

[dawncoates34 Graduate in reply to AdamB]

Haha definitely will spot you then!! As you can see I like to wear bright colours and a tash so you might spot me!!

[AdamB Graduate]

For gait analysis I know of 3 places around Newcastle: Sweat Shop in the Metrocentre (upstairs, red zone, near Debenhams), Runners Need in the MetroCentre (outside at Snow and Rock - near the Hungry Horse) and Start Fitness in Newcastle (top of Grainger Street?). My preference (purely personal) between the two Metrocentre stores is Runners Need because they were prepared to spend time with me and wouldn't sell me anything until they were certain it was right. I've never used the Start Fitness, though, so can't compare that shop. Interestingly, I spotted the same shoes that Runners Need sold me at a discount outlet store some 3 months later. The factory outlet shoes were about £3 more expensive than the price I paid at the running shop...

[dawncoates34 Graduate in reply to AdamB]

Brilliant will head to Metro at the weekend ahh thanks so much

[dawncoates34 Graduate]

Thanks for all the replies you are all brilliant see you all soon