Hi. Loving running 5k just now but have been getting a pain in my muscles from across the very top of my shoulders and up into my neck. Gonna have to try and give myself a massage lol.
Anyone else experienced this? Could it be how I hold myself when I run? Thanks
It could be that. Arms should be held at 90 degrees and should just brush your body as your arms go forward. Don't cross your arms in front of your body.
Running is quite a vigorous exercise when you think about it. Everything in motion, not just the legs. As you get fitter and stronger you will experience less discomfort. Anything additionally you can do to improve your upper body strength will help.
Many of us have a 20 minute soak, post run, in an Epsom Salts bath. 2 cups per bath and submerge bod for 20 mins
Thank you I will buy some Epsom Salts today 
Hi - I used to get a pain in my neck and then realised I was hunching over and also not holding my head up (as if helium balloons were above - which someone told me I should imagine). Also I now try and relax when running. It is weird as you have to consciously do this to start off with but when I can relax in my running I get the best times!
Good luck
R
Thanks. I will definitely try to relax more on next run and keep my head up
I agree with the others...maybe a little bit of tension. Sometimes I am aware that my shoulders seem to come up.. so I deliberately try to relax and shake my arms out at the side... ( Like Laura used to tell us to do..) it seems to work...
I have this problem too, and I think I hold up my shoulders too high and too rigidly. I suspect part of the reason for this is my breathing, and I am trying to work on "belly" breathing - concentrating on the downward expansion of my abdomen as opposed to filling the upper chest (and concomitantly lifting the shoulders). As I understand it this should bring the additional benefits of using more of the lungs, and helping me feel more relaxed. So far I am finding it difficult because of the tension of my abdominal muscles. So it's an ongoing project
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaph...
Additionally, if you have a foam roller, you can massage your neck with those, and it's rather pleasant! Just lie on your back on the floor with the roller under your neck and your knees bent, feet on the floor. Very gently trace a figure 8 with your head. More vigorously, you can do the tops of your shoulders (upper traps) by lifting your bum with your shoulders on the roller, hands clasped behind your head. Push with your feet to roll the shoulders slowly over the roller (be careful not to roll onto your neck).
If I'm finding the run a little hard the first thing I notice is my shoulders have risen and I have shortened my neck, it is my response to stress, my go to position if I feel out of my depth. When this happens on a run I slow down a little a shake my arms a bit until I can feel the shoulders relax then carry on but keep an eye on it as they have a habit of creeping up again. I was once given the advice that if your having trouble in that area place two tennis balls in your arm pits and walk around for a while, this helps to align the neck and shoulders as it is hard to not be in the right position. It's a strange look but it seems to help.
I watched some videos of the Alexander Technique and I found that that helps me to run with a more relaxed posture
Thanks I'll look into it
Muscles work in groups and when you build up tension in your shoulder, it is likely that your biceps contracts too so that your arms are bent at a tighter angle.
For the same reason, if you relax your arms - which some people find easier than trying to act directly on their shoulders - your shoulder and neck muscles will relax too. 
W4R2 - a pain in the ass!
Pain in the ........
It's official! Grad Run and 6 Strava Medals! :D :D :D :D 
Pain in the heel
below the neck, blergh
