Shin splints!!!

[Mellyr85]

Please help!!!! So I've just completed run 2 of week 2 and thankfully my knees are getting use to the runs now and not giving me as much grief. However, after both run 1 & 2 of week 2, I've developed a horrible pain down the front inside of both shins. I've read up a bit on it and ordered myself some new running shoes as the ones I'm using are 6 years old lol.

Does anyone have any other recommendations of things I can do to help this problem as I don't want to stop the runs if I can help it. Thanks in advance x

[Pc59 Graduate]

That's strange I had same thing!! However I went to a running shop got my gait test done new trainers & I bought the 1000ml socks(they are double lined to stop blisters) & it worked pain went away!!! The support & comfort of trainers made a huge difference & here I am 1 run away from graduation!! So I think you will find new trainers will do the trick!!! Wonder how long it will take me to use up 1000 ml socks😂😂😂 Phyllis x

[Mellyr85 in reply to Pc59]

I don't think I've ever heard of 1000ml socks before 😂

Thank u for ur reply tho 😀 Hoping the trainers will be the answer 😀 Well done on almost graduating.

Another quick question if ok? How did u find breathing whilst running? The first 2-3 runs are ok but the 3-5 runs I struggle with and the last run at the end is tough lol, I'm on 90sec intervals at the mo and next week I have 2 3min runs 😫 Is this something that just settles the more u do? 🙂

[AndyIoW Graduate in reply to Mellyr85]

I think everyone has different ways of breathing when running. It is just a case of 'finding' what suits you. In the first few weeks it was in and out through the mouth, huffing like a steam train.

Now I have started to become more in through nose out through mouth making sure that I belly breathe. Funny that last night when out, I was concentrating more on techniques. I was in through nose every other breath and muth the others. Think its just my lungs and heart getting used to it all.

[Mellyr85 in reply to AndyIoW]

lol I'm def the huffing and puffing type at the mo 😂

[Pc59 Graduate in reply to Mellyr85]

The socks are just running socks I did the moonwalk marathon a few years back & they were great not one blister! I struggled with the breathing to start with but I think the more you do the programme your breathing settles & becomes more natural! I listen to music on my runs & I think it stops me focusing too much on breathing! Maybe you are going too fast to start of with slow it down a bit and keep a steady pace. I'm far from a fast runner I try to keep a slow steady pace but I still get breathless if I go to fast then I slow it down till it evens out. You are doing great keep going but maybe slower... Let me know how it goes with new trainers😊

[Mellyr85 in reply to Pc59]

Thanks Hun and will do 😀

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

Ouch. We need to remember that any new exercising is going to produce some discomfort and the trick is to know when it is more than that and avoid serious injury. I would recommend running on soft ground such as grass rather than hard surfaces. Now I am graduated, I can run on harder surfaces but while doing the programme I found running on softer surfaces helped a lot. Also, run very slowly so that it is relatively easy to complete the run times

[Mellyr85 in reply to JoolieB1]

There's no where near me that's 'soft' I can run on so it's pavement at the mo 😟 Hoping the new shoes will help 🙂

[eddie23 Graduate]

I've found compression socks have helped minimize shin splint pain.

[davelinks Graduate]

Not everyone can choose to run where they'd like, such as on softer ground, so good cushioning shoes good socks wether it be 1000 mile, hilly or Thorlos socks, I found pair of compression calf sleeves feel good on my legs for nagging aches & pains..😊

[runswithdogs Graduate]

I get shin splints if I walk too fast, so my walking intervals were my usual slow plod.

[MrChris Graduate]

The first time I tried C25K I got terrible shin splints - I thought I'd literally broken my legs. I was following Laura's advice and landing on my heels... I found that for me personally that doesn't work, I have to land on the middle of my feet when I run or it really hurts my shins. Maybe you're same? Might be worth looking at how you are landing on your feet. Don't get disheartened though... After my broken shins (maybe a slight exaggeration) got better, I went on to finish the program.

[Mellyr85 in reply to MrChris]

I'm glad I'm not the only one then lol and glad your 'broken shins' got better 😜

I'm going to have a gait analysis done next week so will see if I'm a heel or mid foot landed 😀. Thank u for all the advice 🙂

[MrChris Graduate in reply to Mellyr85]

No worries... I'm no expert at all but, I remember how annoying shin splints were. Whenever my legs hurt at all I think I've got them again gahhh. You'll be like a spindly Mo Farah in no time, then your feet will float above the ground. That hasn't actually happened for me... but, maybe it will for you

[Janeofash]

I'm not even running a mile yet but I get shin splints. Pain or what! Last night I tried shifting my weight forward a bit. It seemed to help. My thigh muscles then took the brunt! However that's the kind of pain I can cope with as it's just an outcome of using muscles I haven't used for a while. A hot bath afterwards helped a lot. Any new kit will be my reward once I've done a mile.