Hi All. I'll be starting week 5 tomorrow and I'm currently running with a group on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays. Some days I cannot make it to the group runs so I run on my own with the app. When I run solo I run in the forest on natural trails, but when I run with the group we run on an asphalt track. Each time I run with the group I end up having pain my knees and calves and ankles, but when I run on my own it seems to be fine. Could the running surface make that much of a difference in the impact on my body? I like the social aspect of the group, but it's always much more difficult for me. Anyone have a similar experience?
Running surface and leg pain - Week5 - Couch to 5K
Running surface and leg pain - Week5
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Yes... very different kinds of impact on different surfaces... the rail and field runs tend to be softer and more forgiving, although difficult sometimes with uneven sections and dips etc...
I have shoes for off road running and different ones for lanes/road/pavement runs...You can get hybrids that sort of suit both... After my calf tear, I was not allowed to run off road or beach runs for quite a while... the harder surfaces aided the recovery weirdly...but now am back on my fields again
Someone on here just a few posts ago, has had an injury where they need to run on the soft surfaces, i.e.. off road
So...if you are track running with your group..maybe take a look at your running shoes?
I went to a running shop to get a gait analysis and get the right shoes and they recommended a hybrid shoe so normally I should be able to run ok on both. The trails I run on are well used paths so pretty flat without a lot of obstacles. Maybe it's psychological??
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Maybe you run much quicker when you are out with the group
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Your shoes may be hybrid but even a compact trail path is going to be more forgiving than the running groups asphalt track. Sounds like you need a bit more cushioning to me?? Hope you get it sorted.🙂