How do you handle the little niggles?

[layzellm]

I have only completed day 2 of week 2 so far, but I am collecting a few annoying niggles. Firstly, I got a blister on my heel last Thursday, which does not seem to want to heal...(pardon the pun)… then Monday this week, I felt a tightness in a butt cheek, that hasn't got worse, but hasn't gone away either... yesterday my hip joint was aching a bit, and that has persisted into today... Is this just something you ignore as they are all minor and don't stop me running.. (Although I have had to change running shoes because of the blister) or are you supposed to stop and let little things get better?

[islandrunner Graduate]

Whenever you start something new, there are going to be aches and pains along the way. Although I run quite a bit, if I jumped on a bike and cycled, I'd expect some aches and pains.

So I'd say expect some niggles, just watch out for them becoming a problem.

Aching hips .... hip hikes on non running days ... verywellhealth.com/pelvic-d...

Plus on non-running days, do some strengthing exercises.

nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/s...

Or google a general leg strengthening exercise routine.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Blisters are often caused by movement of shoe against foot. Running socks or tighter lacing or better fitting shoes may help.

Stretching immediately after every run, nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/h... while muscles are still warm and supple, pulls out contractions, avoiding carrying tensions into the next run and also improves recovery by improving blood flow.

Learning to run teaches you a lot about your body and its susceptibilities. Doing non impact cross training on rest days is a great way to improve all of your body and its functions.