Graduated Today - But Might Have Shin Splints?

[MacDrools]

Hi everyone, I've only just found this forum after graduating C25K. Its taken me 10 weeks of consistent running to get there (with week 5 repeated 3 times!) but I made it. Been reading lots of great advice about what to do next, and I'm going to take it easy by continuing to run for 30 minutes, again three times a week, for the next 4-6 weeks. I'd like to try different routes with different terrain and scenery. I'm not too bothered about improving my pace/ getting the full 5k under my belt, I'm just happy to be running for 30 minutes.

I have started to experience some pain in my left leg that I think may be shin splints. I've invested in some Brooks trainers and I'm icing my leg after running. The pain isn't constant and comes and goes but it is quite sore. I'm wondering whether to take a week off? Would that greatly impact on my running capabilities? I know its more important to protect myself from further injury. I'm wondering whether a calf compression would help me recover?

Any advice is welcome. I'd rather take a bit of time off than end up back at the start of C25K in 6 months time! x

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Lots of information on shin splints here including how to minimise the chances of them recurring runnersworld.com/uk/health/...

We can’t diagnose, confirm diagnosis or give you any time scale for recovery without medical training and the chance to examine you, so if the pain doesn’t go please go and get checked out.

In general though, a week or two off running won’t impact your fitness at all... after two weeks the decline is gradual, so you shouldn’t lose much.

Rest is always better than trying to run through pain and making things worse... a week or two off now may save you from months out later.

Hope this helps, welcome to the forum, congratulations on graduation, and good call to come and question things rather than carry on blindly.

[MacDrools in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you for replying! Yes I'm quite concerned about making things worse and I know it's only been 10 weeks of running but I already feel like I've come so far mentally as well as physically so I don't want to cause more damage. I know a great physio so will be seeing him this week for some advice. In the meantime I'll take on board your advice and rest. Its a relief to hear that the fitness level I've managed to reach won't decline as rapidly as I thought it would by resting for a week or two. I walk 15,000 steps a day so will cut that down a bit as well and make sure I wear my new trainers everywhere too. Hopefully the physio will be able to give me a proper diagnosis and I can go from there.

[Joanney69 Graduate in reply to MacDrools]

Hope the injury is minimal & physio can sort it for you 😊

As an aside, it's not recommended to use your running shoes for anything other than running ie not just for walking around 😊

[MacDrools in reply to Joanney69]

Really? Oh I didn't realise that. I'll have to get a pair of sketchers or something then... I've only got my running shoes, dog walking wellies and high heels lol

[apatsyf Graduate]

Better to take some rest now than be off longer in the long term. I recently had four weeks off and it didn't make much difference - you can still do other activities...🧘‍♀️💃🏌️‍♂️🏊‍♂️🚣‍♀️🚴‍♀️.......

[MacDrools in reply to apatsyf]

Oh no I hope you're better now? I'm a bit gutted I have to rest after completing the program but you're right. I can do other things. Need to start weight training again, and maybe some pilates