Pain and aches plus feeling faint!? 😱

[Ruby69]

Can anyone advise please? I’m 69 I’ve been running since last April so for nearly a year and love it more than anything

Twice in that time I’ve had a horrible episode where I feel light headed and faint and it happened again yesterday after feeling v comfortable while running 3.5K. I got in and had to lie down for 30 mins til I recovered.

Am wondering if it’s not hydrating enough?. I used to get when at the office and went for a walk at 1.30 without eating? Or low blood sugar. I’d eaten.

Thanks for any advice

Jx 🏃🏻‍♀️

[Beach_runner Graduate]

As I understand from your post you were ok when running but went faint when you got home? Is there a chance you went from cold outside to hot house? I've done similar (although not through running) and gone dizzy. It's called "after drop" when you cold water swim. I don't know if there is an equivalent in running. Perhaps some of the more experienced runners could comment.

Apart from usual advise of warm up/cool down, run slower and hydrate, if it keeps happening it may be best to check it out with doctor to be on safe side.

[Ruby69 Graduate in reply to Beach_runner]

Thanks so much!!! I don’t think I warmed up or down properly tbh getting too cocky I guess and prob let hydration slip. But yes if it happens again I will. It was a bit scary. Ok when near home but not when 30 mins away. I must’ve looked terrible too as partner commented and he doesn’t notice anything usually. 😅

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Your issue could caused by low blood sugar, but if you had eaten in the hours before your run that is unlikely.

Hydration is crucial as pointed out in this post healthunlocked.com/couchto5... and if inadequate can cause both light headedness and muscle tiredness and aches. As a runner you need to drink 2.5-3 litres of fluids daily.

The other possibility is if you just stopped running without an adequate cooldown walk. This can cause pooling of blood in the legs, low blood pressure, light headedness and faints. This is particularly common in older runners. Depending on how hard you were running, the cooldown walk also aids dispersal of lactic acid, which can cause aches.

Warm up and cooldown serve a vital purpose, which is why elite athletes do them.

[Newfoundland59 Graduate]

Hi have you checked to see if you are diabetic. A quick yes will tell you. Also maybe have something sweet and hydrate, hopefully you’ll feel strong again soon.

[Newfoundland59 Graduate]

Meant test.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

I wonder if your blood pressure drops when you stop running? we haven’t had any dizziness but have had fun with our blood pressure machine and after a run mine can go as low as 109/59 which is way lower than a normal resting blood pressure I’m 65 so similar age