And, more importantly, do you really know WHY you get injured! We know the basics. Inadequate shoes will lead to injuries. Dehydration can also contribute. 'Too much-too soon' is also a culprit. Running hard before you get strong enough will also hurt you. And the thing is, if you don't know why you get injured, you will get injured again.
But what about running form (correct running technique)? Many new runners simply shuffle along and/or overstride, while leaning forward, not only wasting their energy but also creating more pressure on their knees (amongst other parts of the body).
Check out YouTube. Type in correct running form and see what's there, it's an eye opener. You can end up running faster with more energy and looking totally cool. And you can minimise the risk of unnecessary injuries.
Written by
mrrun
Graduate
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Broken toe: because we had bought a new bed and my body wasn't familiar with the extra space it takes in our bedroom resulting in the 5th metatarsal ending up sticking out sideways from my foot.... 🤬
Metatarsalargia: because steel toe capped boots are really bad for your feet!! 🤬
Any other little strains: because daily life gets in the way of running! 🤬
If I could give up work (the boots), putting laundry away (the toe) and having to do non running stuff just imagine what I could achieve!! 👍🏻🤣
During my recent run leader course I was told at had good form so I'm not too worried about it.
I do often see people running whilst I'm working and have several issues with their form mind you! 🤣
At times I think that I can get injured simply by thinking about it, prima Donna style. I know that listening to our bodies is essential but I make the whole spectacle of it. But I Do get injuries for real. I get stuff like bad knee through whacking it on a low table, lower back injury when pulling stuff from the oven and awkwardly turning to one side and hurting the Achilles by incorrectly executing the squats. Maybe I should be careful at all times rather than when just running?
Hi GoGo_JoJo, I had the same issue with safety Boots, got the PU capped ones and the issue went away, they are rated the same as steel capped so should be no reason you cannot try this too.
* On graduation at the end of August 2020. Ankle sprain. A classic "too much too soon". I was feeling good but had a little niggling feeling in the ankle that wasn't really bothering me. On my graduation run I had to dodge a puddle, must have put too much load on the ankle and it started to hurt. I stupidly kept on running for the last 2 minutes and made it much worse. On the other hand I did complete 5km in 30 minutes.
* New Year 2021. I decided to do the same route I'd done on my graduation run. I knocked about 20 seconds off my graduation time. Everything seemed OK, but two days later I did a slow 8km run and my knee started playing up. A few days later it had swollen. Resting for a week fixed that one.
* April 2021. Out for a 20km run, my left hamstring started to get tight. I had an interruption to the run at the 14km point where I had to hang around for 15 minutes, and when I tried to start running again I couldn't without pain. That passed, but in the following weeks I started to get a pulling sensation in my right groin area which wouldn't go away. Physio diagnosed it as one muscle compensating for others that weren't properly engaging. Lots of exercises and learning to change my running technique.
* One lost toenail and two black ones.
* This Sunday. Got some nasty insect bites on my bare legs, possibly whilst running, possibly later in the afternoon. They seem to be healing now but I've drawn around the affected areas with magic marker to make sure the infection isn't spreading.
The biggest change in the last couple of months has been to adopt a more upright stance and to involve the glutes more. My hamstrings have been particularly tight due to many years of desk work.
Yeah, apparently it all starts from the torso (upright) and arms positioning. Below, the glutes are the main engines in the process. Desk work causes more issues than people think, muscles quietly forget to do what they are naturally designed to do.
Ten days ago, 15 months after starting C25K, I had my first fall. Tripped over a stone on a trail and went headlong, not helped by slippery long grass and worn out shoes (now replaced.) Resulted in grazed hands, bruised shins, jarred hip and huge loss of confidence, despite completing the remainder of the run.
Tripping and falling I haven't experienced (yet). The main reason why I can never relax when breaking into gallop. I simply wait for the inevitable where I will turn into a low flying bird and land on my face.
I had a few injuries when I first started running, shin splints in week 2 of C25K, due to not wearing proper shoes. I got Achilles Tendonitis a couple of years later, that led, I believe, to Plantar Fasciitis, no reason I could see for either of those.
I was doing ok then up till the end of last year when I tripped on a raised drain cover, and fell really heavily, smashing my spectacles into my face. Black eye, grazed nose and chin, split lip, one inch cut on my eyebrow that poured blood. I sat there in a puddle of blood as passersby stepped over me....yes really... I phoned my husband, he took ages to get there, by that time two plain clothes police man had stopped and patched me up a bit. They told me I had to go to hospital... it was freezing and I had to wait outside for ages because of the virus and of course I had to go in alone. I couldn't run for a couple of weeks as I'd strained the muscles in my chest...
A passerby stepped over you? Type of sentence I can't even comment on.... Your injuries sound pretty common, they come and go but most of us eventually learn how to put them under control. Falls are something that I am yet to experience.
Also, I've only recently started linking lower back and knee injuries with incorrect running posture (wrong running form). Many amateur runners (and swimmers) never really go through technical stuff hence they fail to understand why they can't go faster, in more comfort and facing less injuries.
But, today I've discovered yet another reason why I cannot run for at least for 10 days. I'm in bed with covid. On my birthday, haha. You just can't make this up. 🤣
Haha, thank you! But here's the positive twist. Given I'm physically active my condition is much better than that of some of my friends. My cardio and lungs (general breathing) work fine, nose unblocked. I simply feel as if I'm hangover but in a different way. 😉
Thank you! I have simplified my celebrations by only really doing the big ones, so the sixtieth is the next in line. This one is just a passing moment.
Get well soon 💟I had it 18 months ago. It took a while for me to feel as strong as previously. And at least 4 months with no sense of smell!A good time to catch up on box sets guilt free!
Thank you! I must confess, I'm having it easier than many others. I haven't lost taste or smell, vague muscle discomfort vanished after a few days, my (mild fever) normalised into day 3 (now is day 5), cardio/lungs/appetite all fine. If it's not for the sore throat that really annoys me, I wouldn't have anything to complain about. Oh yes, my energy is low and can sleep for ages (I take that as a perk 😉)
My only show-stopping injury in my running career is ongoing. I entered the Bristol half marathon with a friend and decided I needed to improve my pace. I started a Garmin strength training programme and first time out, damaged my hip and have been suffering with piriformis syndrome ever since. I was prescribed painkillers, which I hated and stopped taking. I've paid for physio, which has been wonderful and given me lots of advice, techniques and exercises.
I was really angry and frustrated with myself because I'm one of the biggest cheerleaders for long slow running and I've never been worried about my pace before (hence no injuries, I believe). However, I'm over that. Being angry doesn't help; I just need to manage myself to get better!
Visiting a physio if stuck when injured is always the right choice. And it works in the majority of cases. I also enjoy long slow runs but it was only recently that I found out that my slow running technique was actually very poor and may have contributed to certain niggles. Check out this video, I often did what the instructor demonstrates in the beginning. Very interesting.
Thanks, got it. I think I've seen that one before. Being a retired teacher, I'm a bit geeky about researching my subject.
I am still able to walk my usual running routes with my dog. I spend my time critiquing the running technique I see, or just feeling insanely jealous. One of the commonest mistakes I see is runners twisting their spines and shoulders. I've filed posture away for practice when I can finally lace up my running shoes again. I've started doing pilates within the limited movement I have. That should also help. 🤞
I am a bit puzzled now. Does this mean that Japanese slow jogging is a Lazy Foot? My running style is like a fast foot shuffle/jog which was shown in another video on this forum for beginners, certainly feet going around in small circles, but not bringing the knee up high as shown here.
I see what the instructor is trying to say but for many beginners that could be a big ask. I think that the technique (and it is a correct technique) is more suited for those who can spend longer time running. I can definitely see benefits for someone going for really long runs. Shuffling for hours wouldn't do us good.
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How often do you wash your running kit?
Let's share. Do you cross train and if so what and why?
Are injuries inevitable?
