I love the way running makes you feel - after!!

[Sar9]

I’ve had a strange relationship with running over the last few years.

im trying to get back into it, because I love the way you feel after a run. It’s the best high. But for the first time ever I’m really struggling with pelvic pain.

I’m stuck at week 5, because I can’t run continuously without getting floored by this pelvic pain.

This has been ongoing for a while.

I followed people’s advice, I’ve restarted the programme several times. I’ve been to the GP, had scans etc. They have no clue. I have no clue!

I’ve done a lot of reading and I think it may be pelvic floor dysfunction… although who knows 🤷🏻‍♀️

Either way, to enjoy my running at the moment, I have to run, walk, run walk and so on, else the pain comes on very badly and I have to stop running altogether and just walk.

I’ve been feeling pretty frustrated about it, so today I just moved on to week 6 which was 5 mins, 8 mins, 5 mins. With 3 mins walking. Perfect, no problems.

Any ideas what I can do moving forwards… 🤷🏻‍♀️ anyone else have this problem.

I don’t want to give up, it seems this problem isn’t going away, and I’d like to find a way to continue progressing whilst enjoying running!!!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Well that hardly seems fair but you seem to have found a solution. So jeffing is going to be your thing and nothing wrong with that! I've run continuous 5k and 10k and I've done both with unstructured walk breaks, but my fastest times, lowest heartrate and feeling freshest after have been one minute run one minute walk. Everyone of us has to find what works best for us, I hope you find the walk breaks that allow you to run without pain

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏🤗Sorry to hear that & very frustrating that your medical team can’t give you answers! However as running is something you really enjoy keep running in comfortable mode. Maybe buy some loose fit running trousers.. and as Sue suggests run/walk as it suits you… Try some S&&F in between …look for exercises that strengthen abdominal and lower back muscles… Please let us know how you get on! Xx

[EMV789]

Not a running tip, but have you tried seeing a women's health physio? They are experts in all things pelvis and are generally marvellous and insightful people who may be aware of things your GP is not!

I hope you can find a way through it so you can enjoy your running x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

You have had some useful replies...and well done you, for persevering with this.. Linking you to this...there may be useful inf there?

womensrunning.com/health/st...

Try too, butt squeezing exercises... hard to explain...imagine holding a penny between your butt cheeks... sounds weird , but practicing this can help ..honestly!

As your GP has no answers...maybe a referral ro a visit to a Sprots Physio?

[Sar9 Graduate]

thanks guys, a physio is something I hadn’t considered, but this may be useful. Unfortunately I don’t think it’s pelvic floor weakness, but more than the muscles don’t relax. But not sure how to go about dealing with that. Hopefully will get some more answers the more exploring I do.

For now will stick with run walks… jeffing is not a term I’ve heard of before but sounds like that’s for me right now!

Thanks for your support and advice. Always appreciated xx