Leg pain

Ugh, I keep getting muscle pains in my lower legs, not quite shin, not quite calf, sort of in between on the inner side. Now I have new trainers that will apparently help but my first two runs in them have been a struggle and have set me back a couple of weeks - I was happily starting week 6 but now feel like I need to go back to week 4's shorter bursts of running, as 8 minutes in one stretch is too hard. Anyone else had this trouble and fixed it? If so, how?! It's ruining my runs. 🙄 Any advice gratefully received! Thanks!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

No advice, but if it's bad get it looked at by a professional

[Naturesweapon Graduate]

Hello! Sorry to hear you are experiencing this discomfort. I am not sure what to advice, except, are you running slow enough? Really, really slow, snail pace 🐌🐌🐌 like it takes a while to overtake people walking... That alone seems to keep me going and that is the adjustment I had to make to finish the program avoiding sensations of knee discomfort creeping up. Hope it works for your pain too! All the best! 😊

[nowster Graduate]

If this doesn't go away on its own, a physio may be able to identify the problem.

What sort of new trainers have you got and what influenced your choice of them?

[Hidden in reply to nowster]

Hi, they're Asics GT1000s. I had Asics Gel Nimbus 24s with insoles from a podiatrist, but the guy in the running shop (very good, knowledgeable, used to be a sprinter so I felt certain he knew what he was talking about) said the Nimbuses were far to soft for me I'd been pronating anyway despite the insoles. So I've done away with the insoles altogether and gone with the GT1000s which have built-in support and a more solid sole. I can feel different muscles working, and they aren't as springy as my old ones, which doesn't help, but the interior shin/calf pain hasn't improved yet.

I should say, I completed C25K about 2.5yrs ago, but due to health issues have had to stop running a couple of times. This is my 3rd time going from wk1 and building up - I've not had this much trouble before!

[nowster Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I have a guess as to what's happening. Your new shoes are a bit of a change and you're adapting.

I had (repeat had) the flattest of feet. After decades of wearing insoles and narrow toe box shoes I had a bad experience with a new set of insoles (they gave me blisters) I went totally the other way and switched to barefoot shoes. My flat-footedness was due to excessive mobility.

It took me about six months to make the switch to full time wearing of these new shoes with wide toe spacing (I won't say a toe box as they have individual toes), zero drop, minimal padding and no support whatsoever. Madness? Yes, but there was method in it.

Because I had no support from an orthotic insole or the shoe itself, my muscles had to work, just like yours are, and they eventually strengthened and tightened until I had arch support from the muscles and tendons themselves. The feet were still floppy, and I could still get them to go flat, but that was no longer their natural position.

And even after wearing that type of shoe full time for eight years, my ankles were not strong enough to cope with me running on them when I did C25K. Many running shoes provide a certain amount of ankle stability. Mine didn't. I sprained my left ankle on both sides and spent a painful month (and two physio visits) before I could even think of running again. (That was almost three years ago, and I'm now doing multiple 10km+ runs per week with no problems.)

My guess is that you have changed too many variables and you're going through a transition period where your body is adapting to the new mechanics.

There's a term for it in the barefoot shoes community: Too Much Too Soon.

What I'd suggest is that you go back to your old shoes with the insoles for a couple of sessions, then gradually add your new pair (with no insoles) into the mix. Maybe one in three for two weeks, advancing to every other session for another fortnight, then two of three, then full time.

Obviously, if it doesn't get better see a physio or a doctor rather than taking the advice of a random toe shoe wearing weirdo on some Internet forum.

[Hidden in reply to nowster]

Thank you @nowster! Really helpful, you've given me hope! 🤗

[Jell6 Graduate in reply to nowster]

Good answer. The last few lines 🤣🤣

[Sax64 Graduate]

So frustrating for you. Are you doing any strength exercises too? There is a strength and flex forum here on HU and you can search for so many different sorts of exercises to suit your needs. Running puts huge strains on our bodies and we need to adapt and strengthen our muscles accordingly. Hope you find a solution to your discomfort.

[Hidden in reply to Sax64]

Thank you @Sax64, I didn't know, I'll investigate. 👍