People who suffer from Shin Splints or similar!

[Mr_Kiwi]

Hi guys just had something quite amazing happen to me today so I thought I'd share.
Over the last 6 months or so I've been suffering from really bad shin splints, and could only manage 1 1.5mile run a week if I was lucky. so when I got over here I just stopped running, when I went to the gym I did cycle training and rowing machine with a bit of cross trainer thrown in.

Then today I decided to go for a 1.5mile run even though it was against my better judgement. Now before when I was running once a week I was struggling with my lack of fitness on the 1.5, I'd start feeling it about 3/4 of the way through and really have to push myself to keep going. However today I did the whole thing, and when i got to the end i felt like i could do it all over again. I didnt as i dont want to step up from not running at all to doing a 3miler right off the bat.

And now the point of this whole post: If you are injured or suffering from shin splints, take it from someone who knows, keep up the cardio training, anything you can do. While it wont help your running speed or leg strength in the same way running will, it will make it easier to get running when you can.

Cheers

[Chris1983]

I have read a few articles about runners adding rowing to their training program because the compliment each other very well. Looks as though that could be the case; I managed to take 3 minutes 40 seconds off my 1.5 mile time without running for about 3 months. I just rowed 4 -5 times every week.

Either way, it got me through my PJFT

[Dave_1987]

Nice 1,

what distance/time were you rowing to improve your score that much?

Cheers

[ofens]

Latest edition of Running Fitness (Sep 2007) has a good article on Shin Splints. Check it out.
I haven't had it but am trying to be proactive and prevent it!

[Mr_Kiwi]

Latest edition of Running Fitness (Sep 2007) has a good article on Shin Splints. Check it out.
I haven't had it but am trying to be proactive and prevent it!

good stuff, I wish I had known about it before I started running. I just thought it was just stiff muscles like you get after a hard day of any sort of exercise so i just kept going regardless of the pain and it got really really bad.

Will check out the article, Im sure its just more of the same that most of us already know from this site and researching it but it cant hurt.

Cheers

[Stinky]

I bet that was a great feeling when you found out it didn't hurt anymore

[Mr_Kiwi]

I bet that was a great feeling when you found out it didn't hurt anymore

i still get a bit of pain but i try and run 1 day on 1 day off kind of thing and then if the pain is still there have a 2nd day off, just off running but still cardio. been working so far.

[Dangermouse]

I havent done any running for a good while now becasue I used to suffer a lot from shin spints and runners knee. I may do 10mins warm up on a treadmill every so often, but nothing else. The problem with these injuries is that they are caused by repetitive and unacustomed exercise. Even someone who has spent 15 years playing football or rugby but then starts to run long distances may suffer as a result. The only way to prevent it is apply RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).

But because these injuries are caused by anacustomed exercise, the best thing to do is to work the muscles that are being denied work becasue of those injuries. Swimming, cross training, rowing, cycling, and even shorter burst of running (such as in team games) can help. After a while, gradually build up your exercise program that put pressure on your joints. Dont' go over board. Thiers no point resting for 6months then running every other day for 3miles on concrete. Start by jogging over even grass or at professional running tracks (with the rubber coverings) at most 3 times a week over alternating weeks. Even then, only do this for the sake of your joints, and not for cardio/muscular training. If you have rested properly and exericses, you will be fitter and putting your joints under strain to achieve a heart training zone may be good for cardio but will be crap for your legs and ankles. Build up gradually, and alternate your schedule to avoid repetitive exercies.

Just don't let shin splints put you off. Ideally, if you perform a proper training program from scratch ou should never experience shin splints.

Other factors include terrain, weather, running shoe, running style, warm up exerices, etc, etc. Even cycling over rough ground can affect your legs and shins, and shinsplints is not entired unheard off amongst cyclists and even horseriders. At the end of the day, your legs and feet take the impact of the ground and the pressure from your own body weight. Find ways to reduce the affect of impact with the ground, and strengthen your leg and feet muscles to accomodate your bodyweight.

[Dangermouse]

I bet that was a great feeling when you found out it didn't hurt anymore

Personally, I think shin splints are one of the most harmful things that can happen to an athletes motivation, particulary for someone who has only just started training properly and has high hopes for the future. Thiers nothing worse than building up your cardio fitness only to be denied the pleasure of early morning runs through the park because of your own f@#k shins. Recovery is an amazing feeling, but if you are a prick like me and immediately take to country lane running after 3 months, the joys of recovery can make you over confident and will lead to future problems.

[Mr_Kiwi]

agreed, its great getting over shin splints if only in a small way. I was over the moon when i finished my 1.5mile run (first one in months) without any pain and i realised i could keep going and do it again. But alas I decided to stop, no point getting this far into my recovery just to shock the system with a longish run.