Are some people just not meant to run

[corrie43]

I ave tried running my whole adult life and every time I get shin splints. I have tried the couch to 5 k recently and even bought special sneakers at the running store, but no luck. I end up with shin splints. Ieven get shin splints from walkingmore than a mile or so.. What am I doing wrong? I exercise in some form for at least a half hour daily...

[e.naomisandoval]

I have no idea, but me too! I got past it with the walking, eventually, but never with running. But now that I don't do any long cardio and only do high intensity interval training (HIIT), I am actually sprinting, something I never thought I'd do! I never sprint more than once a week and the fast bits are never longer than a minute, never more than 6 times. So a total of 6 minutes. That seems to be okay. Obviously, I'm wearing running sneakers. I don't think I'll ever be a runner!

[BunnySlippers]

You need (so I have heard) to stretch your legs. Especially the fronts of your legs. If you kneel with toes pointing out behind you and shins on the ground, then slowly sit on your heels, that is a fairly good stretch. There are otehrs, but trying to explain over a bb would be lengthy.
Just find lots of ways to gently stretch your tendons and ligaments, maybe even a gentle massage before running and ice after.

Also walking around on your heels for a bit everyday is supposed to help greatly.

I had shin-splints so bad I wanted to cry for the first 15 minutes of my run and for hours (sometimes days) after. Not running was not a choice at the time. White willow bark and ice was a blessed discovery for the pain.

I have not had a run in a few months, but will for sure start off much slower this time, do a warm up, stretch, run, cool down, stretch in order to avoid future problems. Hopefully that sort of routine works.

[Gena 22]

I have run at various points in my life. So has my father, who I take after. We're both fit and very athletic. But, at different points in our lives, we both had to admit that running wasn't good for our bodies.

For me, I did some good running in law school. Some to get in shape for my wedding, but not much. Needed a good hobby and way to get in shape PP, so I thought I'd work on a lifelong dream of running a marathon. Good shoes, good warm up. Great attitude.

But within a week, I had hurt both ankles badly. I could walk, but not run without lots of pain. Took over a month to heal. Then I remembered. Every time I'd run in the past, I'd given it up because of ankle issues.

So maybe I could stretch and do special exercises and build up to running again. But instead I made the really hard decision, I am not built for running. I'm big and strong, and an excellent rower amongst other things. Running is bad for my joints. My Dad blew out both knees. I don't want to do that too.

Sad but true. Some people are definitely not runners. No matter how hard you want it. Work with your body. Find something low impact. Like rowing!

[Geofizz]

The stretches above help. Ice and ibuprofen help, too. Your muscles that help raise the front of your feet are weak, which is why you get the shin splints.

To help out:
*Slow down. Jog more slowly. Walk a bit more slowly.
*Work up slowly, adding 10% a week. If you are walking 3x a week, 1 mile at a time, make it 1 1/4 mile one walk the first week, do it for the second the second week, etc, until you can add in a 4th day of walking a mile. Then work up to 3 miles each week. <-This is a really conservative plan and will take a long time to get there, but builds habits and muscles slowly.
*When they are totally rested and done being sore on the shin splints, a few times a day sit straight in a chair forming a 90° angle at your knee. Place your hands on your knees and rock your toes up and down, keeping your heels on the floor. Do this just a few times each day, slowly building up to doing it 15-20 times in one sitting. This will strengthen those weak muscles.
*Start c25k once you can walk 3 miles. The c25k becomes bursts of energy within your 3 mile walk. But ignore pace. Those "bursts" don't need to be speed, just the change in gait that happens when you jog vs walk.

[corrie43]

Ok so my daughter and I just did a 5 mile 2 hour walk up a mountain sunday and just a few tingles in my shins, so I think I have definitely been getting better and working up more stamina since the last time I tried doing anything like this. I have been exercising steadily for about 3 months since I tried the first c25k week.

I feel like I will try running agian, but if it hurts I will just accept I am a walker and live with it...LOL No shame in walking...

[AllyRae]

Running is not for everyone.... I have never been able to be a runner. For some reason, it was hugely uncomfortable for me and I couldn't do it for longer than a couple minutes. Even in college where I worked out 2 hours a day as a jazz/hip hop dancer and a college cheerleader I still couldn't run. Today, I do 3-4 hours of martial arts a week which involves at least an hour of flying jump kicks, and I *still* can't run. :

[Violet2]

I am not a runner, not shin splints, but my calves are a hot mess. Also, I run like a hippo missing some limbs. It's a sorry sight.

What I do now is interval training. I run a bit, hop, gallop, chasee, do some front kicks, lunges etc... alternated with walking. Great workout, my favorite actually, and not as much of a strain on my legs.

V

[corrie43]

well I decided to start REALLY slow and did two one minute intervals of jogging during my treadmill walk just to see how it went. The amazing thing was I was not winded at all but I stopped because my legs were beginning to feel the strain in my shins. But this morning I am not in pain. So that is a good sign. I may just keep walking and add a minute or two of jogging here and there and see how it goes. I am going to try different things like the bike and eliptical too and see if I like those and rotate each day. I do like my cardio videos and I love walking so I will definitely keep doing those too.

I don't know why I have always had this dream of running a 5k? Maybe because I was always such a bad runner even as a kid I just want to prove it to myself I can do it.. But I have to say I have gotten in so much better shape in the past six months even if I can't run I am still proud of what I can do.

[veronicam]

I had shin splints in college when I played volleyball--I know your pain. One thing that helped a lot is getting my shins taped. Look up sports med taping methods for shin splints. That provided some relief. And then afterwards, I would stick my legs in an ice bath (or an easier way is freezing a couple dixie cups full of water, ripping off the edge of the cup and rubbing the ice on your shins).

[corrie43]

So I went ahead and tried running on the treadmill yesterday and did the week one day one of couch to 5 k. My legs feel ok this morning, but I will see how they feel as the day goes on, thats when they seem to ache..

[Jend1002]

I had shin splints too, many years ago, but then saw a podiatrist that fitted me for custom orthotics. I have never had them since. In my case, I have very high arches and my foot rolls ever so slightly inward with each step, causing the muscle in my shin to strain. The orthotics prevent that.

Just a thought - and if you have medical insurance, they are typically partially or completely covered. I still believe not everyone may be into running, but if you enjoy it, this may be an option to consider!

[tracymom1]

My trainer (who was specifically for running) told me that shin splints are directly related to either 1 or 2 things - shoes or stride. Since you said you have good shoes, have you had your stride evaluated? Once I had that done, my shin splints completely disappeared - even though I keep upping my mileage. Heel-toe, straight spine, head floating on your shoulders, etc... good luck, I know they totally suck!

[corrie43]

I do think my stride probably is awful. I know in bootcamp I marched all hunched over and it was when all my problems started. I do run hunched a bit too. But I have been doing yoga too and I think my core muscles are stronger this time around. I did day 2 of couch to 5 k today and still no pain yet, just slight tingles but nothing too bad. SO maybe there is hope??

[SeekingJoy]

As someone with a similar interest in improving her stride like the OP, what can
be done at home without a trainer?

[BunnySlippers]

Originally Posted by SeekingJoy

As someone with a similar interest in improving her stride like the OP, what can
be done at home without a trainer?

There is a good youtube video on how to run. I cant remember the name. Its a guy or an animation of a guy on a treadmill and they do animations, and explainations on the stride, landing, ect.. I really found it helpful and not to boring.

[Sharlla]

I can't do it. hurts my knee and ankles.

[OkiMom]

Corrie- I was prior military and I had to really work on my running when I got out. I could run but my stride was all messed up from being forced to run at other people's paces. I haven't ran in a while but Id work on form if I was you and go from there. Oh and don't try to start to quickly! About 5 months ago, I thought I could run 3 miles since I use to do it daily in the miltiary.. I forgot it had been almost 3 years since I got out and between pregnancys and births I hadn't run much since. I didn't make it and my legs/shins were killing me. Not in a good way either. So I had to start smaller...
Im pregnant now so Im not running (morning sickness isn't conducive to working out) but I plan on starting to run again after the baby comes. Im going to start with 1 minute jog/4 minutes walking for 30 minutes not measuring distance at all and work myself up from there.

[corrie43]

I have been working on standing up straighter and I have only been running in one minute stretches and it seems to be going ok. I have improved my fitness level a lot since the last time I tried to run. I think alot of it is slowly building up instead of jumping right in.. even the couch to 5k program was too much for me a few months ago..

[yippiehippie]

Corrie, you should get your bootie back to the c25k thread!
There is hope, i'm on wk 5 and have always battled w/shin splints too. They are still hurting a little when I run, but at no other time. I ice them if especially sore during a run and take an extra day or two off. I always stretch immediately after running, too. My main problem is my feet are too flat so when I am standing I try to lift my toes, which is supposed to help flat feet. I've also heard to really try to relax your feet and toes when running and that does seem to help.
A pp said to stretch your shins by sitting on your heels w/pointed toes which is good, but also do it w/flexed feet to stretch your feet (plus it feels really good)