My legs are killing... running advice

firstborn · 21 Jul 2009 at 08:40

denyerec said:
I tried the 5-fingers in London, they're full on awesome. However because I'm broke I'm ordering a pair through a mate who lives in the US, where they're ~ $70 instead of a billion pounds should you buy them here.
As I walk around barefoot almost all the time anyway, I don't give a monkeys about people looking at me for having funny footwear, I've been putting up with people staring at my feet already for years I just look forward to not having to wear shoes in winter when they finally arrive!

So in summary, you've only tried a pair on for 5 mins??

How much running do you do?

Zip · 21 Jul 2009 at 08:58

Shin splints.

My advice is go straight to a podiatrist.

I went to one and he solved the problem almost instantly :cool:

If you need a good show for stability then go for the Asics Kayano, tis what i wear. (Still get some gait testing down to, that will find the shoe for you and what you need it for)

firstborn · 21 Jul 2009 at 09:29

Zip said:
Shin splints.

My advice is go straight to a podiatrist.

I went to one and he solved the problem almost instantly

If you need a good show for stability then go for the Asics Kayano, tis what i wear. (Still get some gait testing down to, that will find the shoe for you and what you need it for)

If he solved them instantly they weren't 'shin splints'. The OP does not have shin splints.

Edinho · 21 Jul 2009 at 09:35

denyerec said:
For me the solution was to run barefoot.

Fixed me right up, no more shin pain, though you have to ease into it because if you've been wearing shoes forever your technique will suck and your calves will be half the size they should be

If you're wary of glass and other crap, google for Vibram Five Fingers, the KSO versions are the best and the fitting guide is spot on for the KSO's. If you can't stomach fingershoes (Which are awesome, did I mention that?) then look for "running flats", avoid anything with a chunky sole or an incline, as that will promote heelstriking and poor technique.

I wouldnt advise someone who weighs 19st to run bare-footed!

You are overweight and getting sore shins and legs if you are not used to it is normal. You need to do things very gradually AND get kitted out in trainers you need to go to a good sports shoes shop ie. NOT JJB sports and they will probably fit you out in heavily cushioned shoes.

denyerec said:
Ironically more cushioning leads to more impact damage, as your brain seeks biomechanical feedback from your soles, and you end up landing heavier. Simplest summary I can find is here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/mos...-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html , there's plenty of namedropping done in that article to get you googling for months It's never so much your weight, as how you apply the weight to the ground. Afterall, elephants don't complain of sore feet and walk for days at a time...

If you think running on a road barefooted is good for you then I wish you all the best.

aztechnology · 21 Jul 2009 at 10:34

denyerec said:
Afterall, elephants don't complain of sore feet and walk for days at a time...

They have specially adapted feet to cope with great weight, we have feet adapted to cope with a "normal" human weight..... buts that's a totally different thread.

denyerec · 21 Jul 2009 at 10:51

Ah, yeah I overlooked the 19st part.... granted, you'd want to reduce that to "normal" for your framesize first with lower impact exercise!

As for me & distance, only a few miles a day, but I'm about to get serious to make a shot at the London Marathon next year for charity. Doing it barefoot should make raising sponsorship money easier

AHarvey · 21 Jul 2009 at 11:56

Thanks for all the advice.

Swimming is something I would love to do to get fit, however, I don't feel confident enough to go until I am thinner! Silly I know.

My mountain bike has been borrowed by my younger brother for a holiday so that is out of the question.

Next best thing I think would be skipping. Going to start alternating between the two. Looking at joining a local boxing gym as well, and then also start Capoeira once i've lost 3 stone and worked a little on my flexibility.

I am going to be in shape and healthy by the time I turn 29

Zip · 21 Jul 2009 at 13:07

firstborn said:
If he solved them instantly they weren't 'shin splints'. The OP does not have shin splints.

By instantly i mean he found what was causing me to get shin splints.
Which was my feet rolling inwards when i walk and run causing strain on them.

Even if he doesnt have shin splints seeing a podiatrist wouldnt hurt and my uncover any problems he may have but not know about with his legs.

AHarvey · 24 Jul 2009 at 10:20

Well, I am still using the cheap trainers for now until I can find a local running shop however, I went for another run last night at midnight and spent 5 mins stretching before hand and then stretched when I got home. And so far, no tightness or pain

firstborn · 24 Jul 2009 at 10:58

AHarvey said:
Well, I am still using the cheap trainers for now until I can find a local running shop however, I went for another run last night at midnight and spent 5 mins stretching before hand and then stretched when I got home. And so far, no tightness or pain

Stretching after is more important. Better off doing a brisk walk before you start running than stretching imo. Then wait 10 mins afterwards and then do your stretches.

aztechnology · 24 Jul 2009 at 14:03

firstborn said:
Stretching after is more important. Better off doing a brisk walk before you start running than stretching imo. Then wait 10 mins afterwards and then do your stretches.

Unless you are already carrying a niggling injury... then stretching to warm up is also a good idea.

theleg · 24 Jul 2009 at 14:04

Do you have access to a gym? Get on the cross trainer machine...Its the fatties best friend...

and the running at night and not going swimming thing really rings bells

aztechnology · 24 Jul 2009 at 14:29

Balddog said:
Do you have access to a gym? Get on the cross trainer machine...Its the fatties best friend...

and the running at night and not going swimming thing really rings bells

Just go swimming, no-one really cares. At best they think you are doing something about it.

firstborn · 24 Jul 2009 at 14:48

aztechnology said:
Unless you are already carrying a niggling injury... then stretching to warm up is also a good idea.

There's no evidence that I'm aware of that suggests stretching before limits or prevents injury.

AHarvey · 24 Jul 2009 at 14:57

firstborn said:
There's no evidence that I'm aware of that suggests stretching before limits or prevents injury.

The way I look at it is "what harm does it do?"

simpletom · 24 Jul 2009 at 15:38

firstborn said:
There's no evidence that I'm aware of that suggests stretching before limits or prevents injury.

True, but if it is incorporated in to a warm-up then it can't do much harm. Seem to be doing more stretching than running at the moment

manic111 · 24 Jul 2009 at 15:56

Personally I always feel best when running after a warm-up then a stretch; I always feel tight if I run without doing either, but also have an issue if I do one then not the other.

When warming up it pretty much comes down to how you're most comfortable though. If you run best having stretched, then stretch. Stretching after you run is a definate yes though!

Those FiveFingers shoes look fantastic, off to the States in September so I'll try and track some down

firstborn · 24 Jul 2009 at 16:47

simpletom said:
True, but if it is incorporated in to a warm-up then it can't do much harm. Seem to be doing more stretching than running at the moment

Have you broken yourself?

megatron · 24 Jul 2009 at 18:37

firstborn said:
If he solved them instantly they weren't 'shin splints'. The OP does not have shin splints.

Love the way people can determine that someone does not have a condition based on little or no knowledge and an internet post.

I got shin splints when running on concrete and I was and still am a lightweight compared to the OP. I always run on grass now. I think partly its just something that your body has to become accustomed to, but obviously try to break into it easily.

theleg · 24 Jul 2009 at 19:29

aztechnology said:
Just go swimming, no-one really cares. At best they think you are doing something about it.

Youve obviously never been obese

Its not that easy.