Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

Well I completed my first real race in about 15 years, the bupa great run in Edinburgh, it was tough! Very hilly and narrow at places meaning that I was reduced to walking because I couldn't get past! Really enjoyed it though.
Anybody else run it?
 
Freefaller said:
No need to apologise, being fit and agile is important... but what makes you think that I'm not in spite being a bit bigger? ;)
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You're right, you can have both but it requires more dedication than I am prepared to put in! Massive respect to anyone who can sustain large amounts of muscle and have very good fitness too. I'd imagine some of these MMA fighters are like that, boxers too.
 
Did 7.28 miles in 1hr 10 earlier, slower pace than yesterday but the longest distance I've ran so far. Didn't feel as fresh as the last, felt it on my right shin and calves a bit.
 
Are shin splints usually caused by a poor running style or mismatched shoes, or more predominately by over stressing exhausted or un-stretched muscles? I've looked about on the net but it seems unclear. I hope the question isn't too medical-ish.
 
makunouchi i am in training for forces and such have had a few leg problems and at first was told it was shin splints but later been told it wasnt, il try clear this up.

Shin splints are "micro fractures" in the bone mainly the tibia/shin

These fractures are caused when trumour is caused via inpact or pounding affect along the area. For example, football/rugby and other inpact sports where shins might come under damage though hitting or being hit hard repeatedly.

As these inpacts happen the bone gets trumour and micro fractures appear.

this is shin splints. to find if you got them a simple X-ray will surfice.


I personally didnt have them but i had scar tissue builing up along my shins/tibia whch caused pain along the bone, these scars are like "little clusters along the bone as you feel down it".

ultra sound helps with this, but doesnt cure the cause only the symptom.

In the end it was found i "pronated" inwards and such stretched the shin to much though runner fast on road.

solution was to have insoles in my shoes to help this, and am currently having some ultra sound to get rid of the scars that are left:)

hope this answeres your question, feel free to ask more stuff as i am finding out more about problem you get though running as i run more and offen.

p.s how fast can you run 3 milers and 5 miles?
 
Thanks for the reply Shadowcreaper but this is getting a bit medical-ish, best bet is for me to go into a running shop and see if my trainers are right for my running style I think.
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dont go into running shop!!

first thing my doctor/phys said was running shoes from running shops DO NOT CURE NOR STOP inbalance or over pronation.

he told me that many people go into running shop and buy 100 pound shoes ect and then end up having a useless shoe with tech inside it which does nothin at all.


i suggest BEFORE you buy a shoe, see a GP/phys about the problem then let them tell you what to get.

in running shops they have no medical know-how and only after a sale most of the time, also most running shops who messure your pronation will use a machine to messure you as you run on a treadmill which doesnt give a proper estimate.

lastly and most important.

the shoes you get from running shops ie "support shoes" which have a raised section either inside or outside of shoe DO NOT WORK PROPERLY.

as i was told, how can a "support shoe" properly support your feet as each persons feet/knee is different and acts differently when running.


I suggest that you consult a GP and physs before getting a shoe, and if you must get a running shoe get a neutral shoe then have the GP/physs put a "orthotic" inside it to support the foot.


hopefully by the time you read this you havnt allready bought a exspencive support shoe.:eek:
 
I wasn't going to be buying another pair of shoes in any case mate don't worry, I can't afford to, I just wanted to know if the shoes I have are right for my gait. But your advice is good advice, I think I will do as you suggest.
 
A little devil's advocate - how many GPs are going to be specialist enough to offer solid advice on biomechanics and the like? I guess you might hit it lucky and find one who is a runner or is interested in this area, but I'd leave my GP to fix other problems.

There are specialists out there if you have a look around. I only know of these as they are local to me : http://www.sub-4.co.uk/
 
Great post!!

I used to cycle for 30 min in the morning until 1 day I thought I would give running a go. I thought my legs where fit :)..I must have ran 3/4 of a mile and could not move for 3 days after :(.

This was 6 weeks ago. I now run 5 times a week at 6am before work for about 3 miles. All it takes is getting up 1/2 earlier for work!

Not only am I fitter but I am a lot more focused for work.

Running becomes very addictive once you get past the honeymoon period.
 
#Chri5# said:
A little devil's advocate - how many GPs are going to be specialist enough to offer solid advice on biomechanics and the like? I guess you might hit it lucky and find one who is a runner or is interested in this area, but I'd leave my GP to fix other problems.

There are specialists out there if you have a look around. I only know of these as they are local to me : http://www.sub-4.co.uk/
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the point being the GP will refer you onto a physs.

those "specialists" tend to be not that good and waste of good money.

the only specialists i know who are good at doing these sorts of biomechanics are the ones who the forces use.

see GP then get refered onto physs.
 
shadowcreaper said:
the point being the GP will refer you onto a physs.

those "specialists" tend to be not that good and waste of good money.

the only specialists i know who are good at doing these sorts of biomechanics are the ones who the forces use.

see GP then get refered onto physs.
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How do you know the person the GP refers you onto is any good? ;)
 
How do you know the person the GP refers you onto is any good?
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becuase if they werent they wouldnt have a job....

most NHS physs have to have a decent standard of care, and tbh i seen a few privite and NHS and tbh the NHS seem the best over the privite ones.

also just speaking to them about the problem and having a small amount of know-how about your problem ie what patella means ect or tibia ect.

this will help make it easyer for you to understand whats going on.

also most physs specialise in certain areas so ask them about that.
 
Well in the end it didn't matter, my boxing coach said he preferred me doing short sprints to running, which keeps the impact off the heel to a certain extent and the shin splints haven't flared up again. Although I can still feel it it's obviously getting better, despite me not keeping the weight off at all.
 
As a follow up the shin splints have gone but have been replaced by a tingling feeling over the top of my foot where the tendons are, and the tendons start to stiffen up if they go cold. Not good really, but I'll be buggered if I stop training for it.
 
Makunouchi said:
As a follow up the shin splints have gone but have been replaced by a tingling feeling over the top of my foot where the tendons are, and the tendons start to stiffen up if they go cold. Not good really, but I'll be buggered if I stop training for it.
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If it's whilst running it could simply be down to lacing your shoes to tight or part of the lacing pressing on a nerve/vein. Try loosening them off and play with the lacing.
 
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