Saturday, April 24, 2010

UGHHHH...Shins Suck!

Today was absolutely beautiful!  It was clear, sunny, and warm (for AK :)) and I was psyched to get out for a run.  I felt really good on Tuesday and Wednesday when I went out so thought today would be even better.  Wow, was I completely and totally wrong.  I did my usual warm up (about .25 of a mile) and then started on the run.  At first everything was fine, the first mile is always the hardest for me since my body is warming up, but then at about 1/2 a mile my shins were in agony.  I stopped and walked for a minute and then tried running again- little shots of fire ran up the front of my legs.  I honestly couldn't believe it, I hadn't had shin problems like this since I first started running.  I was pretty frustrated- all I could think of was how bad they felt and how I probably wasn't going to be able to run for like a week.  I decided that even if I couldn't run it I would at least walk the 3 miles so I could get the mileage in.  The next 1/2 mile was painful, even walking, but by about mile 2 it was feeling better and by the time I got back to my car my shins felt OK.  I think I stopped running in time to prevent bad shin splints.  I guess I overdid it a bit this week increasing my mileage.  Going from 2 to 3 didn't seem like a huge jump but when you're supposed to be building a foundation increasing too quickly can end up setting you back.  My biggest problem is that I'm impatient- I want to go out and run 10 miles now, I want to lose all of my weight now, I want to be fit and in shape now.  I know I need to be patient but sometimes it's hard.  I've decided to alternate my running days again (no more back to backs) and to also alternate a treadmill run with a pavement run to ease myself into longer distances on a harder surface.  I am going to try and stay with 3 miles though because I really do think I'm ready for that distance.  Tomorrow will be a nice 20 mile bike ride - no shin pain for me :)!

'The truth is that we can learn to condition our minds, bodies, and emotions to link pain or pleasure to whatever we choose.  By changing what we link pain and pleasure to, we will instantly change our behavior'
Tony Robbins

4 comments:

Stormee.M said...

You sound like me. Im impatient and it kills me. Last year while training for a half, I trained to hard and ended up with a ankle stress frature. I was out for 6 weeks, couldnt run the half, but I did run the 5K they had. this year Im much more careful.
Just be patient and before you kow it you will be running 10 miles and you will lost your weight :)

Genesis said...

whew, you just diverted a major road block in your journey! shin splints are the devils child!

my first training plan only had me resting 2 days so that was 5 days of running, and my shins freaked out. my current plan only has me running 3 days and my shins are singing hallelujah! and i know what you mean about being impatient. you'll get there, dont you worry.

Tricia said...

ouch, hope those shins are feeling better!

funderson said...

yuck! I used to have brutal shin splints, but I guess they finally got used to all the pounding...ice, ice, baby