Will It Ever End...Injuries

Oy Vey...Shin Splints? Really? Seriously, I thought only newbies got those...apparently even famous athletes get them, and more often than you might think.  In fact, shin splints are actually a symptom of an underlying condition, according to THIS POST at WebMD, ermergerd! I am so over this already. 

I feel as if my body is at war with my will! I love running so much, yet right now it seems as if all the fates are against me, that is if I believed in the "fates". Last week I took off from running due to exceptionally sore inner shins.  They felt completely better Sunday when I ran, but Monday while running the horrible pains started and continued throughout the run.  Running felt fine but when I walked it was excruciating.  As soon as I got home I iced them with ice cube to bare skin to get deep into the muscle and now they hardly hurt, only now I'm afraid to run because I don't want to have it happen again.  

It could be that I need new shoes with shock absorber inserts, lol...I am not sure what to do at this point...what are your thoughts? I need some advice from other runners.  I haven't had this problem since I first started running 2 plus years ago. I'm a mid-foot striker already and as far as I know do not over-pronate, and I take short strides so I don't pound so hard when my feet land.  I always run on the road, but a few weeks ago I ran on a school track that has sand (not like sand on a beach), and I ran on that track a few times.  Could that be the problem? Ergh!

Anyhoo...I have been at the gym riding the recumbant bikes and using the Arc trainer so that I can give my shins time to recover and I have been working on my food.  I have decided to add in heart healthy fish and some egg into my diet so that I have a more rounded food list.  I was extremely limited in food choices due to the fact that I was trying to eat a limited amount of soy and a lot of vegan products are soy rich. I now try to eat fish 1-2x a week, starches only at breakfast and lunch and dinner is vegetables and protein. It has been difficult to break that snacking (on sugar foods) habit but not as hard as I thought it would be.  It is an ongoing process but I am healthier because of it.  That's a good thing.

I am going to try to run The Pear Blossom Run April 13th, but only if I can stay injury free. We shall see how it goes.  How have YOU been? Drop me a line and tell me all about it!  

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

"Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

O...Is For Over-pronation

Over-pronation is...Excessive inward roll of the foot after landing, such that the foot continues to roll when it should be pushing off. This can twist the foot, shin and knee causing pain or injury in those areas. One way to tell if you have an over-pronation problem is to look at the inside sole of your shoes, if there is excessive wear there, then you have a problem.  Two things that contribute to over-pronation are flat feet and knock knees.  

How to remedy the situation; wear motion control or stability shoes with firm mid-soles and external features that limit over-pronation.  You can invest in over-the-counter arch supports or orthotics, or see a shoe specialist and have them analyze your gait, they will often have the shoes that you need, to perform your best.  After awhile you should be able to see a noticeable difference in the wear pattern of your shoes. 

Good luck and Godspeed.  The word Godspeed or godspeed comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

"Limitations only exist if you let them"

 © 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.