Marathon Training Update – Shin Splints
I’m doing my absolute nut these days…
I’ve been doing great with my training and for the last ten weeks I’ve been slowly building to my peak which was a sixteen mile run on Thursday. I did it in good time so was in great spirits altogether.
The run itself was hard work definitely and I felt where my weaknesses were by the end of it. It was the first run in my training programme that actually had me aching after it. I was also aware of the need to be more toned up and well compacted in the abs/core area and made a pact with myself to really strengthen up in that respect.
Then on Sunday, I did a four-miler on the treadmill to give my joints a rest from the concrete. I like to combine the two, keeping the treadmill for short runs and while doing so, try and push myself a bit on time. Anyway, On Monday I woke up to my worst nightmare… the dreaded shin splints. Now I don’t know if it is shin splints, I kinda diagnosed myself.
Shin Splints cover a range of different injuries in and around the shin bone and the surrounding muscles. From my google self diagnosis, I know the pain is in my Tibial anterior muscle:
The most painful bit is that part that kinda narrows down as it reaches the ankle. I can’t walk on it for long without it becoming painful. The part where I have to lift my foot up to take another step is the tricky bit and then my foot sort of stomps down. Banjaxed.
I can cycle fine, though I had the misfortune of getting a puncture on my way to work and had to walk with the shin splints and my punctured bike for about two miles. We were like a double act, the bike and me and I was in agony by the time I got to work. I haven’t run since Sunday and it is killing me to abstain. I can’t figure out which is worse, the actual injury or having to stop training.
If it persists, I am hoping to see a physio. I am going to the gym this evening to do some leg presses and use that elliptical trainer thingy and see if I can do some strengthening exercises:
(That’s not me on it by the way! ha! no, I haven’t changed race)
I really hope this is a short term thing and that I can get back into training soon…
I’m training for Ballybunion Half Marathon (early April) and was struck down in the same way . 8 mile run
and 2 days later 3 miles uphill (all on the tread mill) followed by shin splints (I think). Out of action for the last week and its still a bit sore.
Any quick solution to this ?
Hi, as you probably know yourself, I’m no expert. I am not entirely sure now in hindsight that what I had was shin splints as I google-diagnosed myself and never went to any ‘qualified person’ to confirm!
They were very, very painful and I couldn’t walk, let alone run. My advice would be to rest for another week (2 weeks in total) and after two weeks, see if you can do a short, slow jog and build it up that way. I remember after a week it was still just as painful and I was so worried in case it wouldn’t heal by the second week, but it did, so don’t get impatient with the healing process. Just listen to your body & obey!! If it eases after the two weeks of rest, just make sure to build up your running slowly and stop before it starts to play up. If it doesn’t heal after two weeks, I would go see a physiotherapist. Mine have never given me any trouble since and I went on to do the Marathon without any hitches. Good luck in Ballybunion!