Sometimes you just need to know when to take it easy. I am a week ahead of my training schedule right now, and today I set out with the worst shin splints I have ever experienced. By the end of the first mile, I was in tears, so I limped my way back home. Slowly. When I felt the burning in the first few steps, I expected to fade away, while also acknowledging that I would be pretty sore when I got done. Turns out I was wrong. I am sad that I wasn't able to run today because I had been looking forward to it all day since the weather is so nice.
Now I just need to figure out why I am starting to have such terrible shin splints. I believe there are two possible sources. I have recently invested in a new pair of running shoes, but I didn't go to a professional running store. I thought I would be ok picking out shoes on my own this time around. I live near a large outlet mall, and honestly I wanted to take advantage of the lower price. I hope the problem is not the new shoes I purchased. I also recently purchased a pair of running compression socks. I wore both the "new" shoes and the socks on my long run Sunday, and I felt great when I got back. I noticed some soreness in my shins and calves on Monday and even more today, but I thought I'd be ok to run. As I already told you, I was not ok to run.
I am going to take it easy today instead, and I am going to start making sure I do my long runs on Saturday like I am supposed to to give my body two days off afterward. I have also looked up some stretches that I will start doing before I run. Do you get shin splints, and how do you treat them?
I got shin splints every season (cross country AND track) all through high school, but I found a way (okay, my chiropractor told me a way) to get rid of them. Sit with your legs stretched out but together, and move your toes back and forth as far as you can. It works much better if you can have someone put pressure against you while you push (like they would pull your toes while you tried to push them up, and they would push your toes while you try to push against them)... with shoes on, always! It really worked for me every time, but I know I wouldn't be able to do that now while living alone... so... you may face the same predicament!
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