Run Run Away

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   I’ve been running for 3 weeks now and have just started to   really look forward to getting my running shoes on and hitting   the streets. [..deleted...]   I do 4-5 miles 4-5 times a week at about 6:50/mile. [..deleted...] This is an enormous, almost unbelievable amount and pace after only three weeks ! If you continue at this stage I promise you will have your first serious injury soon and have to take off the next 6 months. [etc...] I don’t know what this guy is talking about. I’ve know severaln many people, of various ages, to run this much this fast from the first day of their life that they start running. It’s really not very fast. Some of them have long backgrounds in soccer or basketball or another somewhat aerobic sport. But others are just pretty fit all around. I would never slow down just because someone says you are running too fast. Just stretch a lot before and after you run and don’t ignore any aches and pains. If something starts to hurt more than just being a bit sore after you run, then cut back some and see if it gets better.

Well, I’ll just add that what "this guy" says is actually very good advice (and was my first impression when I read the original post). Of course it depends on what kind of shape you’re in, and on what activities you’ve been doing of late, but to all of a sudden start out running 4-5 miles 4-5 times a week at a pretty good pace is pretty careless and may just be asking for an injury. Unfortunately, certain parts of the body (e.g. the respiratory system) develop/adapt from exercise much quicker than other parts (e.g. the musculoskeletal system).  This can lead to trouble (i.e. injury) if you try to go at the limits of the quicker adapting one (which is beyond the limits of the other). Also, sometimes these aches and pains don’t show up until the level of injury is pretty serious (this also depends on how much in touch you are with your bodies, and how well you can judge how serious a certian ache or pain is). Stretching is of course very important.  But so is rest and allowing the body to recover, especially when first starting out. I’ve heard that one of the largest causes of people not continuing running is that they start out trying to do too much too soon. Getting into running is (or perhaps it should be) a long term thing, so taking a little extra time and caution to get started with it is very reasonable. Enough of a diatribe. — Milt Epstein Department of Computer Science University of Illinois

Response:

   I’ve been running for 3 weeks now and have just started to    really look forward to getting my running shoes on and hitting    the streets. [..deleted...]    I do 4-5 miles 4-5 times a week at about 6:50/mile. [..deleted...] This is an enormous, almost unbelievable amount and pace after only three weeks ! If you continue at this stage I promise you will have your first serious injury soon and have to take off the next 6 months. Even assuming you are in excellent condition, having done other kinds of sport it is too much for your bones and tendons, and they will tell you soon. You should realize it takes a considerable time to adopt your body to this mileage. You are probably very young and want to be good as soon as possible. Slow down ! Consider learning running as a long term job. Set your goals not to next month but to next year ! Life is long enough, you have the time. If one year is too long for you try another sport, not running ! Wolfgang —     … always look on the bright side of life … (Monty Python) GMD-FIRST an der TU Berlin              German National Research Centre Tel. (Berlin 030) 6392-1908                 for Computer Science

Response:

  I’ve been running for 3 weeks now and have just started to   really look forward to getting my running shoes on and hitting   the streets. [..deleted...]   I do 4-5 miles 4-5 times a week at about 6:50/mile. [..deleted...] This is an enormous, almost unbelievable amount and pace after only three weeks ! If you continue at this stage I promise you will have your first serious injury soon and have to take off the next 6 months.

[etc...] I don’t know what this guy is talking about. I’ve know severaln many people, of various ages, to run this much this fast from the first day of their life that they start running. It’s really not very fast. Some of them have long backgrounds in soccer or basketball or another somewhat aerobic sport. But others are just pretty fit all around. I would never slow down just because someone says you are running too fast. Just stretch a lot before and after you run and don’t ignore any aches and pains. If something starts to hurt more than just being a bit sore after you run, then cut back some and see if it gets better. -Brian

Response:

Hi, I’ve been running for 3 weeks now and have just started to really look forward to getting my running shoes on and hitting the streets. I have however begun to notice an increasing soreness/tenderness in the inside of my left ankle.  Should I continue to run on this risking injury?  Or should I reduce my distance/frequency? Is there a set of helpfull stretches I can do before or after running that will specifically target this area? Anyone got any suggestions? Some info: I do 4-5 miles 4-5 times a week at about 6:50/mile. Run on the outside of my feet. All my running is on roads/pavements. Shoes are Saucony Jazz 4000. I’m 5′ 11.5" and weigh 144 lbs. Nick. Nick Dawes        < System Support Technician             _o     o telephone:        (0382) 307839                            {_<    <<

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