Oh internets, I am injured. According to my expert opinion (and that of my lab mates and the internets), I have shin splints in my left leg.*
I tried to deny and even ignore my injury. This, it turns out, was a BIG mistake. I don't like missing out on runs for any reason (Yes I am obsessive compulsive about running... I log my mileage to tenths of a mile. Was there ever a question?). So when I have a little pain, I prefer to soldier up and walk it off (or run it off, as it were). I can actually run through quite a bit of pain and it kinda makes me proud. So I ran and I ran. At first it only hurt when I ran. Then it started to ache during and after my runs. It'll go away, I thought. Last Thursday I was hurting even before my run. So I told myself I would take it easy, but I actually ended up doing a harder, hillier run than usual. By the end of the 7 mile run, my right knee was feeling all weak and wiggly. Whoops.
For the rest of the day on Thursday I was limping. I couldn't run all weekend. I still haven't been able to run. This morning I tried to put on a pair of heels (because I am a moron) and found that I couldn't physically walk down the stairs in them.
ARGH! With no one to blame but my idiot self, I am feeling pretty pissy about the whole situation. It makes me very antsy when I can't run. I'll give it till the weekend. If my leg still isn't better I may break down and actually think about making a sports medicine appointment, but I suspect they will just tell me to rest it. Bollocks says I.
*My uncle, the runner, says it's the pavement that's killing me and scolded me for putting ~800 miles on this pair of shoes.
More Decisions
4 weeks ago
8 comments:
Oh how I hate shin splints. OH HOW I HATE THEM!
Perhaps it's time to do some water running for a while to let the legs heal up.
Ouch. Please do blog about what you are doing to recover; as a novice runner, I would love to know. And hope your legs feel better soon!
And tag!
They'll probably have you do some exercises to strengthen your shin muscle,too. I looked pretty stupid in lab meeting by "writing" the alphabet with my foot-- but no shin splints again!
Definitely go to the doctor sooner rather than later! Most likely s/he will give you some alternate exercises to do, so you're not sitting around doing absolutely nothing. But whatever you do, don't skimp on the recovery!! (says someone who had to have surgery b/c she refused to stop running while injured, and the injury snowballed....)
I second the vote to send you to the doctor...physical therapy should help you heal faster so you can get back to running faster.
Hope you feel better soon!
Ah. Shin splints.
1) The worst thing you can do is run through them. I know this, as a former cross-country athlete. Worst. Possible. Thing.
2) If you didn't have shin splints bothering you before, and you do now, then your uncle is probably correct about the shoes. Shoes can totally make or break shin splints. It is 110% worth it to go to a fancy running store, walk on the fancy mat thing that records the way your foot falls, and splurge and pay a lot of money for whatever shoe they recommend based on how your foot falls. It will make all the difference in the world, and *poof* no more shin splints.
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