Running Questions

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jesster64
jesster64 Posts: 109
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Started running outdoors yesterday. Spent last 4 months working on treadmill. Jogged 3 miles yesterday. Should I take a rest day in between runs? Will the pain in shins while running go away? Is it good to take flax seed oil/fish oil pills to help with pounding your knees take? Is it good to do weights with legs while training to run 5k or just work on upper body and let running tone the legs? I enjoy spinning once a week, does that affect my running? Thank you for any advice.

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  • bunnysone
    bunnysone Posts: 486 Member
    sounds like you are making a big step! Outdoor running is more challenging on your joints, better for you and better for your soul but will strengthen your legs more due to the uneven and harder surfaces. If you suffer joint pain you can take glucosomine, I have been doing that for a while now and it helps me a lot with regards to knee pain.

    If you feel like you need to take a rest day, do it. As you have been treadmill running for 4 months you would have worked out a routine whereby you probably have a few rest days - I would try and replicate that with your road running until you get a feel for how your body handles it.

    If you have pain in your shins it may be shinsplints. The ONLY way to fix these is REST and ICE. Dont run on them, just regularly ice. They will get worse and be a major problem if you dont solve the problem early.

    Weight work is good to strengthen your legs, but you need to factor in rest days if you are mixing running with weights days. Use your rest day to work on upper body if you feel you still need to do something.

    Spinning will help - I have just come back from a lull in running and to get my cardio and endurance fitness back I have been cycling (spinning) - it has worked and my body has just clicked back on!

    I hope this helps - feel free to contact me if you think I can help further!
  • diamondmum
    diamondmum Posts: 1
    Hi, i would recommend resting between runs, i run 3/4 times a week and started with a 5k 3 years ago and then completed my first half marathon 8 weeks after giving birth and im training now for my 2nd half marathon., its recommedned you do 3 shorter runs and then 1 longer run a week, also ive found interval training is good to increase your speed of running and also it reduces your recovery period. Your shins should go soon and thats another reason you should have 'rest' periods. I take glucosamine and cod liver oil for my joints and have never suffered so take some such fish oild supp. I wouldnt bother with the weights whilst running to be honest, if you want to tone them up do some toning exercises when you've done your running i buy 'womens running' mag and find its great for advice. good luck and enjoy the running.
  • bunnysone
    bunnysone Posts: 486 Member
    i buy 'womens running' mag and find its great for advice. good luck and enjoy the running.

    This is the best running magazine I have found yet - I buy it here in Australia (a bit late by the time it gets here!!) but it's worth looking up - everything is aimed at women and it is universal information (ie its a UK magazine relevant in Austs!)
  • alison2429
    alison2429 Posts: 236 Member
    i buy 'womens running' mag and find its great for advice. good luck and enjoy the running.

    This is the best running magazine I have found yet - I buy it here in Australia (a bit late by the time it gets here!!) but it's worth looking up - everything is aimed at women and it is universal information (ie its a UK magazine relevant in Austs!)

    Hi
    I have a subscription to this magazine. There is also a website that is free to join where you can get advice and tips. Similar to MFP but dedicated to women who run. Not sure if we are allowed to recommend other web-sites!! Oooops!
    Anyway I agree with the other comments about one long run and one or two shorter ones per week. It is much harder running outside so you are doing really well so far. I suffer from shin splints sometimes but I can usually run through them - I tend to get them when I have increased distance too quickly or when I don't have a rest day in between runs.

    I am also trying to persuade myself to do some swimming in between running to lix things up a bit - but I am not a very confident swimmer! Make sure your trainers are not too worn as this can cause shin splints too.
    Anyway - feel free to 'friend request' me if you want to ask any more. More info on my profile!!

    Enjoy your running!

    Alison
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