Jogging/Running Newbie Questions

led6777

Hi everyone,

I have been working out and eating right since the middle of December and I have lost 15 pounds so far. I'm loving this transition and I want to keep going! I have found that the best way to burn calories in a short-ish period of time is by doing power walking/jogging/running intervals on the treadmill. I find it very challenging and gratifying. However, I've been doing this almost every day and I don't think I have shin splints, but the muscles on my lower inner calves/ankles are very sore and it was really difficult for me to jog or even go down stairs today. I know I should listen to my body and let my muscles rest since I'm a newbie still, but I don't want to take any breaks! I feel like I'm becoming addicted, and when I go to the gym and don't jog I feel like I've cheated myself and didn't work as hard as I could have. What should I do? Any suggestions for other exercises to do on days off?

AntWrig

Hi everyone,

I have been working out and eating right since the middle of December and I have lost 15 pounds so far. I'm loving this transition and I want to keep going! I have found that the best way to burn calories in a short-ish period of time is by doing power walking/jogging/running intervals on the treadmill. I find it very challenging and gratifying. However, I've been doing this almost every day and I don't think I have shin splints, but the muscles on my lower inner calves/ankles are very sore and it was really difficult for me to jog or even go down stairs today. I know I should listen to my body and let my muscles rest since I'm a newbie still, but I don't want to take any breaks! I feel like I'm becoming addicted, and when I go to the gym and don't jog I feel like I've cheated myself and didn't work as hard as I could have. What should I do? Any suggestions for other exercises to do on days off?

Rest. Don't use those days away from exercise as an excuse to start over eating.

MrsSpinks

Boxing is good cardio when you have sore legs, either using a punch bag or just squatting and punching the air!

renkath

What kind of intervals are you doing? If you are simply sore from lactic acid, maybe your interval timing is off or you aren't doing the slow as slow as necessary to get the acid out... This summer I ran about 40 K a week, but I still only do intervals twice a week (varied with longer outdoor runs when the weather allows) because they are very efficient in pushing the body. I do 3 min. 75% max heart rate followed by 4 min. 85% max heart rate, 4 times. I had my max. heart rate measured with the help of a personal trainer. The 200 minus your age is just a guideline.

If you are running in "traditional" shoes (ie with a heel that is higher than the toe bed) and landing mid to forefoot, you could actually be over extending- plantar flexing- your foot and causing inflammation.

I am a minimalist/barefoot runner, so if you are doing that, I wouldn't know how to help

Swimming is a good alternative to running if it doesn't bore you to death.

And, hey - congratulations on your weight loss!

CallmeSbo

Swimming, yoga, exercise dvds. Im addicted to www.Nerdfitness.Com