Running Help

Virginia90

I am about to give up.

I bought running shoes a couple weeks ago, but they were tight and made my feet hurt a little. I returned them, went to a running store, had a professional evaluation, tried on several pairs of shoes, and finally found a pair that wasn't too tight on my feet (I apparently have a bunion on one foot, and wide feet). I ran for like 30 seconds on a treadmill in them, and they seemed to be okay.

Today is the first time I've gotten a chance to really run in them. I'm on day 2 of C25K. Today was horrible - the bottoms of my feet were hurting a lot, my shins were hurting (didn't happen with the first pair of shoes!), and even my calves started hurting. I had to stop after only 5 of my 8 intervals.

What is wrong?! Is it the shoes? I only have until Thursday to return them if it is. I can't believe I was in way more pain than I was with the first pair. It wasn't just being sore pains, in fact it's been several days since I've last even worked out because I've been sick.

Please help because I really don't want to give up.

frogman4591

I just finished Week 7 of the C25K program. the shoes I wear are Mizuno Wave 7 running shoes. They took a while to get used to because they are so light and flexible compared to the walking shoes I have. But I do really like them. I wear a 9-1/2 shoe, but with these I wear a size 10. Make sure that you get what is really comfortable for you.

Sweet_Pandora

Don't give up. I would suggest you go back to the running store where you bought them and tell them what you are experiencing and see what they have to say.

Best of luck.

Karen

jskaggs1971

I've found that every time I change shoes, I have some transient aches and pains until my feet and legs get used to the new shoes. That said, check with the running store. I recently had to return a pair of shoes that were great during short stints on the store's treadmill, but miserable after 2 to 2-1/2 miles on the street. Luckily, my local running store has a very liberal return policy, and they were perfectly happy to exchange shoes with 10 miles already on them.

I guess the real question is: muscle aches or joint pain? Personally, I'd give the shoes another chance if the aches are muscular. If the pain is in joints, that's a sign to me the shoes aren't working. Keep in mind, I'm no expert, so go with your gut feeling.

karley511

This is just from my own experience but the sore feet will get better. The shin pain sounds like shin splints but that has more to do with stretching before and after your run. The bottom of my feet hurt so bad at first I wanted to give up. I did go from my Nike Free Run 2 shoe (minimalist) to the Asics Gel (more supportive) shoes. I still wear my Nike's but only if I'm doing 3 miles or less. Anything longer and my feet need more support.

muddyventures

I wear brooks adrenaline, with a hearty insert, my feet are slightly wide and I have high arches...before that my legs and knees always hurt. I've been in this brand for a year and unless they change design I won't wear anything else. The right shoes make all the difference, and socks help too!

Virginia90

I have no idea what kind of pains these are. I don't even know if I'm running correctly. I'm feeling so discouraged. Running was so easy as a kid. Ugh.

dsak

Don't get discouraged! I would go back to the running store and tell them exactly what you are doing and where it hurts. I don't think you should feel any pain with new, proper fitting shoes.

For me, even with the wide shoes I tried on, they still felt tight in the toe/bunion area. I ended up getting a pair of men's shoes because they were wider in the toe box. Love them!!! I have the ASICS Gel Nimbus.

jskaggs1971

Stick with it. It gets easier. You're using muscles in new ways that they aren't used to yet. The aches and pains will generally diminish with time. I had shin pain up through week 3 or 4 of C25K, but with stretching and training, the shin pain eventually went away, and my usual run is around 3 miles now. You can do it too.

Put ice on the stuff that hurts, take ibuprofen if you're sore, drink plenty of water, and stretch well after a workout, especially your calves and tibialis muscles.

Calf stretches: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-287--8969-0,00.html
Tibialis Stretches: http://www.livestrong.com/article/358332-how-to-stretch-the-anterior-tibial-muscle/

Even experienced runners get shin splint pain sometimes, especially when increasing mileage or starting up again after some downtime. Shin and calf pain is VERY common in us newbie runners.