Where do you draw the line...

Alexis256
Alexis256 Posts: 9 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
...between "no pain no gain" and "my body's telling me to stop"?

I generally run 3-4 times a week between 2 and 5 miles. I'm following a program to run a half marathon in November and increasing my mileage weekly. I'm a reluctant runner, so I have to push myself for pretty much every run, but I've stuck to my program even when I haven't felt like it, had blisters, etc... and been fine.

Today I went out for a 3 miler and was a mess--my legs felt like lead (which happens sometimes at the outset but goes away) the whole time, I had pain in my back, cramp in my calf. It was humid and I was running into a steady 15mph headwind, but nothing else was unusual. I ended up stopping halfway through, and am just wondering if that was the right decision in case it happens again. I usually try to listen to my body, but since I'm not athletic or super into running, I don't know if I should've pushed through.

Thanks for your thoughts!

(PS: I am due for new shoes and have them on order)

Replies

  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    good question. i dont really know what the answer is because as a former athlete i have a better idea of what my physical limits are than someone who's never been PUSHED . i also know the difference between good this is progress pain and bad i'm about to do damage pain.

    generally speaking, i guess i mainly go by how my joints feel, how long it takes to recover, if it affects my sleep at night. any SHARP SUDDEN pains are bad and i listen to those and will stop. slow dull muscle aches i tend to tell myself to suck it up princess and work through it
    .

    are you hydrated enough? how's your electrolytes? those things will also have an effect on how your runs feel and muscle cramps. i find having so coconut water helps with that.
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
    my general rule is if it is fatigue, soreness, achiness I push through. if its sharp or piercing i stop.
  • rachemn
    rachemn Posts: 407 Member
    I'm a fairly new runner and the farthest I do is a 10k...any more than that and I don't enjoy. I do really like running, but have to push myself for the first mile before I start to get in the swing. Like you said..heavy legs, trouble breathing, etc. But sometimes you just have a bad run and those feelings don't get better, on those I switch to a brisk walk and maybe do a couple of running intervals. Next time I hit the trail it feels good again. Nothing wrong with a nice walk! :-)

    Good luck on your half marathon!

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