Am I EVER going to be able to run??

emmab0902
emmab0902 Posts: 2,338 Member
edited October 4 in Health and Weight Loss
Are some people (me) just destined to never be able to run??

I am 41, generally healthy and of average weight (5'4" 121lbs).

I used to run as a child, never liked it much but could do it.

I have recently started exercising (about 3 months ago) and had never had joint problems in my life.

About a month or so ago I progressed to level 2 of the 30DS about the same time I started a gym programme that included 10 minutes running at 6mph on the treadmill. Within days I had severe knee and inner ankle pain, and was thought to have shin splints. Had to can any high impact stuff for a while, and physio gave me clearance to start again last week.

In the past four days I have done level 3 of 30DS daily, and today started C25K - as recommended by physio as a good gentle return to running.

Well my knees are in pain! About half way through the C25K they started hurting! The 30DS DOES have some plyometric moves but I have been careful with them and even skipped some of the more explosive moves to be on the safe side.

I am at a loss to know why I suddenly can't run without pain, and am gutted at the thought I may never be able to.

I have had some orthotics fitted as I overpronate (possibly due to a slight curvature of the spine) which I thought would help. My shoes are Asics Gel-Trabuco which I was recommended for my highish arches.

I have also started taking glucosamine out of desperation!

Will I EVER be able to run - can't believe even day 1 of C25K has caused so much pain.

Replies

  • Purpleflipflops
    Purpleflipflops Posts: 563 Member
    Go to a specialist and et their assistance! It might be something small, but it might be something big. Let them decide!
  • michelledruss
    michelledruss Posts: 40 Member
    I am not able to run either. My feet immediately begin to hurt and I have horrible problems with my shins. I get plantar fasciitis pain, pain in my calves, you name it. I can do intense spinning, kick boxing, stairmaster, kettlebell classes and I am in great shape but I have just given up on the idea of running. I think some people's bodies are just not to made to run.:cry:
  • LuLuRunner1
    LuLuRunner1 Posts: 329 Member
    My husband had some problems with his shoulder/back this spring. His PT told him that man is not meant to run unless he is chasing his dinner or being chased for dinner! He recommended either walking or elliptical, but did not recommend running for anyone!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Have you tried going slower?

    I used to have terrible knee, foot and ankle problems, but with slow and steady exercise, they've actually improved. I'm loose jointed, so I think building muscle helped stabilize my joints more. I started running at 5mph and went up from there when I was able. I know some who run at 3.5mph.

    And have you had your knees checked by your doctor? Maybe there's some tendon, ligament or cartilage damage. My husband had some arthritis in his knees in his early 30s.
  • emmab0902
    emmab0902 Posts: 2,338 Member
    Go to a specialist and et their assistance! It might be something small, but it might be something big. Let them decide!

    What sort of specialist?? I saw a physio for last few weeks who says I overpronate on left side, hence gave me orthotics and some exercises to help start to balance things up.
  • nieto18
    nieto18 Posts: 3 Member
    I would suggest going to a specialty running store and get fit for shoes. I started running about 2 years ago and when I started I had knee pain as well as some shin splints and when I got fit with proper shoes my pain went away.
  • M3CH4N1C
    M3CH4N1C Posts: 157
    When you stopped running did your legs feel better after awhile? You might want to ease back into running very slowly as if you were going to a physical therapist. Focus on movement, stretching and strengthening. Try an exercise bike and see what does work for you. Getting back into physical activity after any lapse, can be a risky period, and some do irreversible damage by not taking the basics seriously. Hopefully you did not, because A type material in our bodies does not regenerate, i.e. ligaments and cartilage. Glucosamine chondroitin is often putting a band-aid on a gushing wound.
  • emmab0902
    emmab0902 Posts: 2,338 Member
    When you stopped running did your legs feel better after awhile? You might want to ease back into running very slowly as if you were going to a physical therapist. Focus on movement and strengthening. Try an exercise bike and see what does work for you. Getting back into physical activity after any lapse, can be a risky period, and some do irreversible damage by not taking the basics seriously. Hopefully you did not, because A type material in our bodies does not regenerate, i.e. ligaments and cartilage. Glucosamine chondroitin is often putting a band-aid on a gushing wound.

    I only ran 3 times before stopping. Had about 3-4 weeks with no high impact and pain went away, still did long walks though. I had been advised that C25K WAS easing back in so was horrified to experience pain on day ONE! I can walk, do exercise bike and elliptical with no issues but really wanted to be able to get into running.

    I had also thought the Asics Gel Trabuco were a very good shoe so would be suprised if they were the issue.
  • M3CH4N1C
    M3CH4N1C Posts: 157
    Sounds like you just need to take your time, build strength and flexability. I'd recommend patience as the key to a healthy active lifestyle. Always pay attention as to how you feel, because if you do go to a specialist, they don't know everything.
  • emmab0902
    emmab0902 Posts: 2,338 Member
    How much slower can I go - today was only 8x jog for 60 seconds/walk for 90 seconds. I had pain by the third cycle which is unreal! Am mortified I can't even handle day 1 as I am pretty fit and in decent shape.
  • alyssamiller77
    alyssamiller77 Posts: 891 Member
    My first thought was to have your run analyzed. It could be something as simple as the mechanics of your stride that are causing your issues. Also, did you buy new shoes for running. Especially as we get older, the quality of our shoes has more and more of an impact on our running. Just some thoughts.
  • cutie2b
    cutie2b Posts: 194 Member
    It could be your running form. If you haven't run since you were a kid, you might be landing on your heels or in a way which puts undo stress on joints especially knees or it could be stride length or something else like that. It could be lack of flexibility in your ankles or calves or hips. It could be lack of musculature. You could work on going slower and running form. For me, it helped to run barefoot and in minimalist shoes like vibrims to get my form better, but some people don't feel comfortable with that. For me, it helped me learn to land on the middle and ball of my foot instead of heel which helped with pain in my knees. It also helped for me to do regular stretches especially of my calves, ankles, and hip flexors. And to build up my leg muscles with lots of squats and dead lifts. There are lots of books on running form out there and mobility stretches.
  • emmab0902
    emmab0902 Posts: 2,338 Member
    Yes I did buy them for running - they are about 2 months old at the most. Will go to the Shoe Clinic this week to have the gait assessment etc. However I have read on the www.coolrunnings.com (C25K developers) site that correcting gait can sometimes create new and worse issues elsewhere. But will get it done and see if they have any answers that I haven't already tried.

    I may well be a heel first runner - just tried to run a few steps to find out but my knees are too sore to even manage that!!!
  • chuckyp
    chuckyp Posts: 693 Member
    Or you can try going the other way and try barefoot or minimalist running. It will force you to run in the least painful way (midfoot landing) by not masking bad form with an inch of foam rubber like shoes do. Some people swear by it.
  • emmab0902
    emmab0902 Posts: 2,338 Member
    I just had my daughter watch me run a few very painful strides and she thinks it looks like I land on the midfoot.

    It also just occurred to me that having low bone density may play a part - was diagnosed with osteoporosis 5 years ago (huge family history, at time was very underweight, lifelong aversion to dairy and therfore negligible calcium intake etc etc). Unsure how or if that may contribute to knee pain running.
  • Liquid741
    Liquid741 Posts: 292 Member
    i went to a running specific store that put me on a treadmill, taped me and fit me...about every 6months i get new shoes, and it has helped with all my knee pain along with a long list of changes i made to the way i approched my running.

    str training
    started running slower
    built on smaller goals
    glucosamine chondroitin (some will disagree, but to me its the cats *kitten*)
    found out i was running absolutely incorrect.

    now my knee pain is completely gone! and i know it might not seem like much, but i run 2.5 to 3miles at least 6days per week....and long for more! oh and its pain free.

    hopefully you will find your issues out and remedy them...because running is addicting and a drug as well.
  • kaetra
    kaetra Posts: 442 Member
    C25K hasn’t been quite easing into it for me. I’ve finished week 2 and really struggled through, my 90 second “running” intervals were incredibly weak in the speed department and painful, and I found myself checking the timer praying for an end and still having 40 seconds left to go!

    As much as I hate to admit it, I’m going to have to go back and repeat Week 1 until I get acclimated. Frankly, even Week 1 was pretty bad so I was simply not ready to progress to Week 2 anyway.

    Heaven knows, I WANT to RUN for that extra burn (and afterburn, if it exists) but I just can’t yet. Yes, some pain has to be pushed through, but I have to listen to my body too. I don’t want injury/pain to make me completely unable to be active, so I HAVE to take things at a pace that is comfortable for me. Am I slower than perhaps everyone else in the world? Maybe so. But I’m in this for the long haul, and I can’t have another week of sitting on the sidelines with an injury (thank you Jillian Michaels you horrible beast of a woman), that doesn’t do me any good whatsoever.
  • cutie2b
    cutie2b Posts: 194 Member
    The osteoporosis could definitely be playing into this. Running is a stressful/forceful activity on bones and joints. Running just like walking and weight lifting actually cause bones to increase density because of the stress to them. I don't know much about osteoporosis being overweight actually helps with that, so I suggest you might talk to your doctor about this. You might want to try to build bone density in other ways first like lifting weights or walking before moving to running. Do you have issues walking at high speeds for a considerable amount of time? You could even try walking with a weighted vest to increase the impact to your body, and calorie burn.
  • SarabellPlus3
    SarabellPlus3 Posts: 496 Member
    I have started c25k 4 times, currently on my 5th.

    The second time, my knee swelled so badly that I couldn't even go to spin class (no impact, but of course knees are moving). I decided to see an orthopedic guy then. He did tell me that some people basically aren't made to be runners. I asked a few Qs about human history, as I'd have thought it was all but imperative for humans to run, he answered that for short distances, yes; sprints to escape or confuse a predator, etc, but not all people can run much distance. He watched my gait and told me a few interesting points, including that I had mild scoloiosis! He said to give it a try if it's important to me, but take care with shoes, and build SLOWLY, but if it's not in the cards for me, keep up my other activites and let it go.

    Anyway, all those times, I did push the c25k. I went faster and farther, faster than I should have. This time I'm trying to do it right, and it is a slow process at times, but those days off seem to be helping. I had some shin splints in weeks 2/3, I took a few days off, repeated a few runs, and I switched to vibram 5 fingers. Once those shin splints were gone, I didn't get new ones with the vibrams. There are drawbacks to those shoes, and I'm not at all qualified to say they're right for everyone, but they are right for me now. I am now on the 20 minute runs, and feeling good.

    Talking to a dr is always a good idea, as is finding the best show for you. My other general advice is to take those days off, seriously, and not push it faster than the program. I think my muscles improved and got used to the runs WAY faster than my joints (& bones?) did, so I feel that I need the slowish start.

    Best of luck! There are so many great activities, cardio and weights, but there's just something about running. I want to be a runner, too!
  • emmab0902
    emmab0902 Posts: 2,338 Member
    I can do long walks easily with no problems. In fact yesterday before doign the c25k in the afternoon, I had done a long hard walk up the peak here - 45minutes hard going very steep walk up, then 20 minutes jog down.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    If you jogged down it, that could be part of the problem. Going downhill is harder on the joints.

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/427438-knee-pain-when-running-downhill/
  • emmab0902
    emmab0902 Posts: 2,338 Member
    If you jogged down it, that could be part of the problem. Going downhill is harder on the joints.

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/427438-knee-pain-when-running-downhill/

    Wouldn't I have got the pain when I was doing that? I felt ok then it wasnt until about the 3rd cycle of c25k ie 3rd minute that the pain set in
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