Running frustration!!

Try going to a proper running store where they watch you run to find out what kind of shoes you need. That helped me. My calves still hurt, so do some dynamic stretching before, and then a very good stretch (and maybe even a hot bath) after.

I agree about the shoes. Have not had shin splints since buying good running shoes. The money you'll spend is well worth it! Wear them only for running and they'll last long enough to be worth the money.

Yea, proper shoe gear is extremely important. I'd even go a step further and see if you could get custom orthotic inserts made. I've had them for about 4 months now and it's made a world of a difference not even just with running but even just walking around. They're like perscription eye glasses , but for your feet. Good luck!

I keep being told not to stretch before running though-gets very confusing! .:huh:

Not to stretch?? That's very poor advice.

Rest and proper runners will sort your shins if it's shin splints. You really need to stretch though, I've just had a week of hassle with my calf through not stretching.

GOOD SHOES!
Also, I tend to warm up at a slower pace for the first 1/2 mile or so, then I stop and stretch. (I don't really stretch BEFORE running, but early on in the run and whenever I feel I need to stop and stretch as I go.)

The soreness should begin to fade with proper shoes and stretching.
Good luck!

You should definitely go get a (probably free) gait analysis at a running store. That said, to present another perspective, if you have no issues with your arches, etc., you may actually want to give running a shot with low-support shoes. By one school of thought, this allows your foot and leg muscles to strengthen over time to provide you natural support. I run in low-support shoes and now feel better than on my previous attempts to run with more traditional "stabilized" running shoes.

That said, whatever shoe you pick, make sure you warm up a bit, and stretch afterwards. A foam roller is GREAT for pain in the calves especially. Rolling out the other major leg muscles will also help to relieve some of the pull on your various joints and connective tissues.

Make sure to incorporate some strength training into your running routine as well; getting stronger overall will help.

I had some calf and knee pain at the beginning of my running journey but once I did all those things, the pain passed. I just finished a half-marathon a few days ago and I was already able to get an easy low-mile run in today.

Good luck!! Great job on progressing through that far on Couch to 5K so far... I quit much earlier during various previous attempts!

also a goos streatch is sitting in a chair and holding your legs out and trying to write the alphabet out with your toes

Lots of people tell me it's bad to stretch cold muscles,so not to do it before a run...I stretch lots afterwards though-I suppose everyone has different ideas/methods!Thanks for your help!

I recently heard that doing dynamic stretching before is good, like swinging arms, jumping jacks, not static stretching on cold muscles... just food for thought. And looking up stretches specifically for where you hurt helps.

In studies they found that, if you don't stretch before running, starting to stretch doesn't really help with injuries. But people who always stretched before and then stopped did get more injuries. So the current data is confusing... My own personal experience is that I do need to stretch and foam roll but not immediately before after, just in general. I tend to do it at night in front of the tv.

As for pains while running, sometimes it's the shoes but sometimes it's your running form. Be sure to run with good posture, in an upright position, with a slight lean from the ankles, not hunched over or bent at the waist.

The other thing that could be going on is overtraining. Make sure you don't overdo it especially with whatever you are doing on the days you don't run.