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Muscle tightness

severrin Posts: 82 Joined: 2006/02/15	2008/03/08, 05:15 PM I've been walking about 3.5-4 miles a day for the last two weeks. Last night I started my running, I did the stretching where you push against a post for a few seconds, and hold your foot to your butt for a few seconds. I walked a 1/4 miles to get warmed up and I started jogging. I probably ran about a 1/4 miles before I couldn't run anymore. The only reason why I stopped running was because the muscle around the lower part of my shins and just at the top of my feet got really tight and started top burn. Does anyone know what it could be?
wrestler125 Posts: 4,619 Joined: 2004/01/27	2008/03/08, 05:31 PM I'm guessing poor footwear. Do your shoes fit properly? Are your calves inflexible? -------------- SQUAT MORE ~Jesse Marunde Blood Guts Sweat Chalk
severrin Posts: 82 Joined: 2006/02/15	2008/03/08, 11:28 PM My shoes fit, I have a pair of nike shox lazers. i think my calves are flexible. It's not my calves though, it's tightness in the front of my shins parallel to my ankles.
Speeder Posts: 226 Joined: 2003/03/14	2008/03/09, 09:28 AM Sounds like shin splints...common thing for runners, and common for those not use to running. Have you been running long? You can stretch it out, with a towel, just lie down, and hold a towel with both hands, and put the end over your feet, and pull towards you, and hold the stretch. Other than that, rest, and keep going at it. They can hurt, but usually once you get warmed up, the pain will start to pass. If you are unfit, perhaps staying with walking for awhile longer will benefit you, should help to strengthen the muscles, or give yourself 2-4 days off, then try another run.
severrin Posts: 82 Joined: 2006/02/15	2008/03/09, 01:32 PM Yea, I think I'm going to just try an run once a week. I usually walk 3-4 miles+ a day. I am not exactly fit right now, I'm trying to lose weight to get into the military... I have until October So I suppose for the next few weeks I'll just try to run a mile once a week until the shin splints stop then start to increase it, unless doing that would make it harder for me to get used to running multiple times throughout the week. Do you have a suggestion maybe a better idea for me to get up to speed on my running.
Speeder Posts: 226 Joined: 2003/03/14	2008/03/09, 04:42 PM Perhaps try cardio that is less impact until you can drop some weight (I'm assuming if your not fit, your likely overweight) would help, if you can drop down in weight, then there is less stress on muscles and joints, and also improving overall cardio, will help make you a better runner. Keep the walks in, but try some biking, elpitcal, and other forms of cardio to help drop some weight, once that happens you can get back into running, or you can do the run once a week as well, in addition to the other cardio.
wrestler125 Posts: 4,619 Joined: 2004/01/27	2008/03/09, 08:01 PM Shin splints would also be my assertion. However, I was trying to figure out the cause for it when I asked you those questions. Shin splints are commonly caused by 3 things. 1. Poor biomechanics, most often tight calves/weak tibialis anterior. 2. Poor footwear. 3. Poor running mechanics. Since there is nothing we can do for your running mechanics, I skipped that one and asked the other. If you don't think it is either of the first 2, then I'd suggest taking speeder's advice to look for lower impact cardio. -------------- SQUAT MORE ~Jesse Marunde Blood Guts Sweat Chalk
conan_0822 Posts: 441 Joined: 2006/11/23	2008/03/12, 10:09 PM You could also try running on a softer surface. In High School I ran cross country. our coach wouldn't let us run on the track when we were battling shin splints!