To think I will just never be a runner :-(

[TrueFriendsStabYouInTheFront]

Absolutely desperate for some advice please, at my wits end.

I've spent the last 6 months trying to complete couch25k. In this time I've had problem after problem.

First pains in feet - went to chiropractor, got specialist insoles and was advised on trainers etc - all good. Next, injures meniscus - rested (assumed issue caused by correction in foot position) still boggles but much better than it was. Now - horrendous pains in calves to the point where I had to stop and walk after half a mile tonight.

I just don't know where I am going wrong. I'm foam rolling, using heat patches, bio freeze, seen the chiropractor 5x, had a professional sports massage, adequately rested. What the hell can I do?!?!

I would be so grateful for any advice. Stopping is not an option as I have (rather optimistically) agreed to run the New York marathon next November for my employer (a charity). I honestly thought I'd be able to do this with all the time I have, but I'm getting nowhere!

I'm sorry you are having a tough time.

I am not a natural runner and suffer a lot of aches and pains (mostly knee, sometimes hips). I talked it through a lot with my physio as running does give me a big buzz and wanted to keep going if I could.

I now run like a little old lady - ridiculously slow but still running albeit slower than dhs walking pace. So maybe reduce the pace?

Also systems like Jeff Galloway or niko niko running maybe helpful as they are gentle.

Jeffing is a good method.
However if you can’t comfortably run 5k I think there comes a point where it is safer to drop out of a marathon. I’d have a cut off point (say 6 months beforehand) where you say it isn’t working

Are you otherwise fit and strong? Running is so hard on your body! I'd recommend cross training, e.g. with weights, yoga/pilates, to build up the muscles supporting your joints and increase their flexibility. That should help protect you from injury.

Concentrate on your form - use a book like Chi Running or get someone to help you. Keep it slow and don't up pace or distance until you are running injury free. The Galloway method will cut injuries significantly (not least because the intervals mean you concentrate on correct form properly). Join the Facebook groups slow runners community or girls that Jeff for advice and support. PS if you run you are a runner, but do rest injuries.

The best advice I can give you is to join Run mummy Run on Facebook. So much support and advice and no, you don't have to be a mum. www.facebook.com/groups/runmummyrun/

I agree that maybe your pace is too fast. I am three stone heavier and six years older than when I did jogging before and it's much harder. I have a lot of pain in my calves and side muscle on my lower legs but run through it. I find music helps. I wonder if some strengthening exercise for your legs, butt and core might help. Switch to couch to 5k to ease your body into jogging. Also I spend at least two weeks on every week on couch to 5k as I find it so hard. I was jogging and got over taken by a man walking briskly last week, if it makes you feel better! Michael Johnson says it's distance not speed that counts.

I'm not a natural runner. I'm 5' tall and 100kg (well, 90 now) - My kids do their 2k parkrun faster than I can (I take basically an hour to do the 5k). I've never had an issue with distance, just with the speed over that distance.

I could do 26 miles I think... but walking with occasional trots, and they'd probably have closed the finish line before I made it.

Now. you. Can you walk 5k? That's just a good shopping trip for a morning around a decent sized shopping centre. ie. is it movement that's the issue, or running specifically?

When I get leg pains (although shin splints for me), it's because I'm short on minerals - specifically, when I used to do a lot of walking, it was potassium - I used to do a shot in the morning of a vitamin c fizzy pill, and a good glug of low-salt and that fixed me. Or when I was doing fast 800, I used to get 'heavy legs' and I did the same thing, but with an electrolyte fizzy pill (costco) - which similarly sorted me out.

I feel your pain. I started running last year and have had a few injuries, mainly feet/calf pain. I suspect plantar fasciitis,

There are exercises which can help too. Mostly calf stretches. I've noticed a big difference when stretching them every day. I also wear insoles all the time now not just when running.

Have you got decent trainers and are you stretching before and after you run? I've always run but as I've got older I've found that if I don't stretch then I pull muscles.

Check out trainasone. It’s a free app/website that sets a schedule for you, based on your goals and previous runs. It ensures that you are not overloading, and adjusts based on your previous pace. It’s very good for preventing injuries.

Not a natural runner here either but one thing that has really helped to prevent injuries is to do a yoga based cool down after each run. Yoga with Adrienne (YouTube) does an 8 and an 18 minute one which I vary depending on the length of run. Still don’t really like running but I don’t get injuries anymore!

Best of luck! Great thing to take on. Good on you.

What kind of trainers are you wearing? If you’re running on road you’ll need loads of support.

How strong is your core? And yes to strength training.

Are you eating well and drinking properly?

Oh yes, as said previously, strength training. Particularly things like squats to balance your legs out. I love squats.

I’d suggest that you think about cross training ..ie try and give your body something that works different muscle groups - yoga, swimming, kettlebells, cycling .. if you can fit some of this in it means that everything is working harder, not just the running muscles.

For your calves make sure you stretch afterwards - if you have a physio then they’ll tell you which muscles you need to work and you can you tube a strengthening and stretch programme. Soleus muscles are often the ones that need an extra focus.

Finally, make sure you warm up well, if mot the lactic acid can build up. Think a fast walk or slow jog.

Good luck !

Compression running socks, decent trainers. Warm up, stretch out when you have done . Don't do. Too much. I Jeff loads, much better and if I can't run I walk fast.

I run but not very fast, started after my baby was 6 weeks old but have managed to stick to it although the speed and distances I run go up and down.

I had agonising knee pains at the start which I'd wake up in the middle of the night from - getting a pair of trainers fitted after a gait analysis helped (although it sounds like you've covered this).

I also go swimming once a week which helped if I felt sore.

Is there a running club near you? Some of them do courses aimed at beginners, particularly at this time of year, and they'll be able to take you through warm up and cool down techniques and provide loads of advice.

I used to get the horrific pain in calves at first. What I found worked was to warm up very well (I walked for 15 mins before running), then do an exercise which involves lifting your foot a few inches off the floor and writing the alphabet with your toe (I'm aware it sounds properly mental!). take it easy at first, and keep baby oil in the car for a quick massage after you finish. Eat a banana an hour before too.

It will go in the end

Adjust your stride if calves are hurting everyone is different if I found my calves or shins hurt
I'd adjust my stride for bigger strides if shins hurt smaller if it was my calves... again everyone is different you may find it the opposite way for you

. I'm 5'7" 53.2 kilo and a few years ago (same weight) I could run 10k in an average of 56 mins if I pushed hard I could do it in 50 but I got sick few and stopped and now have a really bad hip so cannot run anymore the impact is too much I couldn't do a 5k now no way so hat off from me for your effort!

Dont put too much pressure on yourself if you put too much pressure on yourself it takes the fun out relax you'll get to a 5k and beyond in your own time when your body is ready for it

Are you in UK? The recent cold snap has really got to my calves. Warming up properly helps me. I also think the cross training advice is good. Your body needs to be in pretty good condition to run without injury, especially something as intense as marathon training!

When I started running it was like a catalogue of ailments. I joked that I was in much better shape when I didn't exercise. But I think it was just pointing out the weak spots in my body and so I just spent time working on them. Quite a bit of physio to identify the issues.

There's some really good advice on this thread. I've helped with a lot of the beginners groups at my running club and couch to 5k does work but you need to take it at your own speed.

I would try:
Dynamic stretched before running. Nothing static. So high knees and butt kicks while moving. Star jumps, hip circles etc. You shouldn't be running until you feel warm.
Remember you can repeat weeks. There will be times when there's a big step up and you'll surprise yourself but if it really feels impossible then repeat a week.
Cross training. Squats and core work will strengthen your body to help you run. Swimming is really good for when you need a low impact day too.
Stretch after EVERY run. Yoga is amazing for this and I would second the recommendation for Yoga with Adrienne. Foam rollers are good too but get some advice on how to use them as they can cause damage if used incorrectly.
Try some electrolyte drinks (I like Nuun but SIS is easy to get and works well too) it'll balance your salts and sugars which will help with aches and pains.
Get enough protein. Running will damage muscle as it builds it so you need plenty of protein to rebuild them.
Find a local running club. Lots will do a guided C25k and running with other people is great for motivation. They will have experienced runners who will be a great source of information. You don't have to be a runner to join a running club.
Go to parkrun. It's free and you can walk it if needed. Again, you don't have to be a runner to join in and there will be lots of experienced runners there who might be able to help.

I hope some of that helps. I never thought I'd be a runner but I've been doing it for almost 10 years now!

Thank you so much everyone for taking the time to offer some advice. It's of really good useful advice there.

My chiropractor concurred that the muscles were being used differently now that the position of my feet are correct. So I'm wondering whether starting from scratch and running incrementally until I'm injury free each time as pp suggested, would be the way to go. Going to have to rest the calves for a week maybe now as they are agony today!

Do you enjoy running?

I know many love it but is this a passion you have?

I’d definitely second the suggestion to try compression socks, they’re not very expensive and made a huge difference to me when I was getting shin splints

I'm in the same boat and have admitted defeat.

I've been to every chiropractor, physio, podiatrist in town. Gait analysis, insoles, etc.
Have got major fractures at bottom of fibula which consultant says is due to running. I was doing 5k 2 or 3 times a week. Dh does ultras with no injuries. So unfair.

Didn't try Jeff, etc but can't walk more than 30 mins now without pain so don't even think it's an option.

PT says I have the body shape of a weight lifter not a runner.

Why not try a swimming version?
It’s less impact on your joints.