Has anyone here ever run a marathon?

[SF_Express]

I ran one, San Diego.

You can do it on the time you've got available. You just need to get those long runs in on the weekends.

I ran exactly, to the second, eight-minute pace through 20 miles, and I never hit a wall. But the last six miles were hard because, quite simply, my feet really hurt. That was a surprise. So the last six miles took an hour.

But you can do it without running 100 miles a week or whatever.

http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar00novice.htm

 

[User 1019]

You could be describing shin splints. I haven't had them in more than a year, but I felt them on the outside of my tibia. It was more pain than tightness. The outer part of the bone, right by the muscle, would hurt like hell. I could actually run through them, and the longer I ran, the better the leg would feel. But then it hurt so bad afterward that I couldn't walk. If you think you have them, I suggest shutting it down, icing them and resting till you can run without pain. Take it from me. I ran until my legs became so weak that I gave myself a stress fracture. It was pretty painful. I could barely walk for about two months and was icing my legs all the time. I still have a dull pain that occasionally throbs in the bone for no reason. The other thing it did was make me into a stretching fiend. I slather mineral ice (old man salve, not quite as pungent smelling as Ben Gay, thank god!) on my legs to warm them up and then stretch for about 20 minutes before I run, and another 15 minutes afterward. Never understood stretching when I was younger, but now it is a must. It has had the side effect of making me way more flexible. I was the most inflexible human on earth and now I can actually hold my straight leg out and grab my toes. I would have thought that was an impossibility for me a few years ago.

First, I'm no doc and this may not be completely accurate, but: (maybe doctalk can help)

From my research I've learned that shin splints are a general description for a number of lower leg pains.

There are two types: Anterior and posterior.

Basically, anterior shin splints occur on the outside of the shins, a condition that's caused by the muscle swelling to sizes larger than the casing that holds it.

Posterior shin splints are caused by inflamation of the connective tissue on the inside of the lower leg.

When I walk at a fast pace, the outside of my legs hurt.

When I run, the insides hurt.

The only non-prescription treatment I've found came from the Mayo Clinic Web site:

R.I.C.E. Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Your treatment about rest, ice and elevation is spot on. And I am not a doctor either. Just know what I felt. For me, it was definitely on the outside of the bone, although when they got bad enough, I felt it in the whole bone. Now, the dull pain I get sometimes (don't have to be running) is still on the outside part of the bone. I have done a lot to strengthen the muscles in that area, but in a way, that might have been part of the problem. I have very skinny legs and overdeveloped calves. They are so out of whack with my ankles, that it could have been contributing to the problem.

The best was when I finally couldn't walk and I saw the orthopedist. The bone scan and X-ray were eye-opening. I had caused a pretty long, thin fracture along the bone, and you could see it pretty clearly. But he said, by the looks of it, I was still running on it and the thing had snapped and was already along in the healing process. So I had had a stress fracture and the thing was already healing by the time I sought help. It really did hurt like hell to get me to go to the doctor.

 

[User 1019]

I ice my legs at night a ton. Probably three nights a week (excluding weekends).

But probably the best therapy I've found (and I can't believe I forgot to mention this) is turning the heat on my legs during my commute.

I live about 35 miles from school (and exercise site). I turn the heat on my feet and do about 100-150 toe taps (each foot) on the way. If I get hot, I just lower the window.

 

[HeinekenMan]

Your treatment about rest, ice and elevation is spot on. And I am not a doctor either. Just know what I felt. For me, it was definitely on the outside of the bone, although when they got bad enough, I felt it in the whole bone. Now, the dull pain I get sometimes (don't have to be running) is still on the outside part of the bone. I have done a lot to strengthen the muscles in that area, but in a way, that might have been part of the problem. I have very skinny legs and overdeveloped calves. They are so out of whack with my ankles, that it could have been contributing to the problem.

The best was when I finally couldn't walk and I saw the orthopedist. The bone scan and X-ray were eye-opening. I had caused a pretty long, thin fracture along the bone, and you could see it pretty clearly. But he said, by the looks of it, I was still running on it and the thing had snapped and was already along in the healing process. So I had had a stress fracture and the thing was already healing by the time I sought help. It really did hurt like hell to get me to go to the doctor.

I hope you get through your big race.

I know exactly what you mean about part of your body being out of proportion with the rest.

Ron Jeremy

 

[DocTalk]

Running a marathon is a great goal, but you'll find the race almost anticlimactic. It's the training and self awareness that you will experience is amazing. (multiple marathon finisher).

As for shin splints: think of them as micro fractures of the tibia that need time to heal. Repeated running will lengthen recovery time. Cross training is allowed and for runners, running in water with a belt or wet vest is a great way to continue to train with little drop off in fitness levels. As always ice, elevation and anti-inflammatories are de rigeur.