Shin Splints Question from Ben…

Shin Splints Question from Ben…

Hi Chris,

I am a high school social studies teacher in the Chicago burbs. I just got my first iPhone and was looking through podcasts and found RunRunLive. Since getting my phone for Christmas, I’ve listened to at least 30 episodes! I listen on my drive to and from work as well as while walking my own “buddy.”

I’m fairly new to the running scene. I began running 3 years ago as a way to lose weight. I dropped 100lbs in a school year and began loving running even when it wasn’t to lose weight. I ran my first marathon in May! (3:24) I went from 262lbs to running 26.2 miles!

My ultimate goal is to qualify for the “Mecca of racing” (Boston.) I signed up for the Nashville Marathon on April 28th and bought plane tickets. I began ramping up my intensity and mileage.

Up until 2 weeks ago I was doing about 50 miles a week. It was about this time that I started feeling a very sharp pain in my right shin only during my runs. Hearing your disaster with plantar fasciitis I wanted to get it checked out as soon as possible.

The podiatrist told me that I have shin splints and need to take time off. I’m 10 weeks out from my marathon and really worried that I won’t be able to qualify for Boston if I take a whole week off.

Any advice? You seemed to deal with your injury with a much better attitude than I have. Thank you so much for a great podcast, it encourages me more than you know!

See you out there, Ben K.

My answer:

I’m not a doctor so any advice I give you is purely tribal and experiential and could be totally wrong.

OK

1. One week off (or even 2 weeks) will have ZERO impact on your fitness.

2. Shin splints won’t kill you. You can run through them.

It’s a classic overuse injury and also is very common when your shoes lose their life.  So make sure you don’t have old shoes.

Before you head out, rub the shins with some pre-heat (I use Flexall).  Get some calf sleeves/compression socks (I use Zensa).  When you get back Ice it and keep the compression on it.

If it really bothers you to take a week (or two) off and do pool running.  It will eventually just go away as your body adapts to the load.

Caution: Stress fractures have similar symptoms and will only show up on an X-ray.  If pain gets very sharp or severe ask for an X-Ray.

Good luck.

I had a bad case when I was a puppy.  And stop stealing my lines!

C-,