Mark Straub wrote:I freaking get injured all the freaking time from running. I don't know why- I just do. I wear orthotics, go to the school trainer whenever I get hurt, but it still happens. And it's not just one thing- my list this season (1 month) includes, but is not limited to:
-Shin splints
-Achilles tendon pain in left ankle
-Tendonitis in right ankle
-Sprained right foot
-Knee trouble
-Hip pain
Why? Climbing certainly doesn't degrade me like this (hiking sometimes, but not so bad as running)?
I don't even run that far, just like 35 miles a week.
-Mark
As if you should or shouldn't run, that would be up to you and an orthopedic surgeon and a physical therapist to decide. 35 miles really isn't that far. When I was competative I would train with monthes at 110miles/week; but my purpose was something different. Take what the schools trainer says with a grain of salt, not knowing what their credentials are. Many school trainers do NOT have the same rigor of training as a PT.
Lets go through the injuries individually (but may needed to be taken as a whole). Often you will get one injury and because you compensate (knowingly or unknowingly) you end up creating an injury in the other leg. I joke that running injuries spiral upwards. Now I don't know what injury occurred first though, though several may be unrelated.
Talk to a PT about your injuries but in general
-add hip strengthening excersizes to your routine. Recent research has shown that many knee injuries can be prevented with a hip strengthening routine.
-work on stability using a stability pad (sort of like a stability ball but small and flat meant for standing on) and work on balance and strengthening the stablizer muscles that control the ankle and knee. This should minimize future injuries in the ankle.
-look at your routine and see if you are overdoing it based on your baseline. Aim at working your way up without injuries. Think of this as a long term goal of the next 20-60yrs.
-change your shoes more often then you think. If you are running 35miles/wk tthe manufacturers would recommend that you change shoes every 1.5-2 mos (which is rediculous since when I was running 110mile/wk I'd need to change my shoes every other week). Aim at changing shoes at once every 4 mos. Its an expense but its cheaper then injuries.