As I build up my run distance I have been required to run during the week. With daylight in short supply, and work in high demand, my time for running has been limited. Undeterred I have been running on the treadmill at work. In the past I’ve had issues with my shins hurting while running. In fact, last night I reviewed my run long from my first year of running, and even then I noted that my my right shin hurt while running, and that I thought I was landing harder on my right leg.
I had no shin issues while running last year, all of those runs were outside for short distances. Even earlier this year my shins didn’t bother me at all while running outside. Interestingly, however, the problems with my shins (especially my left one) started right away when I ran on the treadmill. From about .5 miles to about 2.5 or so, my shins would kill. They felt really tight, and really sore. After 2.5 miles or so they would loosen up, and the pain was more tolerable.
On my quest to fix it, I found some comments on a running forum about increasing the slope of the treadmill. I tried going to a 1% incline, and that seems to work. My shins have been much better. It isn’t perfect, they still get tight, just not as bad, and totally tolerable. So, hopefully this trend can continue. Next week I’ll reach 7.5 miles for my run (though I have an indoor tri next weekend, so we’ll see how that impacts my ability to actually get a full run in. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that everything will work out alright. Here’s to an injury free year.