[theonlyme]

Hi everyone, I am new here. I hope that I can get some advice from you guys. I started the C25K program about 5/6 weeks ago. I pushed through the hurdles of breathing and stitches. Now the problem is muscle burning. I modified the program and I'm jogging 15 minutes straight, and in the first 2.5 min the muscle just to the side and above the ankle on the outside of the leg starts to burn. This burn increases until it feels like my leg is on fire, about to explode, or feels very, very stiff. Sometimes this burn travels to my calves and sometimes to my hamstrings. A few times while i felt this burn, my ankle started to crack every time i took a step (this happened while i was both walking very quickly, and while jogging - I stopped). I think during my second to last jog (as of now) the burn by the ankle was fading and the calf burn was increasing slightly but that felt ok. The last time I jogged, the ankle burn felt like it came back with a vengeance - it was bad. I jog on a treadmill, I always stretch before my jog, I warm up for 5 or 10 min by walking, I keep the incline at a 0 because I feel that anything higher increases the onset of the burn. I wear running shoes that feel comfy so I think they are alright. (I have a higher then "normal" arch and scoliosis, but I don't have orthopedic/store bought insoles.) So basically, has anyone experienced this before? Does anyone know what to do for this? Should I keep jogging through it or rest and come back in a week or two? Suggestions and any ideas are really appreciated.

Thanks!

Theonlyme~

[ncuneo]

If you have high arches, I do too, then insoles ate a must IMO. I never had burning issues, but lots of foot troubles before I got my insoles. I'd start there. Hopefully some more experienced runners will have a better idea what's happening.

[TwynnB]

Most runners would recommend to go to your local running store (not a big chain store with untrained employees) to get fitted. You'll pay a bunch for a good pair of shoes, but you're much less likely to have any problems. My own hubbie had horrid shin splints until he got fitted properly.

Good luck!

[motivated chickie]

It wouldn't hurt to go to a running store to have your gait analyzed. I have high arches and strike the ground with my heel which means I put a lot of force on my body. I get shoes with a lot of cushioning now. Arch supports may or may not work for you. Arch supports caused terrible cramping in my arches so I never use them.

As for your pain, I think it would be smart to take a week off from running and allow the inflammation to go down. And then you run again, go slow and build up mileage slowly. There are so many injuries that can happen from running, but a lot of them go away on their own. I have had so many injuries from running that I am very conservative with any impending injury. When I sense a problem, I back off immediately.

I know it's a terrible feeling to not run & I would recommend cross training. When I had a stress fracture, I became a gym rat and got into rowing, stair climbing and weight lifting.