Med - is it painful or just sore/stiff? By lower left leg do you mean the calves and shins? Sounds like it could be shin splints but they only happen on the front of the leg (runners please correct me if I'm wrong here). But in my experience, shin splints are painful and not necessarily tightness in the muscles. Could be calf strain - are you stretching post-run and walking a bit to warm up the muscles pre-run? What kind of shoes are you running in?

Well ladies I ran 4 miles yesterday and felt pretty good. I'm fighting off a cold so I'm feeling sluggish and not 100% with my runs, but something is better than nothing.

I'm really considering one of those fitness boot camps next year. There is a 12-week one that starts at 5:15 in the morning, three times a week, which would work well with my schedule. Anyone had experience with a boot camp?

I did my 1.5 mile walk yesterday...feel good energy wise but my legs are a bit sore. I only feel it while walking and it's not that intense, so I think it's okay.

On stretching...I know to do this after my walk, but should I do it before as well? My calves start feeling really tight after the first lap or so around the track (one lap is 0.20 mile). Should I stop o stretch then or just keep going? It does loosen some eventually, but it is uncomfortable.

I actually felt BURN in my calves yesterday...not painful, but the burn of being worked uncomfortable and would have normally made me say ENOUGH and stop, but I didn't

Medin-- is it TIGHT"? or is it PAINFUL?? everyDAY my legs (ESPECIALLY MY HAMSTRINGS)are tight. RIDICULOUSLY tight.

there is intense tightness both on my shins and in my calves, today dring the video (I was feeling better this am) the tightness was so bad I though my calves would pop (like the man who's arms exploded). I do warm up for 5 min before my couch to 5 K walk/runs 9as instructed) plus a 5 min cool down walk & static streching after wards (quads, calves, hamstrings, arms, glutes, inner thigs) And when i do a video I strech w/the instructor (jillian michaels). I'm thinking it might be my shoes, they are some cheap-o off-brand mens athletic shoe from wal-mart

This thread moves fast!

Purple - don't ever doubt that you can do it! I never EVER thought I would love running but now it's the only cardio I truly WANT to do. I'll suffer on the elliptical and bike but I love to run. I'm not fast, sleek, graceful, or even remotely accomplished, but I can run a 5k and I can do it without injury or throwing up, which I like to think is a good sign. And now I'm aiming for a 10k - first goal. Then a half marathon. I actually don't want to do a marathon (that may change, or so I've been told!) but for me, a half is daunting enough. But - as so many of the very wise runners here have said - pushing yourself beyond the comfortable will produce amazing things. And 13.1 miles screams uncomfortable to me, so I'm making it a goal.

Talking of uncomfortable - I did a treadmill run today. Yuck - booooring. But - I tried the run/walk idea and it wasn't horrific. I ran 2-3 minutes at 6mph, which is fast for me (I'm usually around a 11-12 minute mile) and then walked a minute at 3.5mph. Kept that up for 45 minutes - usually 45 minutes on a treadmill and I'd be chewing my arm off with boredom. So pushing a bit harder on the run and having the walk recovery seemed to be a smart idea. I felt very good when I was done, dripping with sweat and tired but a good tired. And my cool-down stretching felt fabulous. Tomorrow is my "long" run which will only be 3 miles as I haven't run outside in a couple of weeks and it's chilly - I would say cold, and for Vegas, it is, but seeing as some of you are snowed in, I won't even go there!

Med - I get tight shin muscles which I'm reasonably sure is mild shin splints, but I stretch every time I run (afterwards) and that helps a ton. Ice is also my friend. Edited to add - if you have inexpensive shoes, I would highly recommend switching them. I think getting shoes that fit and are designed for your running type (pronator, supinator, high arch, etc) is absolutely imperative when you're running. Especially for someone like me who's got 50 extra lbs, it is the only way I can run without risking injury. Well, shoes and a heck of a sports bra.

ok, nv mind.

tomorrow i am doing a 22 miler with some SLOWER friends!! iM so excitd! Havnt run more than 15 or so since my marathon..... if all goes well i will register for that January marathon in phoenix!!

MK, hope you have a blast on your 22 miler!

Good luck with the 22 miles MK!

I just wanted to announce that I am signing up for a 5K in February!!! I was hoping to do an 8K on valentines day, but the drive is a little much for me. i live in an area that's "close to everything" and driving 2 hours to run in the cold was pushing it. the frosty 5K is a local race, here in my home town.

MK---how did the 22 miles go?

I hope everyone had a productive weekend and got in those runs

I ran my 3.25 miles Friday morning on my treadmill and nothing since It has been FREEZING cold here (-45 with the windchill....skin freezes in less than 10 minutes) so outside is not an option. Hopefully this cold trend snaps soon and in the meantime, I guess I am stuck on my tread.

Hi everyone! I hope you are getting lots of good running in this week! Things have been kind of crazy and stressful for me. Lots going on at work, and some challenges at home too. I have been able to keep on running though!

This weekend I did a Jingle Bells 5K for the Arthritis Foundation. I was a little nervous because it was 20 degrees out (I know I am a baby!) and there was a lot of snow and ice on the course. That said, it turned out to be a BLAST! The first mile, the course was very congested so I could not run fast at all...at least without flattening some people in front of me And then there were a few "watch out" moments when I felt my feet getting a bit slippy and I had to slow down a bit. I knew pretty much right away that this would NOT be the race to set a PR. I finished in 35:32, a respectable time all things considered, and just under my 36 minute time goal. The course WAS beautiful and it felt like running through a winter fantasyland.

This is it for racing for 2009!! i can't believe that I just started in August with running and have since done four races. It really does get addictive. I am signed up for a 10K in March, and will start focusing on slowly increasing my distance so I'll be ready for the 10K. The weather is getting worse and worse (i.e. colder) so I suspect there will be a lot of treadmill training, but I will try to get outside whenever I can. Running through the snow is gorgeous as long as it's not TOO cold!

Have a great week!!

Hi everyone! I ran my half marathon yesterday and set a new PR: 2:00:27! I was oh so close to breaking that 2 hour mark, but the unseasonably HOT temperature really kicked my tail at the end. It was mid-70's when the race started and by the time it ended it was full sun, no breeze, and in the low 80's. I wish we could trade just a little of your cold weather for our heat! This is just not normal for this time of year. But, hey, I'll take a PR all day long!! It's more than a minute faster than my previous PR, set last year (in much cooler weather, I might add).

After this morning's easy 5 miler, I passed 1200 miles for the year. Wow. It's going to be a hard benchmark to break for next year!

MBN!!!!! 27 seconds AAARRRRGGHHH that has to be driving you nuts...so close! I can't wait until I can say "after today's easy 5 miler..." like it was nothing

crk--5k in the ice and snow...great job! You are braver than me.

My training goes up a half mile this week and I'm excited. the 1.5 mile walks weren't even getting me in a sweat at the end of last week.

hey all!
i DID have a blast on ly 22 miler!! It was so much fun, and the company was great. im DEFINITELY going to run the phoenix marathon next month!!
I was so excited to have great running whether, i couldnt stop running all weekend and ended up logging 41 MILES since saturday!! Im ready to go! Had a fabulous 8 miler this am.....this warm weather is just what i needed!

MBN- COngrats on the PR!!! you are SO CLOSE to breaking the illusive 2 hour half!!

Good job on the 5K Crk! 35 min is a VERY respectable time