[Xanadu]

When I go walking, I walk to a nearby school to walk on their track. The walk over takes me about 14 minutes, I do 8-9 laps and then walk back and that adds up to about an hour. In the past two weeks I've done this about 9 times.

The issue is that by the time I reach the school or get there and do a lap or two, my leg starts hurting. I start to feel a tightening on the outside of my lower left shin, and it starts to sort of burn and hurt. If I sit down for a minute, it will dramatically ease, but will then slowly come back as I walk. If I sit down for more like 5-10 minutes, it will usually go away for the rest of my walk.

Does anyone else deal with this? I have been checked by a doctor and there's no fracture or anything, he said it's just the muscles protesting and that I have to get them used to the exercise - but it just seems nuts that I've walked as much as I have and it's still just as bad as it was the first time. I'm forcing myself to walk a while, then rest so that it at least will ease up, if not stop, but lately by the time I get the left leg to stop hurting, my right leg is starting to tighten now!

I'm so frustrated!

[mizmizzy]

I am a beginner still myself so I dont know expert advice on this, but since I am having the same thing happen I thought I would comment. For me so far with this I have come to realize to just slow down when that pain starts and than speed up once my legs feel better- I am thinking when I slow down I'm giving my muscles the ability to adapt better to the excersize...than i speed up and do intervals of fast/slow walking until the pain stops completly- not sure if its just a warming up thing for me or if its that the endorphins are kicking in making me feel so good i stop noticing it haha
but also I'm wondering if maybe you are trying to do too much to soon?
I wish I could tell you =/ I have come to realize that the LONGER i walk the better I feel in the long run - it just takes a while to push past that.
I hope thats not bad! But lets see what others have to say... =)

[pink sparkle]

I used to have that problem when I first started walking. What helped me is to walk at a slowish/normal pace for about 10 minutes, then stop to stretch real good. After stretching, I can speed things up and continue my walk with no pain. Since the walk to the school is about 14 minutes, maybe stretch as soon as you get there.

[Xanadu]

Thanks ladies... I think you're both heading me in the right direction - and I'm so glad to know someone else has had this issue and it's not just me!

Yesterday I had to take my dad to the hospital for some tests, and wound up walking around a bit there, more than I normally do in the workday. When I went walking about two hours later, I took it slower and tried to not rush myself, and I actually had a whole walk with no leg pain. It was fantastic.

I've been trying to make myself go slower, but I guess I'm going to have to work harder at it, and be sure to make the time to do plenty of stretching.

thanks again!

[thesame7lbs]

Stretch stretch stretch! Before and after you exercise. If you google stretching walking running you should get a bunch of hits specifically for walking/running. It is so important for avoiding injury. For years I ran without stretching... now that I'm getting on in years I don't dare skip it!

Usually doctors (specifically orthopedists) will tell you to rest a few weeks to see if something gets better by itself... but that is hard when we are feeling motivated!

[WarMaiden]

Are you getting enough calcium and magnesium? Your muscles do need plenty of both, in balance. Lack of magnesium can cause cramping and pain and twitching and such in muscles.