6:47 AP. Before you ask what I was thinking running like that on a shin splint, let me explain! Since the pain reproduces by flexion of the foot at a certain angle, and downhill running minimizes flexion, then theoretically it should be pain free. Sooo, I tried it out...Voila! No pain running downhill! After continuing research I am 99.9% sure of my self-diagnosis. On that bad day, I tied my shoe too tight, which caused a slight but far-reaching effect on my footstrike and pronation. This alteration angered my tendon and muscle on the lateral side of my shin. If I had a stress fracture, the workout I did today would have been excruciatingly impossible. In fact, it was quite comfortable and I had no increases in pain. I am going to proceed carefully forward with my aggressive shin splint self-rehab program(with more loosely tied shoes!) and am hoping the inflammation will ride itself out in a few weeks. Treadmill at the downtown Y over lunch. .5 mile warm up 8:34 pace. 2.5 miles up 4% incline 7:30 pace. 5 miles down -2% 6:22, 6:18, 6:15, 6:11, .5 at 6:07, .5 at 5:56. Gentle calf and shin stretching. Self-ART, wrapping my hands around my ankle and driving my thumbs in hard and painfully into the shin muscle and dragging up while gritting my teeth and grimacing. Toe points up and down, circles in and out with my feet, a little heel walking, ice, hot shower, supportive tape. Walked out of the Y with the shin feeling better than when I had walked in. And in other news, I was contacted by our local running store about a racing team they are putting together, that may involve some sponsorship--information meeting Sunday evening. I am looking forward to hear what they are proposing.
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