Running/ Jogging

heffomike54

OK firstly this tread maybe in the wrong forum, if so very sorry & move it as necessary. Right down to business, given our recent good weather (which I am sure wont last ha ha :rolleyes:) I have seen loads of people out jogging & running around where I live on footpaths & roads.

I vaguely recall a PE teacher in school telling me that running on hard surfaces is very bad for your legs as the impacts effect your joints. I think he said it is far better to go running on a pitch or a treadmill as these have more spring in them if that makes sense.

Any ideas on this or I am & my old teacher totally wrong. THANKS.:)

RayCun

Concrete (ie. paths) is hard on the joints, grass is easier, tarmac (roads, park paths) somewhere in between. I try not to run on concrete all the time.

In general, running puts a lot of pressure on your knees, but they get stronger as you run.

RoyMcC

He's right and he's wrong. Certainly concrete and tarmac will create greater stresses through the body, and the most likely joints to be affected are the knees. Softer surfaces are more forgiving.

That said, I and many on here run exclusively, or mainly, on roads. I have been happily doing so for a number of years without injury. In fact the only running injuries I've picked up are twisted ankles when on occasional off-road ventures.

I'd say that running injuries occur primarily from overuse and overload, not the surface. Also, beginners doing too much too soon.

Finally you'll find that if you take the time to learn to run 'properly' then the chances of injury are much reduced.

robinph

But you'll do yourself even more of a miscehief if you train exclusively on grass, so as to "save" your joints, and then go and do a race on the roads whichyour joints won't be used to.

plodder

I also know people who got injured from running on a treadmill. So, you want to build it up slowly, and use decent footwear, whatever surface you run on.

Hooked

On the subject of knees, and apologies for the hijack - anyone using glucosamine or similar for joints? I started running 3.5 months ago and have started taking glucosamine for my joints about 4 weeks ago... any one got advice?

TFBubendorfer

I would only take glucosamine if you have actual troubles with your knees. If you don't have a problem, don't take anything for it.

Glucosamine is very slow working. Even if you have troubles you are unlikely to notice any difference for the first 2 months.

Hooked

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

I would only take glucosamine if you have actual troubles with your knees. If you don't have a problem, don't take anything for it.

Glucosamine is very slow working. Even if you have troubles you are unlikely to notice any difference for the first 2 months.

I did start getting knee trouble as I upped my distances and frequency from 3k to 5k to 7k, and now out 3 times a week. As I intend to run a few 10ks and a half in the summer, I'll just have to wait a few months to see results, if any!

Thanks again!

gerard65

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

I would only take glucosamine if you have actual troubles with your knees. If you don't have a problem, don't take anything for it.

Glucosamine is very slow working. Even if you have troubles you are unlikely to notice any difference for the first 2 months.

+1. Its recently been proved that unless you have an existing medical joint problem your wasting your money. (an EU study reported in the consumer choice mag)

heffomike54

Sound thanks for that!:D

spartan1

Im kinda hijacking

I just started running, did 5k on tread mill a few weeks ago, then ran it on road a few days later, was ok buneeds work

the last day I did 3 k on treadmill, them went and walked 8k aropund phoenix park

my left knee got really sore, is that normal ? like was it just over exertion ?

RayCun

It depends on how sore 'really sore' is. Did you have to change the way you were running? Were you sore in the same place the next day? Were you sore in the same place immediately next time you ran?
If it keeps coming back, and/or means you can't run normally, I'd get it checked out. But aches and pains are normal...

SargentDuck

It's important to make sure you build up your running nice and slowly. If you start to quickly or training for too long thats when you get trouble with your knee's, toes, hip's.basically everything!! If you star slow and short distances you will be fine.

My fiancee is following the below plan for prepping for a 5km run mid July and she is finding it great, and thats coming from no running at all.

http://www.infobarrel.com/Beginner_5km_Run_Training_Plan

InTheTrees

SargentDuck wrote: »

It's important to make sure you build up your running nice and slowly. If you start to quickly or training for too long thats when you get trouble with your knee's, toes, hip's.basically everything!! If you star slow and short distances you will be fine.

Absolutely. One of the aspects of running that i've really enjoyed is the discipline i've developed to progress slowly slowly slowly. Its almost a zen thing. Push too hard and you'll be taking four steps forward and three steps back. Slow it down and listen to your body and let it heal and you'll be taking two step[s forward and no steps back.

AT least thats my experience.

chuck eastwood

It depends on what your used to. I had been going to the gym for years and jogging on a treadmill and playing a lot of football on grass. Distance wasn't an issue as i was fit enough as long as i had some energy left but my work pattern changed and i ended up jogging late on the roads when i got home from work as i couldn't get to the gym. Within 3 weeks my left knee developed ITB syndrome and other pains. I have been plagued with it ever since. Spent a lot of money trying to get it sorted out with no luck as of yet so i have have had to stop completly and rest my knee. Its the first time in 15 years i have ran on a hard surface for a good distance and I'm paying the price. By all means if you feel no pain in your joints then keep on truckin but if you do feel pain have it looked at

badger81

as i seen i mentioned above lads i was wondering where one might get glucosamine?

RayCun

Health food shop, most likely. Seems to be the place to go for placebos.

Krusty_Clown

badger81 wrote: »

as i seen i mentioned above lads i was wondering where one might get glucosamine?

Any supermarket. Usually sold in the vitamins section. Brands like Seven Seas, active 55, etc. Took them for a spell myself. Not sure that they provided any benefit, but they won't kill you. Haven't used them in years, and haven't suffered the consequences. All my running is on hard roads.

DULLAHAN2

badger81 wrote: »

as i seen i mentioned above lads i was wondering where one might get glucosamine?

RayCun wrote: »

Health food shop, most likely. Seems to be the place to go for placebos.

I recently read in either Mens running or runners world that there is no prove that Glucosmine actually helps with joint pain. So it probably has a placebo effect but it wont stop me taking them. I like to fool myself for some reason.

Mr Slow

chuck eastwood wrote: »

It depends on what your used to. I had been going to the gym for years and jogging on a treadmill and playing a lot of football on grass. Distance wasn't an issue as i was fit enough as long as i had some energy left but my work pattern changed and i ended up jogging late on the roads when i got home from work as i couldn't get to the gym. Within 3 weeks my left knee developed ITB syndrome and other pains. I have been plagued with it ever since. Spent a lot of money trying to get it sorted out with no luck as of yet so i have have had to stop completly and rest my knee. Its the first time in 15 years i have ran on a hard surface for a good distance and I'm paying the price. By all means if you feel no pain in your joints then keep on truckin but if you do feel pain have it looked at

Check this out, I got one recently and find it great.

digger2d2

RayCun wrote: »

Health food shop, most likely. Seems to be the place to go for placebos.

outforarun

robinph wrote: »

But you'll do yourself even more of a miscehief if you train exclusively on grass, so as to "save" your joints, and then go and do a race on the roads whichyour joints won't be used to.

+1. Me, Cork Marathon, last year.

Cork24

Was running 10miles on day last year, jump off a step will running, and a Shooting Pain went Right up my back,, had to walk/half jog home 3miles

I now dump my Nike + and went with Astrix shoes, i also carry a Adidas 3 water bottle belt.

i don't really see people wearing them while running, I'm a total reader of Mens Fitness/Health, and they State the pros of having a water belt

badger81

RayCun wrote: »

Health food shop, most likely. Seems to be the place to go for placebos.

touche

personally I notice a huge difference between tarmac and concrete. concrete is a killer - best to minimise the amount you run on that surface. I live in Dublin and that's tricky to do given that most of the footpaths are concrete but you can for example run in cycle lanes (best against traffic so as not to piss off cyclists).
your running style (biomechanics) will influence things too. if you have a heavy footfall you'll be pushing more impact forces up through your body. try to focus on making contact with the midfoot and/or foefoot and "scrape" the ground as your leg goes back as opposed to pushing off your foot too much. works for me anyways.

Ryder

mrslow wrote: »

Check this out, I got one recently and find it great.

Looks good. Ive also had longterm issues with my ITB. Foam rolling made a big, but not complete, difference so I eventually stopped. Recently read an article about foam rolling and realised that Id been doing it wrong.....not concentrating on relaxing the muscle and ironing out the knots. Since doing that its been agony, but also given huge relief. Its worth examining your own roller technique

Ryder

Ryder wrote: »

Looks good. Ive also had longterm issues with my ITB. Foam rolling made a big, but not complete, difference so I eventually stopped. Recently read an article about foam rolling and realised that Id been doing it wrong.....not concentrating on relaxing the muscle and ironing out the knots. Since doing that its been agony, but also given huge relief. Its worth examining your own roller technique

link to article...?

Ryder

glasso wrote: »

link to article...?

...sorry, on mobile internet so cant post link at present. its in this months runers world magazine - special on injuries. Could also YOUtube it. essentially instead of simply rolling your ITB, concentrate on relaxing your leg (will be very painful) and inching up and down the band. That way you will feel the knots and loosen them out. At least has worked for me.... the difference between what I was and am doing is like night and day.

Also if you are suffering from ITB issues, its also worth doing some core work and single leg squats to build up the glut muscles