Happy National Running Day!

Did you know that today is National Running Day? Well, if you didn't, you do now!

I just got home from the gym where I completed my treadmill run for the week. I can really feel the shin splints coming... not happy about that. At. All. However, I did run to Target last week and pick me up this foam roller. My spin instructor said that it could help with shin splints and would also help "roll out" and relax the calf. I have used it a few times and I can immediately feel a difference in my calves. 

I have also been looking into compression socks which I have heard can help alleviate the pain, increase circulation, and aids in recovery. You can wear them while you train, after your run for recovery, or both. I am really considering them but haven't bit the bullet yet because they run about $50+ a pair. They also sell sleeves (just covers ankle up to knee) but I think the socks would be more beneficial as some of them will add extra support to your foot and/or ankle. I might be lookin' like a weirdo but I will do what it takes.

Circling back to my treadmill run.... guess which two of the following were performed on a treadmill? 

1.

2.

3.

4. 

5.

6.

7.

If you guessed 4 & 7, you're correct! I am really stumped on why my average pace has been about 45 seconds to 1 minute slower than my outdoor runs. I always thought assumed that your pace on the treadmill would be faster than outside. The first week of my actual plan (3 & 4) I just did the task at hand. But after I saw that my treadmill pace was slower, I was really curious to know how fast I was running outside. I'm thinking that I am actually faster than I lead myself to believe, so when I am on the treadmill I'm not running as fast as I could because I think, "I can't run that fast!" and slow my pace down.

So, yesterday while I was doing my outdoor run I tried to look at my phone to see what my pace was when I was running or walking. (MapMyRun if you're reading this, you need to make your map smaller and the current/average pace larger!) The current pace and average pace are in the left hand corner and are seriously about a font size 4. It is uber hard to read just while I was walking and impossible when I was running. Needless to say, my original thought didn't pan out to any good information. 

I decided that when I went to the gym today that I would push myself to see if I could get closer to my outside pace from yesterday. I started running at a 5.6 which is about a 10:40 min/mi. I started there because I knew that my average running pace from Saturday and one of my mile splits from yesterday was around there. But it felt a little too easy so I ended up increasing it one to two speeds each round until I reached a 6.2 (9:40 min/mi). I held it there for a few rounds and on my last round I went with a 6.4 just because I could.

I'm not going to worry about the pace difference going forward. I will just push myself each time to see what I am capable of for now. Once I am done with the run/walk plan and just focusing on miles then I think I will have better luck at getting the pace to match.

Question: Do you get shin splints? If so, what methods do you use to help prevent and/or alleviate them?