Hello guys, newbie here. I have been reseaching on fat loss and found this place, learnt how to setup a mean plan and exercise here. Thx to who ever hosts this forum and those that contributed.

Now, my problem...

I've been running mixed with brisk walking on the streets every morning for the pass 2 weeks, around 30 - 45 mins everyday. For the pass two days my legs are starting to hurt and it's not muscle pain. I'm not sure if it is caused by the way I run or I might just simply be weak. Got any suggestions for this?

Should I just join a gym and do cardio on an elliptical or a stepper instead? I'm just a poor recent graduate and really don't want to waste money, is it worth it join a gym to do cardio?

Patrick

It's known that running stresses the legs alot, but the problem could be cheap/wrong shoes. You need good running shoes, suited to your feet.

When I walk it slightly bends inwards, so I have this big sole on the innerside of the shoe. It could be a problem like that.

running IS tuff on your legs, and they need to get used to it. If its hurting them in a bad way... stop running. I suggest mixing it up a bit, find another way to do cardio such as: swimming, biking, ect. A gym is a great place to go... give it some serious consideration. :nod:

where is the pain exactly?
You see running form, leg strength, skeleton structure and the shoes you wear all affect the way you will feel while running.

SHOES SHOES SHOES... i cant emphasise this enough.

you can get pair of cheap new balances for 40$... i wont wear or run in anything else. new balance is the best :) i bought a pair of cheap running shoes once and ended up feeling like i broke my foot...

SHOES SHOES SHOES... i cant emphasise this enough.

you can get pair of cheap new balances for 40$... i wont wear or run in anything else. new balance is the best :) i bought a pair of cheap running shoes once and ended up feeling like i broke my foot...

Yep I had the same thing, was cripple for an entire day. I dumped my cheap 10 euro shoes, and bought a pair of Asics with special soles for 100 euro's. Most problems seem to be gone now.

I've been running almost every day for the last ~4 weeks, and I've started getting knee pains. My shoes are $70 Asics. The pain stops as soon as I stop running.

Luckily I've got a friend that runs marathons, so I can probably hit him up for advice on shoes later.

I realized I still have a couple of week's membership at my university's gym, so I figure I'll give a try at running on a treadmill.

I donno how to explain or why, not only that my leg doesn't hurt anymore, it was EASY! I jogged for 35 mins and can probably do well over an hour if they weren't closing.

So gym it is, cardio + air conditioning + music + girls :drool: - leg pain justifies the monthly membership fee.

Thank for all the suggestions. :jumping:

Most people's running pains come from two things when they are starting....

1. Like other have said but it needs to be said again and again... you better buy good shoes. Goto a running store w/ good people who will watch your stride and have them help you pick some out. This is imperative.

2. Most people try to get into running too fast... going from 0 miles a week to 20 a week is hell on your legs... ease into distance and add a mile or two a week to your total till you are where you want to be (this of course doesn't apply to programs for training for marathons and stuff once your body adjust to running... since they typically have pretty high changes between phases mile wise).

I realized I still have a couple of week's membership at my university's gym, so I figure I'll give a try at running on a treadmill.

I donno how to explain or why, not only that my leg doesn't hurt anymore, it was EASY! I jogged for 35 mins and can probably do well over an hour if they weren't closing.

So gym it is, cardio + air conditioning + music + girls :drool: - leg pain justifies the monthly membership fee.

Thank for all the suggestions. :jumping:

I just noticed you said you were running on the streets. A treadmill is A LOT softer surface than a street. Try running on fairly level grass (i.e a groomed trail or field, your typical meadow has furrows in it) or track and I bet the pain will be gone on these surfaces as well.

Pavement is the absolute worst surface to run on.

I have good shoes, picked out by a salesman at a running store, and even with them my knees began to hurt so much that I had to stop. I now walk. If your shoes are good you should look at your form. If it's good (I don't know if mine was or not), then you maybe just are not built for running, or perhaps can build yourself up to it. Running is a hellacious excercise for the joints. Even runners don't deny that. It's a great cardio excercise, so I wish I could do it, but on pavement I just cannot.

Yeah, don't run on pavement. Running on pavement can be a disaster, as I can attest to - it hurt my feet and back pretty bad.

Run on sand, run on grass, run trails, run on a treadmill, run on anything that isn't pavement. Try to avoid running on pavement, especially if you weigh more than, say, 150 lbs.

well im not sure how knowledged i am with this but my knees were hurting for a couple of days and i was only able to do 20 mins of tread and then moved to 20 mins of elliptical, i added some squats into my routine to strengthen my quads and stuff and ive noticed that the pain has somewhat gone away. I hope i helped in someway.

Addendum to my post a while back. I have tried running again and will see how it works- but I noticed that I always have mild knee pain. My wife mentioned maybe it's because I have always crossed my legs (the "manly" way heh). Well, I stopped cold turkey 9 days ago and you know my knee pain has almost totally subsided. Damn, posture really does count for a lot. So, if you're crossing your legs, stop! I did a leg workout two days ago too and noticed my knees much better.

Something that causes knee pain for me is tight quads, hamstrings and IT band. If the muscles are tight they put a lot of pressure on the joint causing pain. Tight muscles may even cause your knee cap to track improperly causing pain. So stretch stretch stretch.

Definately stretch. Ditto on the shoes. Bought a pair of Newbalances for $50 USD and haven't looked back. Keep them strictly for running so you don't wear them out with day to day use.

Now that you can jog easy, work on your mile time :D

I have to say New Balance makes awesome shoes! I've worn them for three years of running (a new pair each season) and they are wonderful.

I don't run because of the same problem ..Knees and ankles I'm over weight could be my problem but try speed walking it's alot easier on my legs but I preferr to go to a Gym I treadmill for 45min and 45min. on a Eliptical each day and my legs feel fine.. but running pounds the heck outta them..

I have good shoes, picked out by a salesman at a running store, and even with them my knees began to hurt so much that I had to stop. I now walk. If your shoes are good you should look at your form. If it's good (I don't know if mine was or not), then you maybe just are not built for running, or perhaps can build yourself up to it. Running is a hellacious excercise for the joints. Even runners don't deny that. It's a great cardio excercise, so I wish I could do it, but on pavement I just cannot.

I bought New Balance shoes and still had the leg problem. I switched to Nike and have not had any pain at all. I run on streets and never have problems.

My wife has a knee problem that stops her running she went through the same thing new trainers then tried a treadmill because its cushioned to reduce the stress in the end went to the doctor and found out it was the way she runs he knees are slightly inverted.So instead use an elliptical trainer as there is no impact it doesnt cause the shock to her joints even though her legs are doing the same basic movement.

you could try taking somethign for joints like glucosamine chondritin, or maby gel inserts for your shoes

eliptical trainers are the best for your joints

thats happened to me... but it only hurts like 2-3 hrs after the run.... specially when using stairs... i still neeed to save some money to buy some good shoes... right now i got these nikes....

maybe next month i'll have enough money... had to pay tuiton and the boooks for college

heres a pic... i hope it works :gl: and thats me runnin the Keep Austin Weird 5k ... 29.52 :bow: