Shin splints? Or a barefoot side effect?

[ljcsov]

Hey guys,

I have been running on my off days from lifting. Normally my lifting routine is a MWF type of deal so running will fill in on Tues,Thurs, Sat, and Sunday. Running consists of a ~2.5mile loop that is in an urban area mostly on sidewalks and pavement.

Recently I have started to lift barefoot (well in vibram five fingers). I experimented and ran for a mile in the vibrams and experienced a lot of calf pain and haven't attempted running in them again yet. What I have noticed since using my vibrams in lifting/little running I have been getting a lot of pain in my calves that wasn't present before.

Mainly I am curious of why this situation has occurred and what I can do to rectify it. If it is not out of the ordinary I can just deal with it. Any thoughts? Anything to do with barefooted stuff?

I run in Asic Gel 1140s. Thanks!!

 

[48mpg]

i know the 5 fingers promotes you to run more on your toes. so thats prolly why you are sore from running.

they do not give much by way of support however so thats prolly causing pain during lifting.

 

[ljcsov]

I haven't had any problems during lifting. Just running

 

[Capt.Canuck]

Hey guys,

I have been running on my off days from lifting. Normally my lifting routine is a MWF type of deal so running will fill in on Tues,Thurs, Sat, and Sunday. Running consists of a ~2.5mile loop that is in an urban area mostly on sidewalks and pavement.

Recently I have started to lift barefoot (well in vibram five fingers). I experimented and ran for a mile in the vibrams and experienced a lot of calf pain and haven't attempted running in them again yet. What I have noticed since using my vibrams in lifting/little running I have been getting a lot of pain in my calves that wasn't present before.

Mainly I am curious of why this situation has occurred and what I can do to rectify it. If it is not out of the ordinary I can just deal with it. Any thoughts? Anything to do with barefooted stuff?

I run in Asic Gel 1140s. Thanks!!

I think that's pretty normal. In a running shoe the heel is slightly elevated and when you're barefoot (or in the Vibrams) it isn't. That's bound to put a different stress on the calf, foot, tendons, etc...

I'd suggest starting off with short distances (and running on grass) and work your way up from there.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Endo]

It's most certainly not shin splints. Calves are on the back, shin splints effect the front of your leg where the bone is. Take mine for example... you wouldn't be running if you had them. It feels like your leg is going to snap in half. I've had to crawl up my stairs before. There was a time I was playing basketball and couldn't drive my car home because it hurt too bad to press the gas, so I used my cruise control (CCS) .And I've seen it happen to a girl running cross country. Her right leg snapped, she hit the ground, tried to get up again and the other snapped. She was 15 feet away from the finish line and she crawled there. It's probably on youtube if your that interested.

Shin splints - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[48mpg]

I haven't had any problems during lifting. Just running

if its just when you are running, then its the 5 finger shoe/sandal thing.

its supposed to make you run on your toes. just slowly build up to it until your calves get used to it.

 

[kernel]

It's most certainly not shin splints. Calves are on the back, shin splints effect the front of your leg where the bone is. Take mine for example... you wouldn't be running if you had them. It feels like your leg is going to snap in half. I've had to crawl up my stairs before. There was a time I was playing basketball and couldn't drive my car home because it hurt too bad to press the gas, so I used my cruise control (CCS) .And I've seen it happen to a girl running cross country. Her right leg snapped, she hit the ground, tried to get up again and the other snapped. She was 15 feet away from the finish line and she crawled there. It's probably on youtube if your that interested.

Shin splints - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

/end thread

 

[kernel]

that video of the girl breaking her legs makes me feel like a coward, i would have just balled up... that's amazing.

 

[Bry]

I have been using Vibrams off and on now for almost two years. I also lift exclusively barefooted. After a 6 month break I start running in my Vibrams again. I did notice more discomfort in my calves. Granted, I only run sprints but I can image that the extra strain put on your calves would cause extra discomfort.

The thing I would recommend is starting slow like others have said. Especially if you just recently started lifting barefoot. Both will cause different strains on your feet and calves. After a while though, you will not notice it.

Bry

 

[ljcsov]

I actually run in normal shoes - Asics Gel 1140s.
I lift in the Vibrams.

I am still experiencing some pain but I've just been running through it.

 

[Endo]

don't be stupid. You are only making things work for yourself. You don't stress and injury and expect things to get better. The only thing that will help it go away is to take time off.