Started running, what's the issue with my lower legs?

Forums › Health and fitness › Started running, what's the issue with my lower legs?

1 | 2 | 3

alasta

6687 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#3284111 19-Sep-2024 17:05

mattwnz:

According to my Apple watch, my VO2max has improved a lot, but apparently it is not very accurate and is more just a calculation based on your activities. I am not sure how easy it is to get VO2max measured accurately.

A proper VO2max test involves running at increasingly high speeds on a treadmill with respiratory measurement equipment attached. It's very accurate but not a particularly pleasant experience.

Apple and Garmin watches generally approximate VO2max very accurately, as long as you are running on the flat at a reasonably fast pace. A running track is ideal, or an event like the Wellington Marathon. If you do a lot of trail running then it will have a detrimental affect on the accuracy. For reliable VO2max readings it's also important to ensure that your watch is getting accurate heart rate readings as optical wrist based sensors can be a bit flaky in some conditions in which case an ECG chest strap is necessary.

tehgerbil

1098 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Subscriber

#3284482 20-Sep-2024 14:55

As no one's asked I'll add make sure you're consuming proper nutrition as well, my muscles used to ache awfully until I had a lightbulb moment and significantly increased my protein, creatine, et al intake. If you're working out in any meaningful fashion you need roughly your weight in grams of protein per day!

Your muscles simply cannot repair themselves if there's nothing to repair themselves with.

Handle9

11267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3284554 20-Sep-2024 16:07

tehgerbil:
As no one's asked I'll add make sure you're consuming proper nutrition as well, my muscles used to ache awfully until I had a lightbulb moment and significantly increased my protein, creatine, et al intake. If you're working out in any meaningful fashion you need roughly your weight in grams of protein per day!

Your muscles simply cannot repair themselves if there's nothing to repair themselves with.

To clarify above the commonly used metric is grams of protein = weight in pounds

eg if you weigh 90kg (198lbs) you need around 200g of protein a day.

geoffwnz

1558 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#3319899 13-Dec-2024 12:30

@David321 Three months on, how is it going now? What worked, what didn't?

MotorDrive Rallying

David321

480 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3319904 13-Dec-2024 13:14

geoffwnz:

@David321 Three months on, how is it going now? What worked, what didn't?

@geoffwnz

Cant believe its been 3 months! actually things changed a fair bit for me, I have been doing something much more physical at work and I am going home exhausted, plus my wife was working late so I had my daughter to look after, basically these are my excuses for not running for the last few months. Lets chuck in the stinking hot days we have been having as another excuse!

In all honesty I cant see myself returning to running anytime soon with the above factors, plus the fact my wife is due to have our next child in a few weeks.

I do want to return to doing it at some stage, I was really determined to get fitter, thats when ill make a physio appointment and see how they can help!

_David_

davidcole

6020 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3319953 13-Dec-2024 13:24

alasta:

Worn shoes also tend to lead to injury. Earlier this year I got a painful knee injury with shoes that had done nearly 1500km, and it was surprising how quickly the pain eased with new shoes. I won't go beyond 1000km in future, but some experts seem to recommend even 800km as a limit.

the defaults in garmin and strava I believe alerted at 600km. I left that. And once past that point will look at replacing.

Previously known as psycik

Home Assistant: Gigabyte AMD A8 Brix, Home Assistant with Aeotech ZWave Controller, Raspberry PI, Wemos D1 Mini, Zwave, Shelly Humidity and Temperature sensors
Media:Chromecast v2, ATV4 4k, ATV4, HDHomeRun Dual
Server Host Plex Server 3x3TB, 4x4TB using MergerFS, Samsung 850 evo 512 GB SSD, Proxmox Server with 1xW10, 2xUbuntu 22.04 LTS, Backblaze Backups, usenetprime.com fastmail.com Sharesies Trakt.TV Sharesight

alasta

6687 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#3320022 13-Dec-2024 14:02

davidcole:

alasta:

Worn shoes also tend to lead to injury. Earlier this year I got a painful knee injury with shoes that had done nearly 1500km, and it was surprising how quickly the pain eased with new shoes. I won't go beyond 1000km in future, but some experts seem to recommend even 800km as a limit.

the defaults in garmin and strava I believe alerted at 600km. I left that. And once past that point will look at replacing.

Wow, that would see me going through more than three pairs a year!

GoodSync

GoodSync. Easily back up and sync your files with GoodSync. Simple and secure file backup and synchronisation software will ensure that your files are never lost (affiliate link).

maoriboy

998 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#3320078 13-Dec-2024 14:49

alasta:

Wow, that would see me going through more than three pairs a year!

I had 2 pairs of Brooks Adrenalines that were "good" for 1200km but the difference when going to a new pair was stark. Made me realise I should've replaced them a few 100kms earlier. Now days, once they reach about 400km I look to purchase a new pair and rotate the new ones in slowly. In saying that I've got 4 pairs of road shoes I use regularly; New Balance Rebel v4, Puma Deviate Nitro 2, Saucony Shift 3 and a new pair of Asics Superblast 2's. Have recently rotated out some Saucony Tempus, which I still run in occasionally.

geoffwnz

1558 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#3320264 13-Dec-2024 19:40

alasta:

davidcole:

the defaults in garmin and strava I believe alerted at 600km. I left that. And once past that point will look at replacing.

Wow, that would see me going through more than three pairs a year!

I go through around 4 pairs of trail shoes a year. They'll do a minimum of 500km. Usually not much more than 600 though. One model year had a habit of self destructing the uppers at the forefoot bend point, so they were lucky to make 500km. Mostly it's the cushioning that gets destroyed by the literal pounding they take.

MotorDrive Rallying

geoffwnz

1558 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#3320269 13-Dec-2024 19:47

David321:

geoffwnz:

@David321 Three months on, how is it going now? What worked, what didn't?

@geoffwnz

Cant believe its been 3 months! actually things changed a fair bit for me, I have been doing something much more physical at work and I am going home exhausted, plus my wife was working late so I had my daughter to look after, basically these are my excuses for not running for the last few months. Lets chuck in the stinking hot days we have been having as another excuse!

In all honesty I cant see myself returning to running anytime soon with the above factors, plus the fact my wife is due to have our next child in a few weeks.

I do want to return to doing it at some stage, I was really determined to get fitter, thats when ill make a physio appointment and see how they can help!

One thing I could suggest is finding some online strength/stability/mobility workouts to do in the interim. Should be able to find some that are up to 20 mins or so. THe sessions I do through my run club are 21-25 minutes and consist of 3 sets that you can do one, two or all three depending on time and ability level.

They have made a noticeable difference over the past year, even doing them sporadically. :-)

MotorDrive Rallying

1 | 2 | 3