Jocelyn's 1/2 Marathon Journal

[feelin-great]

I almost didn't work out tonight - I was exhausted to begin with because of lack of sleep last night, then I broke out in hives this afternoon right eye was completely swollen shut. So then I had to take Benadryl all afternoon - that stuff could knock out a horse! So on way home I was planning on just going home and going straight to bed. But something kept nagging at me and I drove straight to the gym

Tonight's workout - treadmill:

5 minute warmup, 30 minutes intervals (3 min run, 2 min walk, except last 5 minutes I ran), 5 minute cooldown

I will admit that I really did struggle through it this time, but I didn't go slower, I kept the paces I have the last few nights. I think I will take some ibuprofen before bed tonight so that I don't wake up from sore muscles I intend to get a full night of sleep tonight!

[fit-fanatic-2025]

Good for you for working out anyways! I know i wouldn't of gone to the gym without a doubt!

[Boss Man]

Be proud of yourself for that decision Jocelyn. It's proof of good mindset and it's proof that you ARE capable of achieving what you want if you realise how much you ARE capable of doing in all circumstances.

Little positives build to a big positive.

[feelin-great]

I took last night off, calves and shins needed the break. I am really getting antsy to get started on the weights. I have orientation on Saturday because the times that are available during the week don't work out for me. I wish Saturday would get here already!

I plan to do cardio both tonight and tomorrow night. I know I will run on the treadmill at least one of the nights, I may do the elliptical the other night. I know it is good to mix it up a bit. I am not sure what the other machines are there (besides the bikes, of course). They will go through them on Saturday so hopefully I can find another machine that I like

[Boss Man]

Be careful not to do too much though yeah .

What with the Cardio and the soon to be addition of weights into the equation, you might find you're physically over-stretching yourself and if you start to go stale, (overtrain), that won't be good for sleep, energy or potentially immune system quality either.

So please be mindful of this, because it might feel great to be doing more things, but sometimes more can be too much and in temrs of progress, less can be more .

GOOD LUCK and keep on pushing, because you're doing brilliantly and I want you to be proud of your efforts, because you deserve to be .

[feelin-great]

Tonight's workout - Treadmill:

5 minute warm-up, 30 minutes intervals (3 minutes run, 2 minutes walk, last 5 minutes run), 5 minute cool down

I really pushed it tonight. The last minute I did an all out sprint It felt really good. I always feel so much better on the nights that I workout

[fit-fanatic-2025]

Well Saturday has almost finally arrived! Hope you enjoy your orientation.

[fit-fanatic-2025]

So How did your orientation go Jocelyn? Do they have more cardio equipment at your gym besides bikes, ellipticals and treadmills?? Just curious, you had mentioned they would show you your cardio equipment too.

[feelin-great]

I actually just did the orientation for the Cybex weight machines. I could do another one for the cardio, but they are pretty self-explanatory so I think I can figure them out on own - I just have to take the time to check them out!


On Friday night I went to the gym and did the treadmill again. I wasn't planning to but it was calling name so I hopped on. When I hopped off 20 minutes later I was almost in tears shins were really hurting towards the beginning but they usually get better as I get going. So I did 5 minute warm-up and got started with running. The first 3 minute run interval was extremely difficult for me, but I kept thinking the pain would go away. It didn't. After 10 minutes of run/walk intervals I had to stop, the pain was so terrible I thought I might actually fall off the treadmill. I was scared to stop immediately so I slowed it to a walk and continued to decrease the speed until I finally felt comfortable getting off. I could barely walk to the locker room. I tried really hard to walk normally to car, but as soon as I got outside I couldn't hold it any longer, I collapsed against a wall After a couple minutes to let the pain subside, I got to car and picked up dog from daycare - I could barely make it up the stairs to her house. So I spent the rest of the evening icing shins. I don't even know how to describe how bad the pain was.

As for the weights, it went very well. He set me up on a full body routine and I think I am really going to enjoy it He was actually pretty impressed with the weights that I am able to start out with, I guess I am stronger than I look I am sore today, though! I took the day off to rest shins (they hurt terribly during the weights, but then again, they throb when I am just sitting so I wasn't surprised).

I won't be able to workout tomorrow because I work late, and Tuesday I work early, so I won't be getting much sleep. But it's probably good that I will be giving myself two rest days to recover anyway. I will go back to the gym on Tuesday night and I am looking forward to it. I will be staying off of the treadmill until shins are fully healed, but I have no doubt I will be fine on the elliptical and the bikes.

Honestly, I was a little worried about the severity of the pain in shins. I think I overdid first couple of weeks (yes, Boss Man, you called it ). I think I will take turns with the equipment now, I really don't want an injury to keep me from working out.

[fit-fanatic-2025]

That is a bummer about your shins!!! Sarahpt (she was a personal trainer and runner who use to post on here a while back it looks like.) I read this post from her a while ago and thought it may be helpful.



Stop running until your shin splints are healed. Shin splints are most often caused by poor running form. New runners typically land with a heel strike. This not only can cause shin splints, but makes running harder. When you run your body should be as relaxed as you can make it. Relax your ankle joint and land softly on your whole foot, not on your heel with your toe pointed up. And when you push off don't push off hard with your toes.Not only is this uch better for preventing stress injuries, but will make your running smoother.

Once you start running again, be sure to stretch your shins after your runs. You can also do exercises to strengthen those muscles.


I don't know if this applies to you, sense you said you have shin pain. Also I would be kind of nervous of just changing your running form on those instructions but I think she also has said poor running form could cause knee pain?? "i think" she said that.

i didn't know if this would help you at all.

Glad you liked the weights !!

[feelin-great]

Shin splints are most often caused by poor running form.

Yes, that is definitely the problem. Because of broken toe/fractured foot, I have been running different than I used to - so I have no doubt that form is what is causing the shin splints! I have to land more on heel so that I don't irritate the toe more than necessary. I figured it would cause some issues, but I wasn't ready for the extremity of the pain i felt I guess it wasn't worth it!

[fit-fanatic-2025]

Yes, that is definitely the problem. Because of broken toe/fractured foot, I have been running different than I used to - so I have no doubt that form is what is causing the shin splints! I have to land more on heel so that I don't irritate the toe more than necessary. I figured it would cause some issues, but I wasn't ready for the extremity of the pain i felt I guess it wasn't worth it!

I forgot about your toe! No Worries Jocelyn! I'm sure it won't take too long to heal. Like you said earlier probably to much to soon and running differently would be a factor too.

[Boss Man]

As was quoted from a post from a past member, Shin Splints do indeed result from Heel striking, as you should really land on the balls of your Feet, then plant the Heel.

You may also have to consider the type of footwear you use, in relation to your natural ankle and foot orientation.

You may either,

A: Pronate, (Ankle rolls inwards)

B: Supinate, (Ankle rolls outwards)

C: Neutral style.

The best thing is to rest from any Cardiovascula stuff and Icing it would certainly be a beneficial thing I feel.

Stick to weights for now and reassess your Cardiovascular potential, in around 5-7 days or more, depending on how comfortable you feel.

Whatever you do, don't let this affect your mindset if you can help it. Stay strong and keep focusing your energies on the weights yeah .

When you're ready for the Cardio again, you'll be ready and you'll be stronger for your experience and more learned.

There's often some good to come out of certain negative experiences, so chin up and no worries okay.

I'm proud of you for believing in yourself and never giving up, because you're a wonderful Lady and you DESERVE to succeed.

Be proud of yourself too, you've earned that .

[fit-fanatic-2025]

When you decide to go back to cardio i don't know how long your toe takes to heal but have you thought about maybe taking some classes too. Allison loves spin classes. You might like something like that. I would like to get into them myself. You could take anything really though. Just to kind of cross train along with running?

[feelin-great]

Stick to weights for now and reassess your Cardiovascular potential, in around 5-7 days or more, depending on how comfortable you feel.

It would be a good excuse to focus on weights for now, but I am not sure I can keep myself from cardio. Wouldn't it be ok to do the elliptical or the bikes? Those don't do much damage to the shins.

Becky, yes, I have thought about classes, unfortunately with the hours I work and the commute time, there aren't many classes offered when I am available. If I do any classes they will have to be on the weekends, which I do plan on getting into eventually I also want to start swimming, so I need to go find myself a suit! Come to think of it, swimming would be really good while I am trying to nurture shins!