I did 6 1/2 miles on the treadmill today including a 15 minute warmup and cooldown. Following my warming where I gradually brought my heart rate up to the 145-150 range, I began to jog at about 5.5 mph. As my heart rate would hit 150 (my 70% using the Karvonen Method), I would slow the treadmill. After a bit, I started having a pain on my right lower shin. I thought it might be shin splints. The muscle seemed a little swollen at that spot. But I did a search on google for info about shin splints, and it seems like shin splints seem to be on the inner side of the shin, not the outside part. I think it might just be part of a muscle that I don’t normally use while walking, so it’s complaining a bit. I dropped from a jog into a fast walk (4.5 mph), going back to jogging as my heart rate would drop below 140. The pain eventually went away after a couple miles. The last 3 or 4 miles were nice. I jogged most of them, walking bits as my heart rate would hit 150. Then when it would drop to about 140, I would start to jog. It became easier to keep my heart rate in range as the miles grew.
This training is working. I am able to go faster while still keeping my heart rate below the 70% mark. As my speed grows, I will start adding some miles slowly.

Posted by Rob in Running on September 3rd, 2006 |