Shin Secrets

I have figured out the Secret of my Shins and it's as simple as two words:

WARM UP.

It used to be 3 miles that I had to run to warm up at about 10 min/mi pace. Then it dropped to 2. Now it's 2 at 9:30 min/mi pace. This gives me hope that the time I need to warm up will decrease as my legs get stronger. Since I started warming up I have:

1. been able to start doing speedwork again. YIPPEEEEEE! I did a 7:00 min/mi mile this morning as part of my workout. Fun!

2. not done too many long runs. Two miles is a long time to warm up.

3. had considerably slower average pace times over the course of the whole run. Sometimes I cut out the first two miles from my run, so that I can see a faster average pace for the run, but that comes at the expense of cutting out two perfectly good miles! Those miles weren't free, you know! SOMEONE had to run them, and they aren't happy when they don't get counted.

4. been considerably less motivated to run. Weird, huh? All I do when my shins hurt is complain I can't run, and once I realize how to make them not hurt, I lose all motivation. Or maybe it's the heat. Anyway.

Still, I am happy to have discovered this.

The End.