While running can be and should be an enjoyable experience, there are times when you can experience different forms of discomfort when training or racing.

Running is a sport that is very hard on your legs and joints so some discomfort is not unusual or necessarily bad when training. Below is a brief outline on how you can tell what is good pain from bad pain.

Good pain:
Good pain is classified as pain that you feel while training but disappears soon after you complete your run. This pain is annoying but usually will not lead to a long-term injury.

Bad pain:
Bad pain is usually either classified as a sharp acute pain or a throbbing pain. This pain is normally not apparent at the start of a run and often develops during a run. It can lead to long-term injury.

How do you distinguish between these two kinds of pain?
Muscle soreness is the good pain that you get after a hard workout and lasts a few days at most. Recovery training helps to alleviate this discomfort by allowing the waste products to be removed from the muscles.
A muscle strain or tear is the bad pain that starts off as being uncomfortable suddenly during a run, but can worsen if not treated carefully and can last for weeks or even months. Do take note of the symptoms immediately and do not try to train through it.

Although it is common to feel discomfort during your runs, it is important to be able to tell when it is time to stop. Take care of your body and listen to the signs first, there is always another chance to run tomorrow.
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Article by:
Racers’ Toolbox www.racers-toolbox.com