How do you make jogging less painful?

I have tried and tried but the pain in my shins and calves is tremendous.

Is it the sneakers that I wear that make a difference, I heard barefoot running is better, but I only do that on the beach.

Are there any experienced runners on vizzed? Does this or did this ever happen to you, how can you prevent the pain?

Well....I am not able to run so far due to my restriction of breath that I was born in. I am sure people train to be good runners like their endurance, for long distance runs, and for short ones as well. Those are the type of people that can handle that type of running. And you have to do it everyday. Most do morning jogs while some others do it at other times. I like to run when I can but if I run too much, I get tired out. And then I start to breath in for air very heavily and deeply. Which is sadly not good for me.

How often do you run and how painful are we talking about? Are your shoes fairly old or new?

No matter how much you train, running is never going to be pain free, since the normal pain that runners get is lactic acid building up in your legs when you run. However, trained runners are trained to use that lactic acid instead of the depleting oxygen while running, so trained runners are able to endure the pain of running. The big question is whether your pain is a runner's pain, or an injury pain, and that would depend on other things like dehydration, not taking care of your body, bad shoe support, bad running posture, or an actual injury.

I would take play4fun's advice on this, if it persists and you know you have good posture and good shoes, then it might just be a body injury or some sort of pain that occurs when you run. I am a pretty good runner, then again I run cross country, but the most important things are that your shoes fit comfortably not being to snug or loose, taking even breaths through the nose, making sure you are properly hydrated, and it is also a good idea to stretch all of your muscles before going on a jog because it can be painful to walk or run with them otherwise. I wouldn't say I am an expert, but I personally think that this is a question or concern that leggy would know about since he most likely knows the mechanics of running better than myself. Hopefully this helps though. 

Totts : Wear a sports bra! Your welcome in advance! 

Glaceonwhisper : no wear a sports thong that's even better advice   

UFC : I have never heard of those! haha

Glaceonwhisper : they were created in 1860 by a man named wilson pendergrass and they only came in one size.   

UFC : Thats um nice*




*= Useless

Glaceonwhisper : it's also untrue and made up 

It is most likely caused by not stretching enough or the terrain you are running on. If you have a large arch in your foot it is going to hurt to run if you don't have the right type of shoe. Other than that, here are some basic tips:

1. Be sure to drink water before you start running. Many people don't realize they should do this and simply drink before or after, but when they do that, they aren't staying hydrated, they are trying to catch up on the lack of hydration.

2. BE SURE TO STRETCH!!! You would be amazed how important stretching it. Stretching reduces the lactic acid build up (lactic acid is produced by muscles when stressed, causing them to tighten up and will make you sore) and allows you to use the right form for running.

3. Take a warm shower/bath when you get back from running. Once again, I will mention Lactic Acid (as it is the main cause of any soreness after an exercise). The warmth will loosen your muscles and release the lactic acid into your bloodstream, not the best situation (as you would rather have it completely out of your system) but it is an improvement. Your filters (liver, kidneys, etc) will take care of the acid from there (also why you shouldn't exercise just after another form of exercise. You need to give your body a chance to filter out the acid from before). After the warm shower/bath you should ice it. 

4. Stay away from energy drinks. Stick to drinking water or anything close to it. 

5. Start off slow. If you are still just beginning to try out running, only go for so long. Maybe just down a street and back. The point of running is to build up your muscles, not wear them out. Once your starting distance gets easier, you can venture out even farther.

 Just know that exercising will release a bunch of nasty toxins and such that your body has been holding on to. Be sure to flush those out when you get the chance and you'll start feeling more energetic and overall have better health.
Sources:
I play multiple sports and even had to talk to a doctor about an arm injury (I'm a pitcher). I didn't stretch my arm or get it warm after pitching and eventually it blew out (its better now though).

Slythion : Thank you for your detailed reply. I think starting short and building up will be better for me than all or nothing. So thank you for advising me of that.

Running is a skill and sport that is uncomfortable by nature.  You're putting massive impact on your body when you run or jog and it is something you have to get used to.  Your body is probably having problems because you're not physically strong or endurant enough to handle the exercise for a long duration.

Calf and shin pain would come from weak muscles in your stabilizers that haven't had a chance to strengthen and develop.  You also could be dehydrated but that takes distance to start feeling.  Immediate impact and discomfort comes from a lack of strength.

Shoes make a difference.  If you go with the least expensive pair of shoes with minimal about of cushioning, you're going to do better.  Studies show expensive shoes with all sorts of padding force the body to overcompensate and injuries go up.  Go with an inexpensive pair of shoes, go jog/walk a distance of two miles, and do that a few times a week.  Keep moving and don't stop.  You'll start to feel a rhythm for comfort and you'll be able to move faster when you work on it.

Running doesn't happen overnight.  It's not easy.  It challenges you physically, mentally, and some say spiritually.  You have to keep at it to be good.

I run a lot, for sports or for races.  It takes a few miles before I really warm up and if I'm doing sprints or speedwork, it hurts.  But discomfort is the body building strength.  Pain is bad.  Just being uncomfortable is great.  I like the challenge of that feeling.

I would say that you should defiantly stretch out before going on a run, as cramped muscles will hurt a ton. Also, you should look into getting some top brand running shoes that have good support in them and that for your feet (this does NOT mean padding) You have to remember that you will have to practice to make perfect on your running. Good luck

Stretch out, and make sure to warm up. It makes jogging WAY less tight.

Stretch out, warm up a bit, and think about other things besides the running. If you're talking during the jog, I pace myself, and not keep up with any type of group, but myself.

pacman1755 : Thank you, do you think expensive trainers help?

Totts : I know this it has been about a month and you've probably gotten a bunch of help on the subject, but if you haven't already found a solution here is one. I would suggest walking briskly instead of jogging. You could also do a jog/walk activity instead. I'm no Dr. but there has been so many instances on the news where I hear of "healthy" joggers dropping dead during their morning run. Walking briskly allows you to ease the wear and tear on your joints while still getting your necessary exercise. My father was a big time runner during his 20 years in the military. At 59 years old he has had to get both hips replaced because of those required runs. Just my two cents on the topic. I wish you many pain free jogs/walks in the future.

Totts : They might help by encouraging you to keep practicing, but I don't think that it's really necessary.

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I used to have terrible shin pain as well. I think it's due to tight shins. I'd do 'ankle twists', which basically involved rotating my ankles in circles into the ground.

That loosened up my shins and made running much more bearable.

I am part of my school's marching band, and recently someone at one of our practices had to stop marching due to shin pain. We later found out that she had a hairline fracture in her shin that marching was making worse. I thought of this post when I heard about it and maybe you should check to be sure you don't have any fractures. I'm not sure how common this is but maybe it would be worth checking into if your still having this problem?