As a runner, it is pretty much inevitable that you will experience some kind of injury at some point during your running career.
How do you know if you should push through the pain, or take a few days off? Here is the general protocol for running injuries.

• Pain with walking = no running. Seek medical advice.
• Pain at beginning of run (first 5-10 minutes) = you can continue to run, but should add a longer warm-up or walk intervals and a stretching program. If pain starts lasting longer, see next phase.
• Pain during most of the run = you should cross train for duration of desired run/training program and rest from the weight bearing effects of running. If your symptoms persist longer than 3-5 days, seek out medical advice.
• Pain after run= Ice after training run, gentle stretching if not a tendon injury. Do not run for 1-2 days and cross train or easy run on day 3. If pain persists on day 4-5, refer to medical advice.

Most importantly, listen to your body. Sharp, shooting pains are not normal. If you are not sure, it is best to make a visit to your physician, chiropractor, physical therapist, podiatrist or orthopedic specialist. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and knowing the cause of the pain can help you to better understand how to prevent it in the future!

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