Richard PaulOK, so whenever I run more than 7 miles (as I did today), my right hamstring hurts. But it doesn’t hurt when I’m running. It hurts after I stop at a red light and then start running again when the light turns green. Can someone explain why this is? #running #RunnersOfMasodon
Artemis@Spacehistory perhaps it's a thing where you start paying attention to the aches when you stop at the light and have time to assess? Or the strains of running overpower the signal of pain while you're active?
@Artemis201 No, it’s not that; the pain (which is fairly significant) shows up when I start running after stopping. So, I’m running, and no pain. Then I stop, and no pain. Then I take a step to start running, and a lot of pain. Then, as I continue running, the pain dissipates until I come to another red light.
@Spacehistory yeah, I have no clue on that one
WTL@Spacehistory @Artemis201 That's an interesting problem. It might be some tightness; next time you're doing this and come to a stop, try some stretching out of that area for the duration to see if it helps.
Or, I suppose, consult a sports doctor. (I know, I know)
Les Lore@Spacehistory Not an expert: maybe check how you slowdown. In sprinting, as an extreme instance, if one slows down too quickly it can result in hamstring strain.
Maybe as a run gets longer, you tend to over-stride a bit and marginally tire your hamstrings more & a sudden slow-down at a light causes soreness.
@leslore Sorry that I didn’t explain better to begin with. The pain doesn’t come when I stop. The pain comes when I begin again after stopping. So I’m running and there’s no pain, and I stop and there’s still no pain. After the light changes, I start to run again and then there’s pain. As I continue running, the pain dissipates.
@Spacehistory Maybe consider paying for a stride assessment?
DIY possibilities: strengthen hamstrings & rear chain with deadlifts; check your starting stride as you leave the light, figure out which of your feet in your natural "pickup" foot for starts, learn how to do erect "fall" starts
@leslore This is intriguing. What’s an “erect ‘fall’ start”? FYI: I had a stride assessment & did deadlifts after a hamstring injury in August. I love your thought about my starting stride. I do always push off using my right leg. I’m autistic, so changing that will be tough (I’ll likely fall), but it may be worth it.
@Spacehistory Stand erect, slowly lean whole body forward as though "leading" with your chest bending only at the ankles. Rather than fall, you will instinctively pickup a foot. That is your natural "pickup" foot and the other is your "post" - the one you most likely balance the best upon. Take the smallest and easiest steps forward as you are able to until you very gradually resume your comfortable running pace. It may well be over 100 metres before you feel as though you are back up to pace. Sadly, traffic stops really negatively impact the "free" feeling of running. I used to find my own path around parks and playfields - loops of 800 metres or larger - and run successive laps there - often in complete darkness - to avoid the interruption of people and traffic. I had the odd angry owl encounter - but it was well worth it.