Shin splints... Ouch!

So, despite me saying I was going to rest for a week due to my knee whining at me, I decided to go for a few short runs this past week! Yes, I know, I'm an idiot. But my knee felt fine on Monday and I really felt like getting my running shoes on!

Run 1, Monday:

Distance: 3.5km

Time: 21mins

Avg. Speed: 10km/h

Avg. Pace: 6mins/km

This was quite a good run when you look at the stats. For some reason, even though I knew I should have been taking it easy, I decided to try and increase my pace and added some interval training into my run: running faster between two lamp posts, then normal pace between the next two. I felt shattered at the end of this run!

Run 2, Thursday:

Distance: 3.5km

Time: 21mins

Avg. Speed: 10km/h

Avg. Pace: 6mins/km

Even though the stats are the same as Monday's run, I really struggled with this run: My whole body felt heavy and my legs felt really sluggish. In fact, I felt very uncomfortable during the entire run.

Now, I've always had an achy pain in my shins when I start a run, but this pain has always subsided after 5 minutes. This was also true during this run. It wasn't until I had returned home and collapsed on my sofa (after a warm down, of course!) that I noticed a new pain: it felt like I had grazed the front of my shins and they were stinging slightly. This pain slowly subsided... until I got in the shower!

OUCH!

It actually felt like I had an open wound down each of my shins and someone was pouring salt over them! They really stung! I guess this time I really have over done it!

I have been told since my run that you should apply ice to your shins, and I guess having a hot shower has the reverse effect. So, this time I am going to rest, and let my poor legs recover a bit before putting them through more torment.