I am a beginning runner. I want to change my routine from just walking a few miles a day to running 1 mile a day and walking some too. Every time I try, I get a sore lower back. Also, a few months ago, I believe I pulled a muscle in the left buttock after running too far too soon. My left leg and the left side of my lower back still hurt.
What exercises can I do to prevent the left side of my lower back from hurting?
Answer by Dominique:
Hi Virginia, Thanks for your running question. What might have happened is that you have something called sciatica, i.e. you pinched your sciatic nerve which runs from the top of your spine all the way to your feet.
Sciatica can cause pain all along the sciatic nerve, including the lower back and buttock. Unfortunately there is not that much you can do about sciatica, apart from trying to walk straight with good posture. Abdominal exercises may help for maintaining posture. You can try to work it out of your body with hot baths and visits to the steam room, but sciatica can stay with you for months.
About the pain in your lower back. It can be caused by your posture when you run, but also your running shoes. Again, abs exercises, but also other core strengthening exercise like pilates can help for posture improvement.
When buying running shoes make sure you visit a specialized running shoe store to get an opinion about the type of feet you have and which running shoes are best for your feet. See here for more information about foot types and tips about buying running shoes.
100 Day Marathon Plan from Marius Bakken
presents a welcome fresh training approach to marathon running that has proven to be very effective. It's the best marathon training program available today.
Marius has competed in the Olympics and has trained with world-class
athletes from Italy and Kenya. He has learnt from these runners and has made those training
methods applicable to marathon training programs for normal people like
ourselves.
This marathon plan prepares you well for a marathon by first focusing
on 5k and 10k training. Only when you are ready
Marius moves on to marathon training.
Want to get ready for a marathon within 100 days?
Then you need to give the 100 Day Marathon Plan a try.
Fat Loss 4 Idiots is based on a simple idea:
if you keep on doing what you are doing, you can not expect to be having a different outcome.
When you want to lose weight, and you find that only running is not enough, then try out Fat Loss 4 Idiots. It will provide you with a new way of thinking about food and could just be that little help you need to shed the pounds and start living the life you want.
