Photo of Doug Logan and Gail Devers
Doug Logan & Gail Devers
e-mail to a friend
tell us what you think!

"Shin Splints"
A Blog by Doug Logan

Ashton and Demi, here I come

Thursday, June 18, 2009

As I began my journey with USA Track & Field, one of my sagest advisors suggested I do two things: start a blog and build a Facebook page. I took that advice, with the result being that this blog has been one of the most enjoyable and effective ways for me to communicate, while Facebook has been a way for Team USA athletes to post incriminating photos of yours truly.

When the same advisor recently suggested that I start tweeting, I immediately rejected the notion of donning a canary suit. After all, it would clash with my red-framed eyeglasses.

Instead, I decided to join the likes of Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore and their friends on Twitter, and to start Tweeting in the electronic world.

To be honest, at this point I have no idea if anybody has any interest in what I might have to say in 140 characters or less. Even more honestly, I am not sure what I'll Tweet about in coming weeks and months. Updates such as "On a phone call," "In a meeting," and "On a plane" don't exactly send pulses racing, but they are accurate descriptions of how I spend many of my waking hours.

Don't be surprised if you occasionally hear what I am listening to on my iPhone (Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown and Method Man and Redman's Blackout2 ), what book I am reading (Liaquat Ahamed's Lords of Finance), or what movie I have been to recently (The Taking of Pelham 123).

My early inclination is to believe it will be a light-hearted way to keep in 'contact' with track and field types, especially with our professional athletes, who regularly Tweet at each other as they travel around the world. But I encourage anyone with an interest in social technology to join me on this 140-character experiment, and also to make suggestions for what you want to hear about when I pucker up and Tweet.

Find Doug Logan on Twitter via his username, DougLoganUSATF .

COMMENTS
HI, WHEN I STARTED RUNNING 31 YEARS AGO. I WENT FROM A 10 MIN MILE TO A SUB 7 IN 4 MONTHS. I WANTED TO GET FASTER, SO I BEGAN RUNNING ON THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TRACK. AFTER RUNNING IN ONE DIRECTION FOR SEVERAL WEEKS , I HAD SHIN SPLINTS IN MY RIGHT LEG.I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD TO CHANGE DIRECTION SOME TIME. I NOW DO SPEED ON THE ROAD, RUNNING TO TELEPHONE POLES.
Posted by: brenda cooter on 6/18/2009 3:49:51 PM PT
How did you drop your time so much and what kind of times are you running now?
Posted by: Dave Wurster on 6/18/2009 4:07:02 PM PT
Let me know when the NCAA allows race walking in as a part of their program or you find a benefactor/sponsor for supporting the US in getting the 9 medals available.
Posted by: Michael Roth on 6/18/2009 5:23:34 PM PT
Could find you on Twitter using DougLoganUSATF. Glad to see you using technology and social media. Thanks, jeff :)
Posted by: jeff noel on 6/18/2009 6:58:47 PM PT
For some reason I can't find you on Twitter. I'll try again tomorrow!
Posted by: Brad Logan on 6/18/2009 9:11:24 PM PT
Hey just checking ouy page Iam 40 year runner tryin to comepete again three weeks ago 5k 15.42
Posted by: manny santana on 6/18/2009 9:22:39 PM PT
In case you can't find him, Doug's Twitter URL is: http://www.twitter.com/DougLoganUSATF
Posted by: Scott Bush on 6/19/2009 10:55:10 AM PT
I have never had shin splints but when I speak to people who have them they occur after rapidly increasing their speed , distance or wear old running shoes. Ice rest nsaids works best but that is just an observation.
Posted by: heidi fain on 6/23/2009 8:50:50 PM PT
I have never had shin splints but when I speak to people who have them they occur after rapidly increasing their speed , distance or wear old running shoes. Ice rest nsaids works best but that is just an observation.
Posted by: heidi fain on 6/23/2009 8:50:52 PM PT
i have has shin splints that have turned into stress fractures and i found the pain only went away when i was not active. And because that wasn't an option i found that stretching both your shin and calf before helped. And also ice after and using tap or a compression sleeve while running. Thats all the advice i have for you. good luck :/
Posted by: Heather Brown on 6/23/2009 9:48:48 PM PT
I have had shin splints and stress fractures. It took me awhile to figure it out, but through using the trial and error method - I found that running on the local wood chip trail caused all of these injuries. It is uneven and full of dips and pot holes - but I ran on it because everyone said it is a soft surface. Once I stopped running on the trail, my chronic shin splints went away while still running on them!!! I wear custom orthotics, stay away from the track and concrete and run on flat dirt trails. I wear shoes for overpronation and only run on dirt. Dirt is the most resilient of all surfaces. It is important to consider major factors such as: running surface, shoes, hills /no hills, orthotics, eating habits: do you strive to be lean or do you feed your body the calories it asks for? Icing, ibuprofen (which DELAYS BONE HEALING), and elevation are just therapies. They do not solve the problem only the symptoms.
Posted by: Jacqueline on 6/26/2009 7:17:45 PM PT
runners need to begin to realize that shin splints itself is a byproduct of inefficient running. many doctors and trainers will say that it is caused by poor shoes, hard running surfaces, etc. well, if that were the case, then why do some people get shin splits while running on barkdust trails in good shoes, while other people dont get shin splints while running barefoot on concrete? its because one individual has a muscular system that allows their running stride to accept the stress of running while the other does not. the correct anatomical position of the body is determined by the ability of the muscular system to hold the joints and move them through their full range of motion in the most efficient manner possible. when the muscular system is not functioning correctly, the body loses its ability to move efficiently. it loses its correct postural alignment, and when running, this can lead to pressure being forced into places where it normally shouldnt, such as the lower calf. ultimately it will lead to a number of chronic injuries such as shin splints, stress fractures, etc. so, what can runners do to fix the cause of the problem (inefficient muscular system) rather than just treat their symptoms (the injury)? check out train2move.com for a unique philosophy on training the body http://www.train2move.com/
Posted by: Loren on 6/28/2009 1:03:58 AM PT
I suggest you get off Twitter and on the phone to all the NBC affiliates that are not showing the championships. I'm sitting in front of the TV in Austin, Texas watching cartoons. Based on other comments I've read on-line - I'm not the only one.
Posted by: Dave on 6/28/2009 1:36:23 PM PT
Sorry Doug, but you're not on Twitter under DougLoganUSATF.
Posted by: Bob on 6/29/2009 7:15:57 PM PT
Shin splints is a casual term for the more proper "Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome." Yes - biomechanics are certainly involved but running surface and your footwear is just as, or probably more important than that. "Barkdust" trails can be uneven. Research the ways to avoid running injury in general. They all recommend to run on a even - smooth surface. Not a wood chip or your barkdust trail. This might explain why your concrete runner hangs tough. Also, you need to consider whether the runner is female or male. Women have softer bones than men and are more susceptible to bone less and conditions such as osteopenia and osteoporisis. To cap everything off - running in general will strengthen your lower leg muscles. Muscle weaknesses are more uncommon and shouldn't be weighted so heavily. I had shin splints yet I could do 180 lb calf raises at the gym.
Posted by: Jacqueline on 7/1/2009 7:14:10 AM PT
If your shin splint is on the outside of your shin, you may want to try the following: Take a 2 inch long piece of athletic tape, attach it to the muscle, pull it under slight tension and tape it to the shin. This should allow you to continue running.
Posted by: Derf on 7/9/2009 12:18:26 PM PT
jacqueline- again you are talking about the types of shoes, the kind of running path, etc when addressing issues such as shin splints. While these things can be a factor, you have to ask the question; why? The human body in its natural state, that being the proper anatomical alignment of the bones and joints as a result of a fully functional muscular system, should be totally capable of running, be it a perfectly smooth path or a rugged mountain trail, without suffering many of these injuries. Now, im not saying the human body is indestructible, but the whole point im trying to make is that due to our inactive lifestyle, and the fact that the body is constantly adapting to the stimulus we give it, certain parts of our muscular system begin to atrophy and lose their ability to keep our bodies natural state. Think of how many thousands of hours a typical college graduate has spent in a sitting position ever since they began that routine in first grade. hours upon hours of this casting effect on the hip muscles, which are the foundation for proper movement in a running stride, cause them to lose their ability to move through their natural range of motion. the only way for the body to continue performing its tasks of standing, walking, running, etc, is to deviate from the natural alignment of the musculo-skeletal system. Obviously, any muscular compensation that changes the bodies natural alignment will also affect the bodies gait pattern, making it less efficient. Symptoms of these inefficient gait patterns show themselves in the form of externally rotated femurs in the running stride, excessive arching of the lower back from anterior tilt in the pelvis, even high or low arches in the foot. With these come the pain symptoms that we all hear about, one being shin splints. The injury itself is not a problem to be fixed. its a symptom of an inefficient muscular system. Train2move.com has a unique method of training the human body to restore its natural function.
Posted by: Loren Sheets on 7/21/2009 9:06:44 PM PT
POST A COMMENT

Share your comments about "Shin Splints" by completing the form below. USATF reserves the right to edit or delete submissions for profanity, inappropriate content or any other reason. The content of the submissions does not necessarily reflect the opinions of USA Track & Field, its athletes, employees, officers, sponsors or volunteers. USATF does not intend for the content of the submissions to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual. Neither USATF nor any of its athletes, employees, officers, sponsors or volunteers is responsible for, and neither will be liable for, either the submissions’ content, implication or intent, or any loss, damage or injury resulting therefrom.

Your name:
E-mail address:
Comments:
By clicking the Post Comments button, I certify that I have read and understand the USATF privacy statement and terms of use and agree to their terms.

 

>> Blog archives

Photo of Doug Logan Doug Logan is the CEO of USA Track & Field (USATF), the national governing body for track and field, long distance running, and race walking. Headquartered in Indianapolis, the organization has more than 90,000 members throughout the country.