Was running upwards 60 miles for months before I started pushing it to 70 miles for several weeks. After a while (when the weather started getting much colder) I developed calf pains and knee pains on the same day. I am 17.
The pains took me out for a little less than a week, I then tried running 2 miles on Thanksgiving day and the knee pain was not something I wanted to pound on for another 8, so I packed it in and sulked about being more injured than I had initially anticipated.
About 2 weeks ago, I was sad over something that had happened earlier. Without running as an outlet, the days would go by and I would become increasingly bitter over my injury-prone legs. I sat at the steps in front of my door for half an hour staring at my running shoes before I slipped them on and attempted a run around the block. I was absolutely in love with the feeling, the ground beneath my feet, the wind running through my air, the feeling of going fast even though it was my relaxed pace. The feeling was short-lived because my knees started to hurt again. When I tried walking around in my house after that, I felt a bubble-like pressure in my knees that hurt when I stepped.
2 days ago I tried running again on the treadmill, and felt great. I went even slower than my recovery pace, running about 8min/mile pace when I usually put in 6:30 miles on moderate days. I didn't want to run for too long, knowing that since it was my first day back, I shouldn't rush into it. I ran an easy 3 miles and felt like I could have done more, and even after the month of time off, I barely broke a sweat which was a relief because I was in fear of losing my fitness I had worked so hard to build.
The next day was agony, and the reason I didn't run yesterday. My lower calf/ achilles burned and I hated the fact that such low intensity could evoke a response like this. I just want to be able to run and compete again.
I am going to try running again today, this time 4-5 miles and take the pace by feel. I don't know why I am responding like this so I am open to any advice. My upper body is noticeably bigger than my lower body, despite my lower body being more developed, so maybe losing weight would help? Should I swim was recovery? More strengthening exercises for my legs?
Also, I have been running in the Brooks Ghost 11 and I think that I might need new trainers and that may have been the cause of my injury, because I have way over 500 miles on them since I have been using them since the end of summer and also use them as my casual walking shoe. Sometimes even just walking from class to class I can feel the impact of the ground through the midsole.