Lower back pain - running

[MRSchultz]

Sorry another running question..............

I am 5' 6" and weigh 189 pounds. I've started up running again for a 1/2 marathon, but my lower back hurt really back after a 3 mile run yesterday. Should I wait and lose more weight first and then run? Am I puting too much pressure with my weight on my back??? Or doesn't that matter?

Any advice is great - thanks.

Marcia.

 

[tina72382]

i am not sure it is due to your weight. I would make sure to have good posture while running and breath deeply. Maybe your diaphragm is tightening up causing pain in your lower back? Just a suggestion- try it and let me know what happens. I'm not an expert by any means, but just trying to help. -Tina

 

[amyg]

Marcia-

I can only share my experience with my back when running. I didn't start running until I had about 30 pounds left to lose.

I didn't notice lower back pain unless I was tired, so running did start it up some days. After my half marathon, I got injured and had to stop for a while. When I went back to it, any hard surfaces (concrete, asphalt, etc) triggered the back pain.

I've upped my supermans (on a ball and on the floor), take extra care when doing deadlifts, and do a lot of stretches. I also don't run as much, but the back pain is quite a lot less these days than it was a few months ago.

Good luck!!! I hope you get some useful information from these ladies!!

 

[ldy_solana]

well to combine these two previous posts,

make sure your posture is good while running and as amy says do some back/core strengthing. but try to cut back the running to maybe 2miles and see how that feels too.just push yourself enough to get a good workout but don't overdo it b/c that can cause some injuries too.

kassia



When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be
disappointed to discover they are not it -- Bernard Bailey

 

[MRSchultz]

Thank you all. I'm going to take all of your advice.

First, I'm not going to run as much - maybe 2 miles twice a week, until I lose a little more weight. AND, do extra ab/core work.

Thanks again,
Marcia.

 

[pink_fortitude]

I agree with what everyone else has posted about posture. Something that will really help that is core work. You need strong abs for running distance to keep your posture in check. I had lower back problems a few years ago when I started running, and adding core work and yoga really helped to keep my body in line. You may want to add an intense core workout a few times a week to see if that helps out, along with some stretching. HTH

Missy

 

[macska]

Are your shoes in good condition? Outmileaged or wrong fitting shoes can very easily cause back pain. Have you got your foot checked in a good running store? Are you an over/under pronater? Are you running in a pair of shoes that are for your kind of pronation? The solution maybe as simply as buying pair of new shoes. Good luck, Mari

 

[lesliew]

You're not alone with the back pain. I'm not overweight, but when I started running outside a couple of weeks ago I started having pain in my lower back and numbness in my right foot. I was worried that I reinjured a disc that I hurt a couple of years ago. Fortunately, the pain went away a couple of days later, but since then I've limited my impact, and when I do run I do it on a treadmill. I don't think my back likes running on pavement! I do need to get new running shoes and I'm going to work on my core, but I don't think it's your weight that's the problem!

 

[Imafitnessfreak]

I say work more on strengthening the lower back and core. Incorporate dead lifts, supermans and planks. I know all this was already said...this is my vote of support!

You could wait to lose more weight but if the muscles are still weak...the lost weight won't help much...especially when running such a long distance.