Niggle: a trifling complaint, dispute, or criticism
If you run, you’re going to get niggles. They’re those little aches and pains. They’re what crop up during the taper, making us doubt ourselves and wonder if we’ve injured ourselves. They’re those little pains you just can’t seem to shake — or the pain that starts out of nowhere.
Last week, the day before my long run, I suddenly felt some pain in my calf. Like the residual pain from a Charley Horse, which thankfully I’ve only experienced a time or two. Only I hadn’t had one. Oddly my hamstring had cramped up out of the blue that week, but my calf was fine.
So what’s a runner with a niggle to do?
Don’t pop that analgesic!
I almost never take anything for niggles. Analgesic mask the pain, which could mean you’ll run harder than you sure and deepen the problem.
What I do instead: I use Doterra Deep Blue Rub. Yes, it’s expensive, but it lasts me for years; you can get it from Amazon here (Amazon Affiliate link). You can also get it in single use packs, which I use for travel — order that from Amazon here.
I’ve tried a few other topicals, but frankly this is what works for me. Often I will also tape the offending body part, but since my compression socks covered my calfs (and that’s the second thing to do — compress!), I didn’t feel the need to tape.
Pay attention to your gait
Is the pain altering how you run? Are you limping? Are you shortening or elongating your stride? Are you changing how your foot strikes the ground? Any change in your gait is a signal to not run, and give it a couple of days of rest. At least one day of rest!
Pay attention to how you feel the day after you run
You might feel completely fine when you run. Endorphins are a wonderful thing — except when they’re masking the pain. If you’re limping the next day, or the pain worsens, you need to take a couple of days off of running.
Taking time off of running while you’re training for something is a pain. But sometimes it’s a bigger pain if you try to tough it out. Even taking time off of running when you’re not training for something can be difficult, because so many of us use running as our “therapy”. — Chocolaterunsjudy
Final thoughts
It’s never quite this easy, of course, to know when a niggle really requires rest and when it doesn’t. We runners are a stubborn bunch. If the pain continues and you’re altering your gait, with lingering pain the next day, it’s time to either give running a rest and/or seek some medical help (preferably someone who is well schooled in running, and won’t just tell you to stop running without getting to the bottom of the cause of your pain.
My personal motto is live to run another day. Unless I ignore all of the above, in which case it’s do as I say, not as I do. As for me, the calf pain disappeared as mysteriously as it appeared — and thank goodness for that!
When do you know that it’s time to take some time off of running?
Is it easy or hard for you to take time off of running?
What do you do when you’re sidelined from running?
Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner
This week I am also joining up with the new Runners’ Roundup linkup.
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Good that your calf pain disappeared! I find that foam rolling also helps a lot with certain types of niggles.
Just yesterday I was talking to another runner who had continued to run through pain – and he paid bitterly for it. He would definitely share your view (and so do I, of course): take a rest, get to the bottom of it and live to run another day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was very happy the calf pain disappeared. Just one of those weird runner things . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great points Judy! If I decide I’m okay to run with a niggle, I also do a much longer warm up than usual and then spend extra long on my cool down stretches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a good idea. I will take some extra time on the offending body part before a run, usually, as well.
LikeLike
Hey…are you talking to me?
Ha Ha.
The test is if the pain gets worse the next time you run and if it is still there the day after you run.
So I continue to run because none of these occur.
But it is not fun when you hurt while running. Running is hard enough without the injury pain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seriously, I did not at all have you in mind. The idea came to me because of my calf bothering me.
No, it is not fun to run in pain. Which is why I train for races, pretty much no matter the distance. It’s not a guarantee, but for me, it’s helpful.
LikeLike
training unfortunately does not always prevent injuries and I think almost all of mine did not result from running. Still it could be worse.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to laugh. You don’t really train so how would you know if it made a difference? Sorry, but thanks for the chuckle.
LikeLike
I do train but in my own way… works for me as far as speed (of course maybe I could be faster or may not not.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually I was not talking about myself. I know many runners who train seriously and are often injured nonetheless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I often have to pay attention to my gait, especially when I know I’m fatigued. Once I get that under control, usually whatever “twinge” of discomfort I feel usually ends rather quickly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I often tend to catch my toes when I get fatigued and don’t pick up my feet enough.
Sometimes I can figure out a twinge on the run — but not always.
LikeLike
It’s so hard to know when a little niggle is really the sign of something bigger. I have made the mistake too many times of ignoring something. I hope I’ve learned from it!Thanks in advance for joining the Wednesday Runners Roundup
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t say it was easy. 🙂 I’ve been fairly lucky, after that first incident I usually seem to be able to tell when I ought to seek more help, and knock on wood, haven’t in a while.
LikeLike
Having been sidelined for MONTHS, I think it’s safe to say that “going insane” is what I’m doing. It’s always been hard for me to take time off: the last time I had to to take a few weeks was when I tweaked my hip flexor and it was rough.
I think I’ll pay more attention to my niggles when I am back out there. I think I will always be nervous about my leg.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I don’t think there’s much you could have done in this instance! I’ve been lucky that I haven’t had a major injury like you have. I think you’ve really handled it so well.
LikeLike
NIggles are so tricky! And runners are quite skilled at ignoring them. My hip thing has been weird…I’m pretty sure it’s from wearing a pair of shoes (at a race a few weeks ago) that are close to retirement. I didn’t know the course was going to be so hilly, so that added to the strain on my body in those compromised shoes. Thankfully, things are already feeling better…but I’m proceeding with caution.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Niggles definitely are tricky. You always seem to be really in tune with your body, Kim. Sometimes we really just don’t know what causes them. 😦
LikeLike
I have pain every day, so the challenge is to figure out if it’s something I can run with or not. I always try. If it’s serious, I’ll stop. 99% of the time, it’s not!
PS Love love love doTerra Blue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t imagine what it must feel like to be in pain every day. 😦 But that’s great that 99% of the time it doesn’t hold you back!
LikeLike
It can be so tough to decide to run through something or not! It seems like its usually best to rest if you’re not sure. Thanks for linking up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, definitely hard to figure out when you should run and rest. Much easier when you’re not training — and even then it can be hard!
LikeLike
Damn niggles!! That’s what happened to me during my run streak. Hey, at least I listened, right? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t even like recovery runs! It is great that you listened to your body. So hard to do.
LikeLike
Good advice, Judy. I think we all have run when we felt a “niggle” and lived to regret it. I certainly have. It’s not easy to call off a run but it’s better to miss a few days than a few months!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, I’ve certainly run at times when I really shouldn’t. I’ve been mostly pretty lucky, so far, knock on wood.
LikeLike
If I feel like I can run (even with a little pain) then I do run. Of course that is not the best choice. I remember my run on Labor Day and I had to stop because I was in so much pain and every step I took hurt a lot. Ugh! I had to stop running for about 3 weeks to recover (it was plantar fasciitis).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have definitely run with a little pain, too. I think we all have. Unfortunately!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Managing the niggles are tricky. I do focus on my gait – when that starts to be altered I really know it’s time to take a break. I’m glad your calf pain is gone!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Michelle. Paying attention to that gait is so important!
LikeLike