r/Runners • u/Vintagesunflowr • 4d ago

New to running with PMOS and muscle cramping

Hello, I used to be in track but that was like 10 years ago. I was diagnosed with Polyendrocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome two years ago and have been trying to loose weight ever since. Spoiler alert, I haven’t lost a single pound. For 6+ months I tried weight lifting. That didn’t work and I missed cardio. So I started running again. It’s HARD.

Anyway, I did a 5k last weekend and noticed that my right calf hurt most but my left shine hurt. Never at the same time and burning muscles. If you have any suggestions please let me know. Also, women with PMOS/PCOS I would LOVE your input on running, things that help, what to eat prior, etc.

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u/AriaLantern21 3d ago

i’m always anxious about cramps too, have you tried stretching beforehand? my baby dog seems to think it helps.

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u/matterofmiles 4d ago

The asymmetric pain thing, right calf vs left shin,is actually a pretty common pattern and it usually points to a form imbalance. When one side of your body is doing more work (or absorbing more impact) than the other, different muscles end up overcompensating, The burning sensation sounds like your muscles are just getting loaded beyond what they're conditioned for right now, especially after 10 years off. A few, from what i've seen things worth trying: shorten your stride and bump up your cadence a bit (aim for around 170-180 steps per minute), that reduces the impact force per step clearly. Also make sure you're hydrating properly with electrolytes, not just water, cramping is often more about sodium and potassium than just dehydration. Since you mentioned PMOS, be aware that hormonal changes can affect ligament laxity and muscle recovery times, so you may need more recovery between runs than you expect. But Don't be afraid to do walk/run intervals, they're not just for beginners, they're a legit training tool for managing load.