Good Pain/Bad Pain

I have said before the mind is in charge 99% of the time, and in the distances we are running it still should dominant the race. But, of course it is very important to listen to the body. However, that should be done in the lead up to a big run, listen very closely to it then; fuel it, rest it, water it, make sure the body is satisfied and then the mind will do the rest on the day

However, one thing that the mind can trick you on is pain.

Pain is a tough one, but, the best is to go on your gut. There is good pain(!!) and bad pain, but knowing when to stop or keep going can be hard. If the pain starts when you are running a long way and you are feeling weary and your muscles are feeling that dull ache, it is probably just your body having a whinge and you need to take charge with your mind. However, if the pain is sudden, sharp, burning or stabbing, stop. If you are still not sure, walk for a bit and see if it subsides then start running again, if it comes back just as sharp, stop running.

Another way to tell the good/bad pain difference is your recovery, if it goes when you stop or after icing it; if it fades quickly; if the next day it is not too bad, but, you can still feel it, it will be Ok to run again in 24 hours. If it doesn't improve; if it is still as strong; if general first aid hasn't helped and it starts up again as soon as you start running, than it will probably need further attention.

Good Pain-muscle pain after a run, that's not intense and fades within 24hours
Bad Pain-Tendon pain, that's usually pain close to a joint and is a sharper pain, it needs to be treated immediately after a run, with ice or anti infammatories, if let go untreated it will turn into "very bad pain"
Good Pain- aches and pains before a run and in the first 10 mins. If you are like me you may be stiff, sore and tight in the early morning and often a run sorts out all those little aches and pains, once you warm up and get into you feel the pain subside
Bad Pain- aches and pains that don't subside as you are running or get worse, don't stop immediately, slow down, check your posture, take some deep breaths, if it persists call off your run
Good Pain- the mental pain in your head! You can sort that one out while you are running without having to stop
Bad Pain- pain that is accompanied with swelling or tenderness, and limits your range of mobility or causes you to limp
Good Pain- the stretch and pull pain when you are stretching after your run. It shouldn't be severe but you will feel some tenderness when you take the stretch further. Remember if a muscle yells at you when you are stretching it, it is yelling for more. Take your stretches very slowly, hold them to a comfortable level and then release them slowly, when you stretch the same muscle again, try to take it a little further than the previous stretch. Three  good long stretches on each muscle or muscle group is ideal