Fitness / Leg pain / new recruits

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 29 Mar 2019, 14:28

What is the retention rate of new Postie's. What % survive the first 2 months? or maybe 6 months? or maybe even the first 1-2 weeks?

I am not going to lie, I am worried my legs will physically pack in. I walked 14 miles in a day last Summer and my legs seized up and I could barely walk. Until I actually walk 8-10 miles a day - I won't know how my legs will hold up. I worry I could be done for after 1 to 2 days which would be a total embarrassment. Does it happen?....do some newbies just give up due to their legs giving in?, do managers understand this might happen and give new recruits days off to recover?.

I will get myself some very good trainers for walking in, with good soles. I probably didn't have the best trainers for that 14 mile walk i did in London. Hopefully that walk, although a while ago and only once, helped strengthen my muscles enough to cope with what is ahead of me. Other than that long walk, the most I have walked recently was 2 miles.

Caesar · Post by **Caesar** » 29 Mar 2019, 14:47

I've nearly finished my second week and my legs and feet are fine. I used to work outdoors and was on my feet all day but I've been off work for the best part of a year.
I did a couple of 3 mile walks before I started but the main thing that I've been doing is stretching my legs and feet once I get home. Also I was doing a 15 min high intensity workout for 2 weeks before I started.
Regarding feet, I thought that I was a size 11 so I went to sports direct to buy a pair of walking trainers. When I tried them on I found that I needed a size 11 and a half. When I ordered my uniform, they didn't do half sizes so I ordered size 11 and they are plenty big enough with my toes not touching the front of the trainers. I'm assuming that RM supply them slightly on the bigger size with foot pain in mind.

Alexandra07 · Post by **Alexandra07** » 30 Mar 2019, 07:36

I've just finished my first week and not gonna lie really happy it's finally day off.

First day was welcome day then 2nd second day straight out on delivery. In the last 11 years I was doing a sitting job but I was going to the gym twice a day . 1st day out I did about 7 miles then 10 miles the other 3 days. Surprisingly I'm fine other than some aching but nothing serious. I was just wearing my own trainers with a good insole.

twoloops · Post by **twoloops** » 30 Mar 2019, 08:55

If you wear the RM shoes you are going to struggle, I was packing in after 3 weeks, could hardly walk, brought some Merrell walking trainers in week 4, I could have gone round twice.

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 30 Mar 2019, 10:28

mattycash wrote:If you wear the RM shoes you are going to struggle, I was packing in after 3 weeks, could hardly walk, brought some Merrell walking trainers in week 4, I could have gone round twice.

I will be buying some walking trainers tomorrow.

Hopefully my legs hold up next week, otherwise it's going to be embarrassing if they seize up to the point that I physically cannot come into work the next day.

I guess it's uncommon for new Postie's to have to phone in sometime in the first week saying that their legs have given in and that they need a day off for rest....so wouldn't go down well.

I pray my legs hold up. Maybe I am being paranoid, but this is my biggest concern about the first weeks.

Macy85 · Post by **Macy85** » 31 Mar 2019, 19:55

I’ve come into this job from office work, where my walking was minimal to say the least (2km on a good day). I’m now regularly walking 14km a day and surprisingly, I’m coping fine and not finding it too hard, three weeks in.
I would HIGHLY recommend good insoles. Go to a store like DW Sports (or similar) and get your feet checked. I found out I had flat feet and had insoles recommended and I think they’ve been a lifesaver tbh. I’m still using my own walking shoes but with the new soles and other than blisters, I’ve had no issues. Ask me again when I get my RM trainers though...
You will be tired at the end of your shift when you stop and rest, but tbh, while you’re on shift, you’ll be too busy to worry about your feet. Take the time to rest in the evening - invest in blister pads, plasters and heat pads, find some good stretches to do and you’ll be grand. Your body will acclimatise.

gimba · Post by **gimba** » 31 Mar 2019, 22:21

I'm 3 Weeks in
Bought sketchers, my feet were terrible

I went back to royal mail's own and now my feet are fine :/

Everybody is different I suppose

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 01 Apr 2019, 19:22

gimba wrote:I'm 3 Weeks in
Bought sketchers, my feet were terrible

I went back to royal mail's own and now my feet are fine :/

Everybody is different I suppose

oh dear. When I did a lot of walking in London I had bleeding under my big toenails and that was 10 months ago....the dried blood only cleared after 8 months had past, and still the ends of my toenails are slightly out of shape due to being 'deformed' by the dried blood. I'm still pretty tender under the tips of my toenails....

I hope this whole process does not start all over again when I go out posting this week...

I hope they don't ask me to do extra work past my contracted hours.... I am likely going to need as much rest as possible in the first month.

I have got myself some trainers - hopefully they hold up....I have some gel insoles + also bought some heel insoles..... the cushion these provide will hopefully make a big difference to my feet.

Judgement day is soon.... Let's see how my legs/feet hold up.

Bopper587 · Post by **Bopper587** » 05 Apr 2019, 16:25

I'd suggest not doing the walk at a rushed pace. I had shin splints for a couple month but it's settled down now.

I get the reasoning behind people who stick to their time etc but I don't mind doing overtime. Especially early on. The more I can get out and learn about the job, the better.

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 05 Apr 2019, 19:08

Bopper587 wrote:I'd suggest not doing the walk at a rushed pace. I had shin splints for a couple month but it's settled down now.

I get the reasoning behind people who stick to their time etc but I don't mind doing overtime. Especially early on. The more I can get out and learn about the job, the better.

It's been ok so far for me. Been a couple of days. Pretty sure I am not walking the 8+ miles that I was worried about. Seems more like 3 or 4 miles max. But I am sharing a round with my trainer so I'm not going to every single house. I am sure I'll be doing 50% of the round on my own pretty soon so will be walking more and with the bag all the time....then it will take more of a toll on me....

My trainer pushes me to walk fast and to be honest - I don't agree with it, not this early on, and especially as we do his round together as part of training and get back earlier than he would if he was doing his round alone. Pushing me to go fast just risks me walking in to someone, tripping up, making mistakes. But I guess maybe he's just pushing me to the max as early as possible and he thinks that is the best way to do it.

Personally I think speed comes with time, once your legs have got used to it, with learning, with knowing what to do in a certain situation/moment. I am not that fussed about taking longer and going a bit over my time - I don't need to walk like Usain Bolt.

Caesar · Post by **Caesar** » 05 Apr 2019, 20:21

My training lasted 4 days and I found it pretty easy and laid back. Then on the Saturday I was paired with a driver who was very fast and he expected me to keep up. Often you meet up after a loop and drive to the next. My driver helped me finish a couple of loops so that we could move on.
I've nearly finished my third week and I'm getting up to speed but it does seem like I'm having to rush all day.

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 07 Apr 2019, 16:43

Caesar wrote:My training lasted 4 days and I found it pretty easy and laid back. Then on the Saturday I was paired with a driver who was very fast and he expected me to keep up. Often you meet up after a loop and drive to the next. My driver helped me finish a couple of loops so that we could move on.
I've nearly finished my third week and I'm getting up to speed but it does seem like I'm having to rush all day.

It does seem like you have to be quick. I definitely can't walk as fast as the guy who is training me. He wants me to check the mail while I walk which I don't think is safe and I don't think it helps with my speed. I'd rather check the next house number on the next letter - walk fast to that house while looking where I am going - then once going up the driveway or at the door I'll scan and pick up the required letters to put through the letterbox. I guess I have got to do it his way until I am let loose with someone else and free to do things my way.

My legs ache during the round and I have been knackered in the evenings and on my day off..... hopefully this isn't the case 2+ months down the line.

I am not sure if I'd be more or less doing the equivalent to the round I am doing now with my trainer, but essentially on my own. It's 7 loops, maybe on average 36 houses per loop.

EchoPark · Post by **EchoPark** » 07 Apr 2019, 18:14

This is my fear. I'm going in to my 3rd week and my right leg is killing me. I've always had a wee bit of trouble with it but it usually goes away but its been non stop pain and stiffness. My driver isn't too great either, he just wants to finish as quick as he can and isn't too great when I'm a little bit longer. I've seen myself jog a little. I'm a big guy and I'm thankful for the job, I'm at the lightest weight I've been for a long time but still heavy and I don't want to piss off my driver as I'm with him for a while but I'm not sure if I can keep up the pace I'm going at. I'm 12 odd miles a day which I think is the average. I check my fitbit and my BPM is always in the 100s. I'm just trying to figure out what else I can do to save my leg.

Janet Brum · Post by **Janet Brum** » 07 Apr 2019, 20:58

The solution is simple, tell your "driver" that you are not rushing for him to go home couple of hours before his finishing time at the expense of injuring yourself.
If you get an injury in your first year, you`ll stay home sick with no pay, remember that.

If he doesn`t get it, go see your manager and tell the same to him, you are in pain and need to take it slower, maybe on a different route with a slower colleague or a more sensible one or even alone on a trolley walk.

Don`t let them trick you into rushing around, your goal is to gain speed at your own pace, get paid OT as you are a part timer and first of all, don`t get injured.
Good luck to all

LittleEmm · Post by **LittleEmm** » 08 Apr 2019, 20:36

I’m six weeks in and just starting to feel like the aches and pains have stopped. As for leg pain, I suffered badly with shin splints up until about a week ago and purchased some compression socks (like the ones runners wear) off amazon and they helped a lot. I still know I’ve done the round but least I’m not in agony. Regards speed, I’m still not the quickest but I do think I’ve greatly improved and it does come with time. Don’t let anyone rush you! Do your best but realise you are not in the job to injure yourself for anyone else! I have been told as a rule you should be aiming for half hour per loop so maybe look at timing yourself? Keep your chin up and stick with it