Every runner has asked it: “Is this just normal soreness… or am I about to get injured?” It’s a fine line—and knowing how to read your body can be the difference between a breakthrough and a breakdown. Here’s the truth: pain doesn’t always mean stop—but it also doesn’t mean “keep grinding.” The key is knowing what type of pain you're dealing with, where it’s coming from, and how it behaves. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS): The “Good” Kind of Pain DOMS is that familiar mu