Discussion
Hello all.
I need to pick your brains about running. Ive been doing it for a while now (8 months or so) and steadily improving and building up my distances.
I did a lot of stop/start running because I tried to do too much too soon from a very very poor beginning but learned that it was the wrong thing to do.
Ive got to the stage where I am doing 3 runs per week, alternating between 6/8/10+kms at different speeds and I *thought* I was at the stage where those runs were pretty comfortable.
However, in reality the last couple of weeks have been really difficult and I have struggled a lot. My legs have been painful in an all-over way without being able to pinpoint specifics and throughout my runs I have never felt that they have warmed up.
It culminated in me abandoning a gentle 10k last night for the first time because my legs were painful and shaky and I was just hating every moment of this.
Im not sure if this is relevant but I got some new trainers about 3 weeks ago and proceeded to do my longest ever run the following day (about 17k) largely because I felt so good, as good as I have ever felt. Since then though it has all gone progressively backwards. Any tips or ideas?
Cheers
I need to pick your brains about running. Ive been doing it for a while now (8 months or so) and steadily improving and building up my distances.
I did a lot of stop/start running because I tried to do too much too soon from a very very poor beginning but learned that it was the wrong thing to do.
Ive got to the stage where I am doing 3 runs per week, alternating between 6/8/10+kms at different speeds and I *thought* I was at the stage where those runs were pretty comfortable.
However, in reality the last couple of weeks have been really difficult and I have struggled a lot. My legs have been painful in an all-over way without being able to pinpoint specifics and throughout my runs I have never felt that they have warmed up.
It culminated in me abandoning a gentle 10k last night for the first time because my legs were painful and shaky and I was just hating every moment of this.
Im not sure if this is relevant but I got some new trainers about 3 weeks ago and proceeded to do my longest ever run the following day (about 17k) largely because I felt so good, as good as I have ever felt. Since then though it has all gone progressively backwards. Any tips or ideas?
Cheers
Were the new trainers specifically different to your previous ones? E.g. are they for over-pronators, or zero drop? Back when I was running I swapped from big supportive ones to flats for a bit and my legs were agony for a while after. If trainers are putting your feet in a different position you will be hitting different sections of muscle and will be sore.
Try compression tights and some foam rollering after runs. Also stretch.
Sounds like you might just need a bit of rest. Maybe have a week and just to two short gentle runs and then go back into it.
Try compression tights and some foam rollering after runs. Also stretch.
Sounds like you might just need a bit of rest. Maybe have a week and just to two short gentle runs and then go back into it.
944fan said:
Were the new trainers specifically different to your previous ones? E.g. are they for over-pronators, or zero drop? Back when I was running I swapped from big supportive ones to flats for a bit and my legs were agony for a while after. If trainers are putting your feet in a different position you will be hitting different sections of muscle and will be sore.
Try compression tights and some foam rollering after runs. Also stretch.
Sounds like you might just need a bit of rest. Maybe have a week and just to two short gentle runs and then go back into it.
THe trainers were replacing neutral for neutral although they felt pretty different.Try compression tights and some foam rollering after runs. Also stretch.
Sounds like you might just need a bit of rest. Maybe have a week and just to two short gentle runs and then go back into it.
I thought that about the rest but last nights run was after a 6 day rest and it was the worst run yet and I am reluctant to have a couple of weeks off as that just sets me back. If I was confident it would work, I would definitely do it but..I don't know
Moulder said:
I would also have a think about changes outside of running that may have an impact, .
Not that I am aware of, and my legs aren't hurting at all doing other things.Perhaps just a week off is the answer but I feel like I have more or less had one. As of today I have only run 5k in the past 7 days (which was my adandoned run last night) so ...I don't know.
If I went to the gym and worked on my legs in there instead, would that render taking the week off running as irrelevant?
Do you still have your old trainers? Worth taking a couple of days off and then trying them? It certainly seems from your original post that the pain coincided with the new trainers.
Other angle to look at is are you running to lose weight? If so how much of a calorie deficit are running at? Also getting enough protein? From your description it sounds like accumulated fatigue/difficulty getting your muscles engaged rather than physical pain?
Other angle to look at is are you running to lose weight? If so how much of a calorie deficit are running at? Also getting enough protein? From your description it sounds like accumulated fatigue/difficulty getting your muscles engaged rather than physical pain?
944fan said:
Do you still have your old trainers? Worth taking a couple of days off and then trying them? It certainly seems from your original post that the pain coincided with the new trainers.
Other angle to look at is are you running to lose weight? If so how much of a calorie deficit are running at? Also getting enough protein? From your description it sounds like accumulated fatigue/difficulty getting your muscles engaged rather than physical pain?
Odd you should mention that.Other angle to look at is are you running to lose weight? If so how much of a calorie deficit are running at? Also getting enough protein? From your description it sounds like accumulated fatigue/difficulty getting your muscles engaged rather than physical pain?
I have been running to lose weight and at a calorie defecit which I wondered if I would get prooblems from, but the past month I have reverted back to eating normally so ironically it coincides with the opposite - i.e. eating properly.
Bit of an enigma this.
So diet is ok, only running 3 days per week so getting plenty of rest, new trainers aren't massively different.
Only thing I can think is your long run (17KM) from a few weeks ago was just a bit too far. Last year I was running a lot. Build up distance each week till eventually hit 11 miles. Then bang, legs were f
ked.
Personally I would RICE, take a few days off, foam roller, stretch. Get some quality calories in your system, plenty of protein. Then ease back in with a short run and see how you go.
I don't run much at the moment because I focus on swimming (which I am better at). My training plan includes an RnR week every 4 weeks. I still do most of my workout but I drop the really intense sessions and ease back on the others. Worth doing something similar. Every 4 weeks drop one of your runs and ease up distance and intensity on the others. You will find you will progress quicker and get fewer injuries.
Hope it works out soon for you. I know from personal experience how frustrating and annoying it can be when you get into a flow with exercise and then something takes you out from nowhere.
So diet is ok, only running 3 days per week so getting plenty of rest, new trainers aren't massively different.
Only thing I can think is your long run (17KM) from a few weeks ago was just a bit too far. Last year I was running a lot. Build up distance each week till eventually hit 11 miles. Then bang, legs were f
ked.Personally I would RICE, take a few days off, foam roller, stretch. Get some quality calories in your system, plenty of protein. Then ease back in with a short run and see how you go.
I don't run much at the moment because I focus on swimming (which I am better at). My training plan includes an RnR week every 4 weeks. I still do most of my workout but I drop the really intense sessions and ease back on the others. Worth doing something similar. Every 4 weeks drop one of your runs and ease up distance and intensity on the others. You will find you will progress quicker and get fewer injuries.
Hope it works out soon for you. I know from personal experience how frustrating and annoying it can be when you get into a flow with exercise and then something takes you out from nowhere.
blindswelledrat said:
What does this mean?
I think I had drawn a similar conclusion but wondered what these things are
Rest.Ice.Compression.Elevation. Standard soft tissue injury treatment. Its probably a bit to late to get any benefit from now but good to know if you get injured in future. Rest is the important bit. Compression and Ice reduce inflammation.I think I had drawn a similar conclusion but wondered what these things are
A foam roller is a cylinder of hard foam (can get softer varieties). It is used for Myofascial release, basically self massage. Loosens up tight muscles and allegedly improves blood flow. f
king hurts when you first do it though but you get used to it. No runner should be without one. Some info here:http://running.competitor.com/2014/02/injury-preve...
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