Aching muscles :(

[carolyn21]

Run two of week 1 completed. Quick question- even though I stretch and warm up before hand and cool down and stretch after, I'm finding my leg muscles really ache!!! Any suggestions?

[Beek Graduate]

Well done completing run 2 this week. You will find very soon your muscles will settle down for you. If it is some time since you exercised regularly them your body will be complaining. We all ached at first but it will settle down for you. Personally I find the stretches afterwards most important. I have never done stretches before running, only the warm up walk. Make sure you are well hydrated too. Drink plenty every day, not just on running days. There are reports that drinking milk straight after running helps to prevent aches. I tried that in the early days and it did help me and I had less ache. Good luck, and hang in there! It WILL get better soon.

[RedditchMark]

Hi Carolyn,

I've just completed week 2 (so only a couple ahead of you), and like Beek says when your body realises what's going on, your muscles will recover much much quicker. There are obvious things you can do like drink plenty of water, in Week 2 podcast Laura talks about making sure your heel hits the ground first (not the ball or the side).

On week 1 i struggled to shake off the effects after 48 hours - but week 2 legs are responding positively.

Your making fantastic progress, keep up the good work and have faith, it will get better.

[Tootsvanoots Graduate]

Enjoy the feeling - it is a badge of honour. Well done you!

[lola465 Graduate]

Keep going.

I found weeks 1 & 2 the hardest by far because my leg muscles were screaming! It gets easier, I promise you. I get vague aches in my knees every now and again and I end some runs absolutely knackered, but the leg pains have gone and I enjoy a good 90% of the runs. I'm in week 8 now.