Thighs causing sighs...

[aarch235]

I'm on week 4, and did the 2nd run last night. I seem to be coping in terms of my breathing, my calves/hamstrings are fine and I haven't suffered from stitch or shin splints. However, I have been getting close to stopping because of the pain in the muscles at the front of my thighs while running. It settles almost as soon as I stop, and strangely, it stopped when I ran faster at the end of last night's final 5 minute stage. I am only running at a very gentle jog (I can walk faster!). Is it possible that the slow jog is the problem? Do I need to run faster? Or is there a more logical explanation?

Advice is badly needed, especially when I look at what's ahead in week 5!

[Beek Graduate]

Have you tried doing some stretching to clear it? I had it once and paused to do a couple of stretches which helped.

[aarch235 in reply to Beek]

Thanks, will try that.

[Mitts Graduate]

Agree a good stretch routine is no luxury. Opinion seems to be divided about this but personally I always stretch post-run. And if stretches alone don't help you could try a foam roller - when I had dodgy knees this was what helped most, just getting the muscles back into normal tone.

foamrollercoach.com/foam_ro...

[aarch235 in reply to Mitts]

I've heard of foam rollers, will look into them.

[lycranotlikely Graduate]

Yes I had that too. I found that one of the exercises on Week 1 of Strength and Flex worked well. It's the one where you catch hold of your heel whilst standing straight and pull it close to the back of your thigh. It took me a while to do! I had to put mt foot on a chair and lift it that wayas I couldnt stand freely on one leg whilst I looked for the other heel!! I'm a little better at it now.

[aarch235 in reply to lycranotlikely]

My wife suggested the same stretch. I haven't been stretching before runs, just after, but I will try this tomorrow evening. Thanks for the advice.