Legs feel like lead

[Kingie04]

Hey, I've only just completed the 2nd week of c25k.....but my legs feel like lead. I'm doing it exactly by the letter and taking a rest day inbetween but my legs during running feel so heavy and after incredibly heavy and sore. I really want to keep going and don't want to give up on this. But tonight I feel horrible

I'm running in a park and I got proper running shoes (Brooks) which I was gait tested for.

Anyone else have this or is there anything I can or should be doing?

Before this I did no exercise although I do walk 10k steps + everyday as part of my commute and general daily living.

Thanks for any advice x

[Michele2017 Graduate]

Have another rest day so you have 2 and maybe slow down to a snails pace. Also drink lots of water the day before I have been told, as it may be dehydration x

[Kingie04 in reply to Michele2017]

Hadn't thought about water day before. Will try that - thank you!xx

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Hi Kingie04 ...if I were you I’d take an extra rest day...you don’t have to run every other day, the programme doesn’t have to take you 9 weeks, it can take as long as is best for you...just listen to your body, you’ll get there in the end

[Couch-potato in reply to Mummycav]

Good advice, taking more rest days helps me 😊

[Kingie04 in reply to Mummycav]

That's true. I've got it scheduled into weeks but you're right. It's only me running for me!xx

[ToniCR Graduate]

I think my legs felt this way for the first few weeks. It's gotten better each week as my body got used to the running.

[Kingie04 in reply to ToniCR]

That's good to hear. At least I'm not the only one!

[GoogleMe Graduate]

If you do a lot of walking to get places, you may be doing all of this at a faster pace than you need. Your walk and your run don't even need to be different paces, it's a different movement

One slightly depressing caveat though... it might be the shoes. Even a really expert fitter cannot predict whether a shoe will work for you in reality. I had shoes fitted, they felt fabulous in the shop... out on the trail my knees knocked together, I could hardly stay upright and my shins got really sore. I was lucky, I was able to exchange them and the same chap fitted me with another pair which were perfect.

And there is one aspect of the programme that most of us feel is wrong and that is advice to hit the ground heel first. It might be worth checking how you run.

It will get better as ToniCR has said, but obviously there's a risk if you are feeling 'horrible' that you won't keep going long enough so very wise to get some suggestions for tweaks.

[Kingie04 in reply to GoogleMe]

Thanks! You're right I really don't want to quit but equally don't want another day like Sunday!xx

[Lillybeth30mins Graduate]

As others have said: an extra rest day sounds sensible. (I nearly always took 2/3 rest days in between runs for the first few weeks apart from a week off work)

Also, make sure you are running as s-l-o-w as you possibly can

Liz x

[Kingie04 in reply to Lillybeth30mins]

Thanks! Haha I shall try to take down my waddling a notch haha.

[Heyjudyjudy70 Graduate]

Looking back my legs really hurt for the first 3 weeks, keep well hydrated, remember the cooling down stretches after running, they’re really important. The programme really does work, good luck 👍🏃‍♀️

[Kingie04 in reply to Heyjudyjudy70]

Thanks! - which cooling down exercises do you use?xx