Week 6, run 2 completed, postponing run 3?

[Nenenene]

Hello there runners!

So, on Friday I tried running the second run och week 6 and this time I finished all of it. It was definitely hard work, but I managed. I felt like I was running super slow during the run, but when I came back home and looked at the stats for my run, I was actually running faster than I thought I was. I didn't bring a water bottle this time either, but I dressed in much cooler clothes and made sure the walking part of the run made me walk past a water fountain so that I could take a drink there.

On Saturday I went on a long hike with lots of hills together with my spouse and little dog to enjoy the sunshine. We got turned around on the trail and got a little lost before we found our way again, so the long hike turned out to be even longer.

Sunday we both woke up to really sore and stiff legs (my husband is fit, so if he gets sore, you know it was a hard hike). Suffice to say, I didn't run the third run of the week on Sunday :D.

Now it's Monday and I'm still a bit sore, so I don't know if I should wait an extra day before I try running or if I should just go for it. I really don't like it when I can't complete a run.

How do you handle being sore and running? Do you just go for it, or do you wait until it lessens? I know it's not dangerous to run on sore muscles, but I feel like when I do that I can't perform 100%.

[alisonx Graduate]

Hi Nenenene - i would do 1 of two things here

1 - go for it - have a good stretch at the end and your legs may feel much better

2 - do some gentle aerobic/strength training instead and have a good stretch at the end

The pain actually gets better within 5 mins of starting your exercise and can often help relieve the symptoms.

You know your body best, but if you really feel it is too hard then just rest up

good luck

[Nenenene Graduate in reply to alisonx]

Hrm. You make a good point. I might do the strength and flex exercise now and see if I feel better this evening. I usually run in the mornings, but maybe I can try a nice and short easy run later tonight just to see how the legs are holding up. It might be as you say that they just need to warm up to feel better.

I'll give it a go, thank you so much for your suggestions!

[slow-farah Graduate]

if you're sore better give it another day of rest, will make the run a bit easier hopefully

[Nenenene Graduate in reply to slow-farah]

Yes, I am leaning towards doing that. I did the strength and flex session earlier today and that, at least, went okay. I'll aim for running it tomorrow and we'll see how it goes.

Thanks for your input!

[SnuggleMonster Graduate]

Hi, I had the same dilemma last week. Did w5r3 then a hilly hike and had v stiff, tired legs after for a couple of days. My legs often ache with this new running lark, despite stretching after, and I usually just warm up and ease nicely into the next run with no problems. But - the aches after the hike were different!! I guess new muscles worked hard. I took an extra day rest and was glad to have done so. Happy running whatever you decide x

[Nenenene Graduate in reply to SnuggleMonster]

Yes, I read somewhere that you use very different muscles when you walk and when you run, so that makes sense. But it's nice to know that someone else also experienced the same thing I did, I was a little surprised to feel so sore after the hike.

And I'm going to do as you did and take an extra rest day before I give run 3 of week 6 a go.

Thanks for sharing your experience and happy running to you as well!