Painful lower legs

[Rooster678]

Hello All,

It's been a couple of weeks since I graduated. I've continued with 3 x 30 minute runs a week with a view to increasing my distance. Currently running about 3.8km over 30 minutes which is slow but I'm making a few metres of progress with each run.

Lately, I've experienced very heavy, almost wooden legs as I'm calling them. I've stretched before going out at 6am, the only real time I can as it's before school run and my husband is still at home before leaving for work. To be honest, I enjoy going out early as it sets me up for the day.

Can anyone suggest anything please? I feel and look like a 90 year old hobbling along for the first 5 minutes or so before I can get into rhythm but legs still feel dragged along. I should add the pain is around the calves rather than the shins. I'm guessing the colder weather isn't helping. I've also noticed that I'm experiencing discomfort walking down hills or steps too. I've read about compression leggings, leg warmers, doubling up leggings.... is it just that my legs are cold? I do have skinny chicken - or shall I call them - rooster lower legs!!!

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

Sounds like overuse probs to me - have a rest for a few days , I am sure it will all go away. The body needs rest to recover and grow stronger - C25K is an absolute minimum training programme and it does take a long time longer for muscles to build. Try walking only every third week.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Which stretches do you do before going out? Recommended stretches before a run are dynamic and more like the movements you’ll be making... any stretch that needs holding for any number of seconds is a static one and for after a run while you’re warm... doing those before can cause all sorts of problems.

Compression can certainly help the muscles.

[Rooster678]

Thanks Bazza and UFN, I'll try walking every three weeks. This morning it was a bit warmer so tried running having had a few days rest.

It was another difficult run with some walking a couple of times. My knees were stiff, I did a brisk walk for 5 mins and some dynamic stretches along the way. A brisk walk to finish off with, some stretches and a cold leg shower to help recovery.

What am I doing wrong? It wasn't even that cold this morning, 8°c, wore thicker leggings, my body wasn't cold at all. I feel a bit defeated this morning 😟

It's my knees that feel tight and tops of the calves. I struggled a bit to walk down slopes and stairs over the last couple of days. Rest is probably the answer with some low impact exercise and stretching I can imagine. Don't want to give up running after so much effort.

[Vixs1 Graduate]

I get various pains in my legs and a health and fitness trainer told to try taking a magnesium supplement, there is stuff on the internet about magnesium tables for runners, it might be worth reading to see if it sounds like it would help you too?

[Rooster678 in reply to Vixs1]

Thank you, I'll look into that.

[Vixs1 Graduate in reply to Rooster678]

I am also thinking of buying magnesium oil or magnesium gel, apparently you can rub onto problem areas, I am like you and would love to run more but have to rest cause of the aches.

[Rooster678 in reply to Vixs1]

It's so frustrating, never had any problems with my knees before, I was ecstatic to be able to run with heel insoles in because of planter fasciitis, I really thought that might cause a problem but this is more annoying.

[Nita49 Graduate]

I'm not an expert, but I'm thinking it sounds like overuse and tight calve muscles.

So I'd say rest up, just walk slowly and drink plenty of water and as for stretches.. After any activity and just do 3 stretches for a 30second hold.

And as we age, any supplement is a good thing.

I hope things improve for you, if they don't see a physiotherapist x