Lead legs?๐Ÿฆต๐Ÿผ : Can I just ask people who have... - Couch to 5K

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Lead legs?๐Ÿฆต๐Ÿผ

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate
โ€ข44 Replies

Can I just ask people who have completed the C25K do you as runners ever feel like your legs are like lead? Iโ€™ve done consolidation run 9 this morning (still running every other day) and for the first time I actually felt my legs were so heavy!! Just wondering if Iโ€™m doing something wrong? ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ I have felt exhausted all day too!

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Jnubster profile image
Jnubster
Graduate
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44 Replies
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f1madman profile image
f1madmanGraduate

From what I've read dehydration tends to be the cause of heavy legs. Have you been drinking plenty of water yesterday and today?

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to f1madman

I have drunk 2 bottles of 500ml water today Iโ€™m thinking I need to drink the same or more on my days in between.... thanks ๐Ÿ˜Š

f1madman profile image
f1madmanGraduate in reply to Jnubster

There's a saying that goes round here "hydrate today for the run tomorrow" :)

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to f1madman

Yes!! Someone did tell me to drink on my #dayoff ๐Ÿคฃ ๐Ÿ’ฆ

orcadia profile image
orcadiaGraduate in reply to Jnubster

The NHS advice is about 1.2 litres of water per day, so you need more than your two 500ml bottles on a normal day, and then even more to hydrate for running.

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to orcadia

Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š Iโ€™m on a rest day so will get my water intake up today and continue on my run days!

Fuggs profile image
FuggsGraduate in reply to Jnubster

1 ltr a day in this warm weather seems mighty light. Urine colour can be a good indicator. The lighter the colour can indicate the more hydrated you are, the darker not so good. Dark urine indicates the kidneys are concentrating the waste. Bear in mind medications can colour urine as well. Aim for a very pale straw colour....I usually drink 2 litres a day..... at least...more when I run...

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Fuggs

Yes Iโ€™m definitely working on it today!! Iโ€™ve already had 750ml & Iโ€™m peeing like a race horse ๐Ÿ‡ ๐Ÿ™ˆ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ

Fuggs profile image
FuggsGraduate in reply to Jnubster

The correct phrase is peeing like a racehorse on a flat rock....well done

SJ60 profile image
SJ60

Me too today ๐Ÿ˜ฑ I really struggled (consolidation 11) with my 30 minutes. Itโ€™s very odd

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to SJ60

Weird feeling isnโ€™t it? I really felt I was doing ok till this one run! Been really bizarre!

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate

Heavy legs is usually a sign of dehydration

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Instructor57

Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š at least thatโ€™s something I can totally work on!!

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Jnubster

Absolutely, 2.5 to 3 litres a day (even rest days ) ๐Ÿ‘

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Instructor57

Super, thanks so glad I asked ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Instructor57

Iโ€™ve actually realised Iโ€™m only drinking 1 - 1.5 litres a day ๐Ÿ™ˆ

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Jnubster

There ya go then ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ‘

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Instructor57

Totally!! ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

Issywhizz profile image
IssywhizzGraduate

Glad I just read this post, as my legs were feeling heavy too on my runs lately and I know I havenโ€™t been drinking enough water

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Issywhizz

Sorry youโ€™ve experienced the same but at least we know we can do something about it ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿฝโ€โ™€๏ธ

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Issywhizz

Absolutely, 2.5 to 3 litres a day (even rest days ) ๐Ÿ‘

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate

Take an extra day off

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate

Does anyone take water with them when they run? I did do but I got annoyingly sweaty hands!! Now I drink abit before I go & then when I get back

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate in reply to Jnubster

Not unless Iโ€™m running over 10 miles

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Tasha99

Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š have a good day!

Sussex13 profile image
Sussex13Graduate in reply to Jnubster

I bought one of those ring doughnut shaped hand held bottles which works for me, it's only a small one from Decathlon but helps a bit.. might be worth it?

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Sussex13

Yes thatโ€™s what I have my hubby got it bless him! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

Roxdog profile image
RoxdogGraduate

As well as the hydration advice, if you've done lots of consolidation runs and are finding you have heavy legs after running every other day, try taking an extra day off. That might fix it. Whilst you're building a very impressive commitment and keeping motivated, if you're tired, maybe you need a rest period. You could still do other exercises on your rest days.

Good luck!

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Roxdog

Great advice thank you I really appreciate it! Have a wonderful Wednesday ๐Ÿ˜Š

PandaCory profile image
PandaCoryGraduate

Yep - I had a nightmare run a week or so ago, just as you describe. The consensus in my replies (thanks again everyone) was to rest a bit more (maybe take an extra day), and always have enough to drink in advance. It seemed to work, but sometimes these things happen to everyone it seems. You just have to put it behind you and know that the next outing will be better. Good luck!

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to PandaCory

Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š yes Iโ€™m concentrating on drinking plenty of water today ready for tomorrowโ€™s run! Fingers crossed it helps. If itโ€™s still a struggle I may leave an extra day.

addicted2cycling profile image
addicted2cycling in reply to Jnubster

Be aware that over hydrating can result in an electrolyte imbalance and impair muscle function. ALSO, checking your weight before and after exercise can reveal how much water was lost in sweat and not replace by drinking. ALSO x 2 --- anything other than CLEAR urine following exercise means not enough hydration.

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to addicted2cycling

Thank you for the advice, Iโ€™ll bear that in mind also ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

Diamondshoes profile image
DiamondshoesGraduate

Yep, still waiting to run like a gazelle! In fact, since graduating I'm finding it tougher, sometimes I walk for a bit, then start running again.

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Diamondshoes

That still counts especially as youโ€™re running more than you were before the program ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿผ

Rachyee profile image
Rachyee in reply to Diamondshoes

Me too. But even though I walk for a minute or two.. I still think over all that it is great progress compared to where I started from

booksie profile image
booksieGraduate in reply to Diamondshoes

Yes hoping it will happen one day soon to me too! I still think I ran a lot better when it was cooler so at the moment I'm just jollying along still doing it and waiting for the weather to change - a bit like Mary Poppins. ๐Ÿ˜

Surreychica_1 profile image
Surreychica_1

You need to drink at least 2 litres of water a day and if you can squeeze in more do it.

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Surreychica_1

Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š

Kish247 profile image
Kish247Graduate

Hydration is great, until you end up needing to go for a pee twice during the night which isn't great if running in the morning hahaha. I can deffo tell I'm getting old (34 soon which is SO OLD - jokes! )

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Kish247

Ha ha ๐Ÿคฃ thatโ€™s totally me!! I like my sleep & donโ€™t want to have to be popping to the loo! Iโ€™m a woman of a certain age these days!!๐Ÿ™ˆ๐Ÿคฃ

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate

On my 4th bottle of water ๐Ÿ’ฆ sorry to much info alert ๐Ÿšจ omg Iโ€™ve never peed so much!!! ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ

sugarmoon profile image
sugarmoonGraduate

Hi, I was recommended to take magnesium supplements for tired heavy legs as well as drinkinking plenty of water. It seems to be helping so far. ๐Ÿ˜Š

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to sugarmoon

Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š that may be something to think about.

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