sore legs!!

[Mojo3067]

hi all, I’m on week 8 and after repeating a few weeks here and there I’m struggling with sore, aching legs. Other than the first couple of weeks I’ve not experienced this but struggling to complete the run and hobbling about all evening after the run. Thankfully I’m fine the next day-Im 55 and wondered if im doing too much too soon?! Any tips ?

[Hidden]

Hi Mojo! Well done so far...but it's a shame that your fun and enjoyment are being undermined with painful legs. I'm 14 years older than you and have just finished Week 9 luckily without leg problems, so I'm guessing it's not age per se. But it may be connected to leg strength, in which case repeating weeks seems like a positive idea before pushing forward. (I repeated Week 2 because of achy knees and that seemed to sort the problem.) If you can remember in which week it started, it might be worth going back to the week before that and repeating it a few times??? Also maybe some kind of self-massage of your legs after a run might help - although if it's a joint pain that won't necessarily help. Good luck!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

How much have you upped your strength and any rest day exercises as the runs have got longer? There are many ideas on the S and F Forum.. including some new links for leg exercises...in some of my latest posts..

Taking it gently, trying to land lightly and making sure those new running legs are warmed up well and that you are giving them some TLC after the run, will really help.

[Cmoi Graduate]

Hi Mojo3067 , well done on getting to week 8!

Some thoughts: are you warming-up before and cooling down after your run? Are you doing pre-and-post-run stretches? Taking at least one rest day between run days? How's your hydration? Are you simply trying to go a bit faster than you need, and maybe overstriding? Are your shoes OK?

As you can see, there can be lots of factors. Strength exercises and massage might well help too, but I'm a lazy cow and rarely bother with either. It's not your age though - I didn't even start C25K until I was 59 and I'll soon be 63.

Enjoy the rest of C25K!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

A mere youngster x

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Indeed I am Oldfloss , plus I now act my shoe size and not my age!

Proof in the attached photo of a recent forest walk with Jedi. We tried to scramble through, but he was so unimpressed and I got so scratched that we actually turned back. xx

Dog contemplating path blocked by arboreal debris in a French forest

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Wonderful!!! x

[Moogaid]

Well done on week 8, that's a great effort! I'd maybe try drinking a protein drink of some form before you got to bed on a run day. Certainly if I exercise running or gym and I don't I really feel it the next day. Keep going!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate]

With the proviso that I'm not a doctor, maybe take a couple of paracetamol before you go to bed? I had similar problems to you and this was the advice my sister, a hugely experienced hospice nurse who knows all about pain management, gave me. I was worried it would mask injury but it just took the aches away a treat.Obviously if it persists you should see a doctor/physio.