Why do my legs hurt more on the second day????

[Jimbob74]

Why do my legs hurt more on the second day than the first day after my run?? I have my run 2 due tonight and my legs are killing. i hope that i can dig deep and get in to it tonight!!

[happierswimming Graduate]

Sounds as if your muscles are stiffening up. They are best sorted with a massage and some heat treatment spray-on or rub in. Also, try to ensure you do some walking on the rest days. It's not a good idea to rest completely! Make sure your run route, especially for these early weeks, is quite flat and that your feet touch the ground heel first to minimise the possibility of injury. I can't promise it will get easier but well done on getting out there and giving it a go.

[didntrunthat Graduate in reply to happierswimming]

I wouldn't worry about heel hitting the ground first, although Laura mentions this in the podcasts, just go with what is natural for you. There is so much research against this - but of course there is always those for it too. If landing on your heel is natural do it, if it's mid-foot, do that! I think when you're on week 1 it's too early to be concerned about that sort of thing

[tantrumbean Graduate]

I've always found that, even when I was doing stuff as a child/teenager - it's always worse on day 2 (not helpful, but true).

[newyorker570 Graduate]

When mine are like that I just give myself another days rest, works wonders.

[Jimbob74 Graduate]

Really pleased with myself, managed to do wk 1 run 2 even though legs were absolutely killing me, wasn't as bad as I thought, just paced myself and tried to control my breathing. Another step forward in the right direction

[pingle Graduate in reply to Jimbob74]

Don't forget stretching. Best done at the end of a run when your muscles are nice and warmed up. Made a huge difference to me.

[ChasingOwls]

I had this, after the first run the day after was achey, two days after was very painful. I took another days rest (active but not exercising specifically). And been fine since <disclaimer I'm only on Wk 2...>

Now I do warm up/down stretches, and jump into a cold (soothing-not freezing) bath when I get in.

[Legion Graduate]

Well done on completing run 2 jimbob. Although I felt fine the day after my first run (obviously didn't try hard enough!), I really felt it in my legs after run 2. I stretch after every run and after run 3 today, I swear I'm having to stretch my leg back further, ie. I think my calf muscles are stretching (a good thing). Good luck with the next one.