Stiff legs....

Sorry to keep banging on about my legs, but I just want to check I’m doing this right! I am about to start wk8r1, but since wk6 my legs have been stiff and uncomfortable. I do a good warm up and cool down and drink plenty, I have also invested in a foam roller and magnesium spray. If the condition of my legs is normal that’s fine.... Would be interested to hear the views of the group. Thanks.

[Hidden]

Hi. So sorry to hear you are still struggling. It is miserable and I can sympathise completely.

Can you explain in a little more detail about how your legs feel? Are your legs feeling stiff all the time between runs or does it eventually ease off before your next run? If you have taken more than one day off between runs does it make any difference to how your legs feel? Does your stiffness appear in specific muscles continually/come and go or feel more like a cramp? Is one leg worse than the other or feel different in the way it reacts? I won’t ask about stretching etc as I know you’ve been doing all that and you’ve invested in foam rollers etc.

I don’t have a medical background but I’m a fellow sufferer!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Della-dot My legs feel really stiff when I get out of bed, sometimes I need to support myself, but this eases up during the day. The number of days off doesn’t seem relevant and both legs are the same - tight and stiff. It’s so frustrating!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It is so frustrating, especially when you have worked so hard to get to this stage. Reading all your previous replies to the other posts it sounds like you are doing all the right things.

Don’t lose heart. I am sure there’s a way round this. It might be that you are over training, as I did around this stage, and you need more days off. Perhaps even a week? You won’t be failing, it would be a sensible choice considering your situation. You could then return to the running with more rest days between. Remember this C25k is yours and for you; adapt it if you need to, I did.

Could your muscle aches be related to any previous injury/surgery? I have an ongoing muscle related problem linked to surgery a few years ago, resulting in the muscles in one of my legs causing me issues. It might be worth a trip to the doctor? If the doc can see the effort you are making on C25k I should think they’d be completely supportive of helping you to overcome this problem. They may suggest a physio appointment. I would also recommend Pilates and yoga. I’ve done yoga for years but was referred to a physio-Pilates instructor by my physio early last year - it has helped and I’m still going.

Unfortunately I’m resting on the IC at the moment after doing W9R1. I’m not rushing back as I have to be 100% fit first, but it was frustrating when it first happened.

There are other suggestions I could recommend, but don’t want to bombard you with info at this stage. This is probably enough to get started with. Keep in touch. I really hope it all works out for you 🤗

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your concern, help and advice - it’s very much appreciated. Will try out all suggestions and keep on going x

[MuddledGardener Graduate]

Are you drinking at least 2 litres, if not more, in this heat? Are you trying to go too fast? Try slowing right down, and then some more. Are you doing the post-run stretches, as outlined by the website? If you don’t have actual pain, I would suggest that you are okay to keep running. Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to MuddledGardener]

Thank you. I’m keeping the fluids up and run slow anyway as I’m quite overweight. I have a good warm up/cool down programme too.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

When you say you drink plenty, is that every day or mainly before a run? It takes a couple of days to become well hydrated so if we are running 3/4 times a week then that’s daily. I aim for 2 litres, plus a litre per hour of exercise, and this heat an extra half litre.

What are you doing on your non running days? I try not to sit for long, and now my watch annoys me if I do. Active recovery days keep my legs a lot looser than a lazier day.

[Hidden in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Hi UnfitNoMore. I try to drink plenty everyday, particularly in this warm weather. Will try and be more active on my down days.

[Madge50 Graduate]

Personally, I’d take an extra rest day and see if that makes a difference. The plan is just a guide, we’re all different. I got to about that point and got overuse injuries, e.g, too much too soon, I took extra rest days and since then have run twice a week, yes it took longer to graduate, but that doesn’t matter, this is your plan, not anyone else’s.

Hope that helps.

Mx

[Hidden in reply to Madge50]

Great suggestion, thank you.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Just get in plenty of leg exercises ... put them into some of your rest day exercise regime... they need TLC

womensrunninguk.co.uk/train...

Load online too.. Try looking at BodyFit with Amy YouTube

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you Oldfloss, will check these out.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Hidden]

X