Training when your leg muscles are stiff? Yay or nay?

Pisco Sour

Due to the icy conditions I went 6 days without running (usually I run every 2 or 3 days). So after my last run 2 days ago my legs felt stiffer than usual. Perhaps this is due to not running for 6 days, perhaps not. Either way my muscles are still uncomfortably stiff. I want to do a 12-13 mile LSR tomorrow but am now wondering if it is a smart idea to go running such a long distance with stiff muscles. What's the general consensus on this type of thing?

gerard65

04072511 wrote: »

Due to the icy conditions I went 6 days without running (usually I run every 2 or 3 days). So after my last run 2 days ago my legs felt stiffer than usual. Perhaps this is due to not running for 6 days, perhaps not. Either way my muscles are still uncomfortably stiff. I want to do a 12-13 mile LSR tomorrow but am now wondering if it is a smart idea to go running such a long distance with stiff muscles. What's the general consensus on this type of thing?

Sounds like DOMS - I would'nt do the LSR tomorrow, a couple of days of easy shorter runs may be a better idea to get the legs going again.

tisnotover

yay, but...do a recovery paced run tomorrow and see how u feel for the longer run the day after.

Pisco Sour

Normally it wouldnt be a big deal for me to delay my LSR by a day and do it on Wednesday instead but worried that the ice will be back by then and then wont get any LSR done at all then!

RacoonQueen

The ice will be back tomorrow methinks.

Pisco Sour

RacoonQueen wrote: »

The ice will be back tomorrow methinks.

Ugh Fantastic news that!! How long will it be here for this time?

pkumohideeile

So you've done one run since your 6days off running. And you run every 2-3 days. I don't think 6 days off running will affect anyone at all, and like you say you've already done a run since then, that will be useful for easing yourself back into your training pattern. But now you say your legs are sore.

"No pain no gain" comes to mind here. Obviously there's the wrong sort of pain that you need to stop training from, but other pains like sore and heavy legs need to be just run through. Give the LSD run a go i think and be prepared to stop if you really feel that it's wise. Run on grass, forest trails or beach to get away from ice.

Perhaps it's not 6 days off running when you think about it. If you train every 2nd or 3rd day then it's 3-4 days off running due to ice.

Pharma

For the love of god my legs are stiff should I run! Of course you should. You aren't injured, you will almost certainly feel better after the run, the stiffness will take a week to go away whether you run or not. I didn't run for a week because of flu and for about 2 weeks my calf muscles were chronically stiff. It goes away. Be thankful that you don't have a proper reason not to go running like injury. Your body is merely adjusting. The more you run the less stiff you will be. Stretching will help as well. But this "my legs are stiff I can't run" is the reason why Irish running is in the state it's in. Sorry to put it so bluntly but sport hurts, get over it.

the_syco

RacoonQueen wrote: »

The ice will be back tomorrow methinks.

If you have to stop suddenly (as a car/dog/person got in your way), the lack of grip may not allow you to. As well as that, you'd almost need to walk the route first, to look for icey spots, as otherwise you could have a nasty fall

Have seen a few joggers/runners out around over the past few days, though. Mainly running alongside the paths next to main roads. This is actually a good idea, as the heat from the cars seem to have a positive affect, and there doesn't seem to be as much ice in those places, but as always, watch your step.

Would there be any "pay as you go" gyms nearby, that you could pop into, and run for a few miles, until the snow/ice goes away? Only do cash in hand transactions, and don't join any gym "for just 3 months" as a certain gym (ryhmes with Cacky Kellies) pretends to do a 3 month contract, but it turns into a 12 month contract that you can't leave :mad:

aero2k

the_syco wrote: »

Would there be any "pay as you go" gyms nearby, that you could pop into, and run for a few miles, until the snow/ice goes away? :mad:

It's not exactly nearby, but I've seen posters advertising the gym at Rathborne (Ashtown, on the canal bank near the Phoenix Park). They're doing monthly memberships for €20. I've no idea what the facilities are like. Sorry, I don't have contact details, but Google may help.

limericklion

Pharma wrote: »

For the love of god my legs are stiff should I run! Of course you should. You aren't injured, you will almost certainly feel better after the run, the stiffness will take a week to go away whether you run or not. I didn't run for a week because of flu and for about 2 weeks my calf muscles were chronically stiff. It goes away. Be thankful that you don't have a proper reason not to go running like injury. Your body is merely adjusting. The more you run the less stiff you will be. Stretching will help as well. But this "my legs are stiff I can't run" is the reason why Irish running is in the state it's in. Sorry to put it so bluntly but sport hurts, get over it.

I agree 100% with this. Craig Mottram has stated before that he often feels like a 70 year old before a recovery run but feels a lot better after it. I doubt he is taking days off and any other elite athlete for that manner. I dont want to sound biased but back when I was running such softness was not prevalent. Sorry but running is a tough sport designed for tough people. Regards and just get out and enjoy the running

Pisco Sour

Well I decided to take yesterday off and give myself an extra day's rest. Ran 13.35 miles today, which was the furthest I have ever ran in my life, and in the worst conditions I have ever run in, so I dont think taking an extra day to recover should be classified as "softness". Running today was anything but!

Pisco Sour

limericklion wrote: »

I agree 100% with this. Craig Mottram has stated before that he often feels like a 70 year old before a recovery run but feels a lot better after it. I doubt he is taking days off and any other elite athlete for that manner. I dont want to sound biased but back when I was running such softness was not prevalent. Sorry but running is a tough sport designed for tough people. Regards and just get out and enjoy the running

News Alert: I aint an elite athlete!

limericklion

04072511 wrote: »

News Alert: I aint an elite athlete!

Sorry replace the word elite with aspiring as elite means only the very few although there are hundreds of aspiring athletes in this country and in the sport of athletics in general who do recovery runs when stiff and feeling old.