LR- I hope you can help me with some chronic leg pain that I have been experiencing for a few months.
About 3 months ago I was running 6 days per week (35-40 mpw) with one long run (10-12 miles), one hard track work, and one tempo or fartlek being the 'quality' workouts. I pushed it too hard for two weeks and never gave myself a chance to recover after. I didn't feel too bad in workouts but my race times got a LOT slower- 18 min 5K before the hard training to 19:30 5K on the next two races after. At the end of the races I felt ok, I just couldn't seem to pick up the pace. I took 2 weeks easy and then starting back to my normal routine but I felt even worse- I was feeling exhausted even during my easy runs. Also, my legs started feeling tired all the time and, in the mornings or after sitting for a long times, I experienced a dull pain through my quads, hamstrings, and calves. It's a hard pain to describe. In a last ditch effort I took an extended 'break' from running. I haven't run for for 3 weeks now and I continue to experience the pain and fatigue in my legs.
Have any of you experienced this before or can you recommend a way to recover? I would really like to get back to running ASAP!
Other information that my help:
-Climate is hot and humid with temperatures in the high 80s/low 80s.
-Initially suspected dehydration due to the climate, 3 cups of coffee a day, and alcohol on the weekends. Been drinking a lot of water lately with no improvement.
-My diet is fairly healthy. Usually fruit and a protein shake for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, chicken or beef for dinner w/ a veggie. No supplements.
-Running on Saucony Glycerine 11s for almost a year (not the same pair, obviously)
- Cross Trained 2 days per week in addition to running. Usually weight training, paddle boarding, or biking (easy beach cruiser riding... not cycling.