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    • argh.........
      • Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/18/2010 11:16PM
      • argh.........
      • On a lot of runs, when I try to pick up the pace or go faster, my calves start to burn and hurt even though my breathing is usually not that bad... it feels like my legs cannot keep up with my breathing and I don't know what the problem is. I haven't been running super high mileage either (at least, the mileage I have been at is mileage I have been used to or run before, and I'm not doing a huge amount of workouts either). I took a day off but it still seems to be there, albeit not as badly and it feels like my legs start burning, hurting etc. but then I later check my pace and my pace isn't all that fast... I've been doing strides/hill sprints too. Is this just a funk? Will I get out of it soon? I have an important race in 2 weeks, but it's still important to maintain mileage...
    • Coach Owl Birdo
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/18/2010 11:40PM - in reply to argh.........
      • Coach Owl Birdo
      • In High School, my coach was a former XC state champ, who had grown old and pudgy. He said the same thing as you once - when he had started training again. I was 15 or 16 and I had no idea what he was talking about. He's dead now...

        Are you old and pudgy?

        argh......... wrote:
        On a lot of runs, when I try to pick up the pace or go faster, my calves start to burn and hurt even though my breathing is usually not that bad... it feels like my legs cannot keep up with my breathing and I don't know what the problem is. I haven't been running super high mileage either (at least, the mileage I have been at is mileage I have been used to or run before, and I'm not doing a huge amount of workouts either). I took a day off but it still seems to be there, albeit not as badly and it feels like my legs start burning, hurting etc. but then I later check my pace and my pace isn't all that fast... I've been doing strides/hill sprints too. Is this just a funk? Will I get out of it soon? I have an important race in 2 weeks, but it's still important to maintain mileage...
    • well thats a mystery
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/18/2010 11:43PM - in reply to argh.........
      • well thats a mystery
      • I think the source of your discomfort is what we in the business call "lactic acid build up."
    • Off the Grid
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/19/2010 12:40AM - in reply to argh.........
      • Off the Grid
      • I had that.....right before I was diagnosed w/ anemia.

        Check your ferritin levels. Might be mono too.

        What important race could you have in January?!
    • argh.........
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/19/2010 12:44AM - in reply to Off the Grid
      • argh.........
      • Don't think it is a ferritin problem because I consistently take supplements (last time I checked it a few months back it was fine too). And I don't think it could be mono... I feel fine when I'm not running (not tired or fatigued).

        Important race January = our first indoor meet and if I don't run fast enough I'll get cut from the team.
    • eurodonkey
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/19/2010 4:18PM - in reply to argh.........
      • eurodonkey
      • Massage your calves. Not too hard the first time, but a bit more each day. If they are sore or lumpy, they need some work: massage, stretching (calf raises), maybe a cutback in training. If they feel fine, see a doctor.
    • SMJO
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/19/2010 4:50PM - in reply to eurodonkey
      • SMJO
      • Always best to go to the doctor when you "feel fine"..
    • just saying
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/19/2010 7:46PM - in reply to argh.........
      • just saying
      • i had this happen before my senior year cross country season. i tried to tough out the season and ran like crap the whole time. the only thing that helped was taking a couple of weeks off after the season and starting from scratch. unfortunately you don't have that luxury, so i would just try to take the week before the meet down severely because your legs are probably a bit burned out and need help recovering.

        there is some light at the end of the tunnel because after a horrible cross country season i had huge PRs in all of my track events in both indoor and outdoor.

        good luck
    • Abelian Group
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/19/2010 8:16PM - in reply to tunkcart
      • Abelian Group
      • This happened to me as well right before I found I had low iron. Like the other poster said, go get your iron levels checked.
    • argh.........
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/19/2010 8:27PM - in reply to Abelian Group
      • argh.........
      • I went for my long run today and decided to start slow and just go by minutes, not worry about pace etc. I went pretty slow the first 30 minutes and slowly started going faster, and by the last 30 minutes or so I had definitely picked up the pace and was feeling a lot better... total run time 105 minutes. Legs weren't so bad on this, I think because I didn't try to force the pace at all the whole way and just let it come to me. There were definitely parts where I knew if I went faster I would start feeling the whole legs burning, breathing hard, and die out... but I just let it come to me and ran the last 15 minutes fairly fast. Hopefully that could get me out of my rut... I hear Lydiards runners did something similar...
    • argh.........
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/19/2010 8:50PM - in reply to argh.........
      • argh.........
      • Also my pace wasn't all that fast... but it was only 10 sec/mile slower than yesterday (where I ran less and it hurt a lot more, legs burned etc.).
    • Shoebacca
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/20/2010 10:44PM - in reply to argh.........
      • Shoebacca
      • I find that occasionally going out for a day or two of slow jogging really gives me great recovery. I like doing this periodically if I feel like I'm burnt out or injury is coming on. It's also great before a race. Nines times out of ten you're just cumulatively doing more than your body can overcome with recovery. Just take it much easier for two days and you'll notice a world of difference.
    • tweak
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/20/2010 10:51PM - in reply to Shoebacca
      • tweak
      • ^^^^^^^^ Lydiard's runners also did this (a few days of slow jogging) for exactly the same reason as Shoebacca. I would try that. Do a 2-3 days, even if you feel great, keep it at a nice long, slow jog.
    • argh.........
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/21/2010 1:50AM - in reply to tweak
      • argh.........
      • Just did this, ran nice and long yesterday and did a shorter run (5-6 miles) but easy today. I will attempt some cruise intervals tomorrow...
    • rekrunner
      • RE: Legs start to burn/hurt when I start to go faster, what gives? 12/21/2010 3:34AM - in reply to well thats a mystery
      • rekrunner
      • I cringe...

        well thats a mystery wrote:
        I think the source of your discomfort is what we in the business call "lactic acid build up."