I run out of LEGS before running out of breath

Stride analysis-make sure you're not overstriding, could be using lots more energy than you need to.

Leg exercises-you just started and with the sedentary lifestyle lots of people have you may have underdeveloped glutes even if you're fairly active.

Make sure you aren't confusing LEGS with MENTAL FORTITUDE

Run more, run easy.

It's normal, man. Cardio improves much, much faster than leg muscles. Just keep building strength and your legs will catch up.

weak legs wrote:

I started running one month ago.

That pretty much explains it. You probably have weak legs and need to strengthen them. Pretty typical. Just keep running.. it'll get better.

anemia?

UA Runner wrote:

weak legs wrote:

I started running one month ago.

That pretty much explains it. You probably have weak legs and need to strengthen them. Pretty typical. Just keep running.. it'll get better.

+1

Body breaks down because you're not used to running very far

It’s a great fallacy to think that your running ability is divided between your lungs and your legs. When people see a runner with powerful looking legs they say ‘they just need more endurance’ and visa versa, if you have skinny legs people say ‘oh you need more STRENGTH’.

Your heart and lungs deliver oxygen to your muscles cyclically throughout the run. It’s all one system.

Juice Springsteen wrote:

It’s a great fallacy to think that your running ability is divided between your lungs and your legs. When people see a runner with powerful looking legs they say ‘they just need more endurance’ and visa versa, if you have skinny legs people say ‘oh you need more STRENGTH’.

Your heart and lungs deliver oxygen to your muscles cyclically throughout the run. It’s all one system.

So what I'm gleaming from your post is that the OP has a bad (underdeveloped) heart for running. It's the most possible explanation considering his recent entry to the sport.

I also run out of LEGS... when doing 6:00/mi pace back-to-back long run on empty stomach the day after 10k race.

But seriously it's typical for beginners. Your muscles are just weak and you fire up fast twitch fibers at low speeds (relative to your vo2max) so you obviously experience fatigue fast.

You will need to slow down on your runs and build up gradually

That happened to me all the time, and the varsity group would pass me on the second 4 mile loop while I was still on my first. I just kept pushing these runs(longer) until now I could run with varsity if I wanted to, but I dont.

The tips:

1. Push it on the long runs(a lot of people are going to disagree with me on this one, but it makes you so much faster from 27:00 5k to a 21:00 5k.

2. Small amounts of weight training is helpful

3. If you used to be a runner, it could be your legs easing back into running.

Good Luck-EGF

Run hills

5x18, 1 min rest. A few weeks of that and you'll be golden.

An LRC staple wrote:

5x18, 1 min rest. A few weeks of that and you'll be golden.

5x18? I don't get it

This may have nothing to do with your situation, but I had a heart attack at 54 and one of the post-recovery symptoms is that when doing treadmill work my legs feel dead and cramped long before my breathing does. When I was younger, I would also be out of breath when I got very fatigued. It is frustrating that even with quality rehab I can't get out of breath as my legs give out first.

5x18? wrote:

An LRC staple wrote:

5x18, 1 min rest. A few weeks of that and you'll be golden.

5x18? I don't get it

5 reps of 18 miles, 1 min rest between reps.

Either run cross country because cross country runners have stronger legs or half squats because those improve running economy. I prefer trap bar deadlifts and running on grass but same thing. Skipping rope on one leg, pulling a tire on grass, I mean kiprop did it. I mean just go make your legs stronger or run more miles because that's the other way to improve economy.

Yarly wrote:

Either run cross country because cross country runners have stronger legs or half squats because those improve running economy. I prefer trap bar deadlifts and running on grass but same thing. Skipping rope on one leg, pulling a tire on grass, I mean kiprop did it. I mean just go make your legs stronger or run more miles because that's the other way to improve economy.

Okay, but is there anything I can do right now to help me? Like is there a pill I can pop or some shoes I should buy?

It will be that way as long as you are fat. Get down to around 5% body fat and, viola , legs are fine.