nothing in my joints or shins. Just my muscles. I am like a month into real running training for this half marathon and its just no getting any better. I am up to 3 miles every other day. About to start Hal Higdon training on monday.

My leg muscles just burn so bad. I know its common but there is just no way its this bad for everyone. I am in great shape, I always have been. Just never been a distance runner.

Maybe I am just being a sissy about it but I feel like I have a generally high tolerance for pain. Especially workout burn.

before this, I spent a year in crossfit and was always a first place finisher on Wods. Just to give you some perspective on my fitness level.

anyone else dealt with this?

edit to add: I dont think it is my shoes. I wear some Brooks that a specialist at the college station running store sold me.

Only on leg day. Squats and lunges Monday night made last night's run an ordeal.

I assume you're doing something in addition to running? And how fast are these runs?

Make sure you're rolling out.

My legs hurt like hell after leg day as well.

Either running too fast or doing something to not let your body recover. My bet is on too fast

Trust me it's not too fast...3 miles is taking me about 27 minutes right now.

And as far as leg day...I quit working out my legs while I train for this. I plan on doing some very light legs but just haven't yet because my legs are so sore

How old are you?

I don't think your legs should hurt at all after the first 2 weeks of training, not for 3 miles.

27.

And yeah I don't think so either. Especially because I'm in pretty Good shape. 5'9" 180. 31/32 inch waist.

How much were you running before you took this on? Going from 0-3 is a good jump if you weren't doing much running beforehand.

People just starting off usually do too much too soon and too fast.

Well I did crossfit for a year. Quite a bit of running there. And I would do miles or mile and a half all the time. Never anything above that but I would expect plenty enough to where I shouldn't be feeling the way I do

Do you get any numbness or tingling?

When I run? I think I do. I do all the time though when I'm not running. I feel like my limbs fall asleep much quicker than they should.

Hoosegow said:

---

So...

Crossfit doesn't prepare you for everything?

---

My functional strength got way better. And my endurance. During these runs I barely breathe hard at all. It's just my legs that keep me from going forever. You never really run long distances there. Although I know you're just making a joke haha.

"18 (inches)!!!!!" Scarlet o hara wailing over her waist measurement. Mammy: "you ain't never gonna be a 16 again, not after having babies" scarlet cries.

Seriously, back off on pace. I know it's not fast, but you may need to make your easy days ridiculously easy to allow more recovery for your body. Also, do u ever have a whole recovery week where the whole week is easier? Or is every week building and adding mileage. Good luck

cardiovascular system adapts to running/exercise WAY faster than the rest of the body. just b/c you aren't breathing very hard doesn't mean you aren't going too hard. the faster adaption is why a lot of new runners do too much too soon or too fast and end up injured.

I guess I will try to slow it down. But honestly I feel like the faster I go it actually hurts less. my legs burn and feel super bogged down when I try and slow my pace.

My legs burn from seriously the first 100 yards until I finish.

I dont think its the pace.

If you are sure its not pace, try going to a doctor. See if they can figure it out, seems abnormal to me.

honestly thats what I am starting to think based on all these responses. So strange.

I appreciate all of the help from everyone.

good luck. keep us updated, especially if you have to go the doctor route.

It might be that this is the first time that you have exercised your slow-twitch leg muscles. Up until now, you've probably been using mostly fast-twitch (and some slow-twitch) muscles when you were running with cross-fit. But when you slow down, and run 3 miles at 9 min/mile, I would guess that you're using slow-twitch muscle fibers almost exclusively.

I agree that it seems like the pain should go away after a few weeks, so the prolonged pain is interesting. Keep us posted.

I think you should consult your doctor, it sounds like some circulation issues. You might look into compression socks to aid recovery if you don't already from Crossfit.

gigemJTH12 said:

---

When I run? I think I do. I do all the time though when I'm not running. I feel like my limbs fall asleep much quicker than they should.

---

Is this numbness during exercise though?

I would see a doctor.

A friend of mine has a condition called compartment syndrome. As a result, he cannot run. But he can do pretty much everything else, tennis, bike, lift weights. Only when he runs his legs go numb after like a half mile.

It is circulation problem where the muscles cannot expand properly for needed blood flow. It is common in track athletes. If this is what you have you can really do damage to your legs if you keep running without treating it.

So see a doctor and get a proper diagnosis. And if it were me I wouldn't run until I know what the cause is. At least scale it back so you don't have the pain.

wow....thanks for the post. I am going to go to the doctor.

gigemJTH12 said:

---

wow....thanks for the post. I am going to go to the doctor.

---

Also, don't Google for pics of compartment syndrome...

compartment syndrome was rolling around in my head, but i don't know enough about it to have posted about it as a possibility. hopefully that is not your case.

seems like there would be swelling if it was that (based on what I am reading)

yeah, hopefully it's not compartment syndrome. I thought i had that a few years ago and the diagnostic test (I didn't have it done) sounds TERRIBLE.

what were your symtoms?

My leg would feel as if it were about to go numb during my runs. A few times I thought I was about to fall down. It was only happening on my right leg.

Doc told me it was probably just some muscle imbalance. I reduced my mileage and it went away.

The test for compartment syndrome sucks!!!!! Should rule other things before that but it is worth looking at.

You need to see a doctor to get a diagnosis because if it is something like compartment syndrome you can't just ignore it. Here is an article about compartment syndrome from runners world:

http://www.runnersworld.com/tag/compartment-syndrome

You could also take the approach of "distance running hurts my legs, but I feel great otherwise, so I just won't run." And do other sports instead that don't cause pain.

aggiederelict said:

---

The test for compartment syndrome sucks!!!!! Should rule other things before that but it is worth looking at.

---

Yeah and you could skip the test and surgery if you have eliminated everything and just opt to not running and sticking to sports that don't aggrivate your legs.

so it hasnt stopped. I have a doctors appointment for Monday at 3. I have still been running some.

Really starting to think this is some kind of circulation issue.

for example, yesterday I hung my wifes backpack on my shoulder, and my hand was numb in about 2 minutes.

for anyone interested...

went to the doctor yesterday. He referred me to a cardiologist to get some circulation tests run.

Doing that on Thursday. Really hoping this is something that can be fixed easily.