I suck at running.

[RoJoHen]

I always have, but I don't remember it being this bad. Maybe I'm just out of practice.

I went for a jog this afternoon, and I literally couldn't make it more than 30 seconds without having to stop. My lower legs were so sore! I managed to keep going and probably went about 2 miles alternating running and walking.

One thing I know I do wrong, which I don't know how to correct, it run on the balls of my feet. I blame my marching band days, where I spent hours and hours practicing marches, where you roll on your feet from your heel to your toes. I did so much of that back in the day that I don't know how to make my feet do anything else. And when I try, it hurts my knees.

Basically, I suck, and I don't know what to do differently.

 

[Timby]

You're a bartender (although the definition of that word at TGI Friday's is questionable ), which means your legs are conditioned to quick, lateral movement. Your quads are most likely ridiculously strong, due to the pattern of needing to plant and change directions at a moment's notice.

Start doing calf lifts regularly, and if you burn out on jogging so quickly, try (ugh) power-walking for a while, to build up some strength and muscle memory down there.

 

[RoJoHen]

It probably doesn't help that I spend 8-10 hours a day on my feet at the bar. When I'm not working, my legs like me to lay down. They're probably angry that I'm trying to make them do even more work!

 

[jamestyler]

You have my deepest sympathies. When I had to stop powerlifting and start running I was doing the same - it took a while but I can get a good run without being too shagged out now.

Well, could before my knees decided they were too busy falling out of place :/

 

[SmoothieX]

I'm trying to recover from two foot operations and get back in running form...in the middle of July in the humidity and heat. It's not helping me to get motivated.

 

[RoJoHen]

When I had to stop powerlifting and start running

That sounds like a terrible transition to make!

 

[jamestyler]

When I had to stop powerlifting and start running

That sounds like a terrible transition to make!

It definatly made me hate myself and hat decision to lose weight. Especially now I'm coping with being a hell of a lot thinner

 

[Starbreaker]

I suck at running too. It's because of side stiches though.

 

[Me-Ike]

^ I once read that it supposedly helps when you inhale twice, exhale once. Don't know how credibly that is, though, never had much problems with stitches myself.

As for the OP, maybe your shoes don't agree with you anymore? My legs were being bitches for quite a while until I invested in actual running shoes.

 

[jamestyler]

^ Could be - I ha the same issue as I was running in boxing boots. Sounds foolish - but I didn't own trainers and figured I'd just wear my training gear.

 

[JustKate]

Maybe mine is an amateurish viewpoint but...

What's wrong with walking for a while first? It's still very good exercise, you just have to do it for longer periods in order to get the same aerobic benefit.

And I agree about the shoes. That can make a big difference.

 

[RoJoHen]

Maybe mine is an amateurish viewpoint but...

What's wrong with walking for a while first? It's still very good exercise, you just have to do it for longer periods in order to get the same aerobic benefit.

I spend 8 hours a day walking at work. I don't need to walk any more.

Plus, I just got done re-watching Buffy, and I feel like I should be physically able to run away from a vampire if the situation arises.

 

[Cr031k]

http://Nikeplus.com

 

[JustKate]

Running uses the same muscles as walking - that's what I've always been told, anyway. So I don't quite see how you can do the one for eight hours and be in pain when you try to do the other - therefore there must be something else going on here. I agree with those who suggest that you might want to think about investing in some good shoes.

Oh, and good socks are a wonderful thing, too. They won't help with leg soreness (as far as I know), but it's amazing how effective they are at preventing blisters.

 

[backstept]

Running uses the same muscles as walking

I'm not so sure, of course you're using some of the same muscles but they're definitely slightly different groups
I've noticed that while walking I use mostly the muscles on the back of my legs, and running I use mostly my calves and quads (don't know the names for all the other ones )
in terms of 'feet on the ground' while walking you always have a foot on the ground, sometimes two. while running you're actually hopping from one foot to the other so you either have one foot or no feet on the ground

the faster you go, walking is less efficient than running . . . you know how there's a certain point as you increase speed from a fast walk to a jog that's like "I have to start running now" I don't know how to describe it any better than that
you can walk the same speed as a comfortable jog, but it's less efficient to walk that speed

 

[JustKate]

^ Good point. I can walk for miles, but that's at my own 3.5-4 m.p.h. pace. If I try to speed walk, well...that just ain't right. It gets me in the calves and, particularly, the hips, neither of which ever bother me normally. I feel a bit achy just thinking about it.

Still, there is a lot of overlap between running and walking. Running, for example, doesn't make my muscles hurt - I just don't have the right kind/amount of cardiovascular conditioning for it, and besides, I really hate it. And I like walking. But whatever the reason, apparently there isn't enough overlap for RoJoHen's purposes.

 

[RoJoHen]

I think it's just the fact that it's so much more high-impact than walking that bothers me. It's my lower-legs and ankles that hurt when I do it because they're just not used to that kind of stress.