Quad Pain & Running

joakool

I'm currently running about 25 - 30+ miles a week. Except for a minor ache or pain here and there due to a long run, I usually feel great. An old knee injury was aggravated a few weeks ago, so I took a week off from running. When I started up again a week later, I felt 100% but still eased back into my training program for the first few days to make double sure I was healed. My problem is my quads are killing me ever since I started back! Painful to the point I struggle to maintain pace. Also, walking upstairs or sitting down hurts. The only time I'm this sore is if I ran a HM (and that only lasts for 24- 48 hours). I'm due for new shoes (which I bought today). Could that have something to do with the pain? Usually when I'm due for new shoes I can tell by unusual pain in my LOWER leg, not my quads. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I have a HM at the end of the month and I'm really nervous if I'll be strong enough.

joakool

Any suggestions? I'm really stressing out over this problem.

MinnieInMaine

Could be the shoes... Now that you have new ones, you can easily test it out by seeing how you feel after you run in them.

Do you have access to a foam roller? My hammies tend to get super tight so when they're bad, I'll use the foam roller at the gym and that seems to help speed up the healing quite a bit.

Are you making sure you're well hydrated? Have you tried icing it or even a heat/ice rotation? I'm assuming you've got a good stretch program since you run HMs but still - are you stretching well? Ibuprofen?

gmthisfeller

I'm assuming you've got a good stretch program since you run HMs but still - are you stretching well? Ibuprofen?

+1

Stretch 'em. Whenever I am off for a long period (3 or 4 days) I hurt unless I stretch...and stretch...and...

joakool

I don't stretch. My cool downs consists of walking a few blocks home from the bike path. I could incorporate some stretching to my routine. I am borrowing a friend's foam roller tomorrow to give that a try, too. Thank you for the advice.

gmthisfeller

I don't stretch. My cool downs consists of walking a few blocks home from the bike path. I could incorporate some stretching to my routine. I am borrowing a friend's foam roller tomorrow to give that a try, too. Thank you for the advice.

Report back, please. I hope stretching helps.

joakool

Will do! Thank you again.

joakool

Improvement this morning. Mostly just pain in left quad after 4-1/2 miles. Keeping my fingers crossed I will start feeling better now. I have a 12 mile run scheduled for Sunday, I should know then for sure. LOL.

timeasterday

Definitely need some stretching & foam rolling. Are you doing any downhill running? That will get the quads fired up. One other possibility is poor hip function. I injured my hip several months ago and noticed the quads in that leg would get very sore because my hip flexors were not working like they should. Weak glutes were another factor.

MinnieInMaine

Good luck!

joakool

Definitely need some stretching & foam rolling. Are you doing any downhill running? That will get the quads fired up. One other possibility is poor hip function. I injured my hip several months ago and noticed the quads in that leg would get very sore because my hip flexors were not working like they should. Weak glutes were another factor.

It's interesting that you mentioned downhill running because I read an article about quad pain and the author (based on personal experience) suggested vigorous downhill running to "fix" sore quads. I normally maintain pace evenly up and down hills but per this guy's suggestion, I FLEW down my hills Wednesday (both fun and scary LOL). I have to say I did feel better the next day. I have to believe it helped. And, yes, I rolled my thighs with a hand roller every time I sat down yesterday. AND new shoes today. Something has to be working! HAHA.

And, hey, you stole my profile pic. LOL!

AmandaForKeeps

And, hey, you stole my profile pic. LOL!

LOL!!