marathon training question

maemiller

Has anyone experienced this on their long runs? Im training for my first marathon in Chicago. On my long runs at miles 16-18 my legs (quads/knees) get so tight like they feel like they are locking up. I stop frequently to stretch or do other exercises (high kicks/butt kicks) just to shake it out and then continue my runs. I always warm up and stretch beforehand and dont understand why my legs lock up. I havent increased my mileage and have been doing 16-18 for about 2 months.

Am I doing something wrong? Or is this what runners call the wall? How do I get past this?

rybo

When i do long runs on flat ground with little change in speed or stride, my legs will get really tight from running the same pace/stride for such a long time.
When that happens I'll take a 50-100 yard stretch & d othe high knees or butt kicks. I've never had to stop & stretch, the stride change has always been able to loosen me up enough.

Ezwoldo

This is where your body is saying ok I had enough now (The Wall) and if you just keep it going after a while it excepts what your doing and just lets you get on with it, I have had this a few times when riding when I get to just after 80 miles it says enough and I just trudge through it and after 10 mins or so its fie again. The improtant thing is to just keep going and don't stop or you will find it very hard to start again.

bunchesonothing

http://www.livestrong.com/article/425532-beginner-runners-who-get-bad-leg-cramps-while-running/

Could be any of these things really... and possibly more.

This is not the wall. The wall is when your body and mind don't want to continue. You feel like doing anything but continuing. Fatigue. When your glycogen reserves have been used up and your body is trying to pull from another source. This is not a cramping situation. This can be, a "seeing little green men" situation.

bunchesonothing

Runnersworld forums:
http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/runner-communities/marathoners/cramping-during-long-runs

maemiller

My legs just gets so heavy, stiff and sore. Its not cramps (been there) and i know how that feels like. Ill try to change my strides on my next long run. Im cutting back to 10 miles this weekend and then jumping to 19miles the following week.

THANK YOU!!