muscle tightening on long runs

cindybickler
cindybickler Posts: 113 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Any runners out there experience muscle tightening on a long run? Sometimes about 6 miles into my run my left leg gets tight and I have to stop and stretch or walk a bit. want to do a half marathon but I need to figure out why this happens. It really isn't a cramp either....

Replies

  • jenniferstanton
    jenniferstanton Posts: 132 Member
    From what I've heard and read it could be a number of different things. Lack of magnesium and sodium, not stretching properly, dehydration, genetics! Have you tried going on some running websites? Sorry I couldn't help more. Good luck!
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    If your fluids and electrolytes are in balance it may be nothing more than stress from the run. More training will fix that. If you have to stop and stretch then that's ok.

    I've been running a while and it happens to me sometimes also. Usually I have no idea why. As long as it doesn't happen often I don't worry about it and just chalk it up to being tired.

    If it is something that happens on every run though you need to try and pinpoint the cause; stride imbalance, weak muscle, inadequate recovery, impending injury, etc.
  • cburns178
    cburns178 Posts: 2
    I agree with everything said above and would add shoes as something to consider. How many miles do you have on the pair you are wearing now? Shoes get about 300-500 miles, depending upon how you use them. I'm towards the lower end of the spectrum. When mine starts to go, I will get leg cramps and other pains a few miles into the run that i would never credit to the shoes if I did not already know what it was.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    I am not a runner but i do insanity (HIIT training) and have noticed this happens to me when i dont get enough calories. How many are you eating?
  • cindybickler
    cindybickler Posts: 113 Member
    you all bring up some of the things i have been wondering about. I have been pretty good about staying hydrated....i thought maybe i wasn't drinking enough on my long runs. i have a hand held bottle that really doesn't hold too much. I do drink gatorade on my long runs. i even tried eating a banana and a little peanut butter before a long run, that run was no problem. ran 9 miles. I am old so i make sure i stretch good : )

    i actually upped my calories about 3 weeks ago. 1500 per day.

    just finished a 6 week sprinting program. maybe i did over train???

    i have about 250 miles on my shoes that i did purchase at a running store.

    Thanks for everyones input!
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member

    just finished a 6 week sprinting program. maybe i did over train???
    I think this is the most likely culprint. Hydration / electrolyte issues would explain a cramp; lack of calories would explain slow pace, lfatigue, generalized soreness. Repeated bouts of soreness in one particular muscle, especially if it's assymetrical, sounds more like impending overuse injury.
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member
    PS - which part of your leg, specifically? Is the pain dull, sharp, etc.?
  • cindybickler
    cindybickler Posts: 113 Member
    it is along side of my left leg. it is like my calf muscle and my hamstring tighten and when my foot strikes the road it hurts. sometimes it will go away after a minute or two and sometimes i have to stop and stretch.... and it usually happens around the 6 or 7 mile mark. I run a 10 minute mile for my 5K and i usually keep a 10:20 to 10:30 easy pace for my long runs. sometimes i will catch myself with a 10:10 pace and i try to slow it down a little.
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member
    hmmm
    check this out:
    http://www.runnersworld.com/runnersbody/tool.html
  • cindybickler
    cindybickler Posts: 113 Member
    hmmm
    check this out:
    http://www.runnersworld.com/runnersbody/tool.html

    nice link, thank you!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    you all bring up some of the things i have been wondering about. I have been pretty good about staying hydrated....i thought maybe i wasn't drinking enough on my long runs. i have a hand held bottle that really doesn't hold too much. I do drink gatorade on my long runs. i even tried eating a banana and a little peanut butter before a long run, that run was no problem. ran 9 miles. I am old so i make sure i stretch good : )

    i actually upped my calories about 3 weeks ago. 1500 per day.

    just finished a 6 week sprinting program. maybe i did over train???

    i have about 250 miles on my shoes that i did purchase at a running store.

    Thanks for everyones input!

    Could be that 1500 isnt enough. Thats actually low for someone who is active and especially if you dont have much to lose. If you want i can run your number if you can post your height and weight and if you do other workouts beside running.
  • ixap
    ixap Posts: 675 Member

    i actually upped my calories about 3 weeks ago. 1500 per day.

    Could be that 1500 isnt enough. Thats actually low for someone who is active and especially if you dont have much to lose.
    I had thought she meant netting 1500. OP if you are eating only 1500 total and then running 5-10 miles most days, I'd agree that seems low and could possibly explain excessive soreness.
  • Pedal_Pusher
    Pedal_Pusher Posts: 1,166 Member
    Try some endurolyte tablets by Hammer Nutrition, they work great for muscle cramps
  • cindybickler
    cindybickler Posts: 113 Member
    I was at a friends house last night and her husband is a runner and I talked to him about my issue. He thought it is my IT band. Sooooo today before my run I stretched my out my IT bands very, very good before I got to the park then did my usual stretches. I am happy to say that I ran 10.5 miles today with NO ISSUES!!! I think a 1/2 marathon is in my very near future. Thanks to all that gave me suggestions and I have also put some it to good use too!

    Thank You! Love my MFP friends, YOU ROCK!

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