Push through the pain?

nekosimba
nekosimba Posts: 239 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So I just started the C25K program this week and my legs are already killing me. It burns when I walk or do stairs. I did day one of C25K Monday, then yesterday I worked out on the elliptical doing intervals. Day 2 of C25K is today. I want to do it, but I also don't want to over exert myself. Will running help ease the pain? or do my legs need a rest?

Replies

  • josiereside
    josiereside Posts: 720 Member
    Do you think it is just muscle soreness or actual pain, like from an injury??
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    Soreness is not pain.
  • nekosimba
    nekosimba Posts: 239 Member
    Just soreness and muscle stiffness
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Just soreness and muscle stiffness

    Then push through. The activity will actually be good for it, as it'll increase blood flow to the muscles.
  • josiereside
    josiereside Posts: 720 Member
    If just soreness, I would do your walk/run... but if you feel sharp, stabbing pain at any point stop. You can expect to be sore with a new activity.
  • SunshineDecember
    SunshineDecember Posts: 70 Member
    I don't work out when I'm really sore - muscles need rest to recover and get stronger. Also you risk injury if you go to hard. I know it's hard, though. I always feel guilty when I miss a day of working out, but just gotta remember health is a life long journey - better to take one day of rest than having to take a month (or a year) off due to injuries :)
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    There is a reason C25K has a rest day in betweeen each workout day. It's because the majority of new runners are so out of condition that their legs cannot handle more than that without a high probablility of some type of injury.

    You can probably run through the soreness this time but you should probably follow the program for a couple of months to build up leg strength and resiliance.
  • AmandaW01
    AmandaW01 Posts: 138
    Be very careful - I pushed through the pain and am just starting running again after 6 months off. Its really important that you have your rest days and at the beginning of C25K I wouldn't recommend elliptical workouts on your day off! Be careful, take it slow and listen to your body - did you stretch out your calves, quads and hams properly after your run and workout? If you do you'll find the pain far less if anything. I'd maybe give it a go today and see how it feels but don't push it :-)
  • FitbeTMF
    FitbeTMF Posts: 251
    Are you sure you don't have shin splints?

    I had that problem when I first started running I had AWFUL cheap shoes.

    Muscle pain is one thing, keep stretching and keep going. DON'T forget to stretch

    If you're injured, stop or you'll keep reinjuring

    And for Heaven's Sake. Get good shoes if you haven't already
  • 714rah714
    714rah714 Posts: 759 Member
    If the soreness is a really deep muscle ache, then take a rest day. Too much, too soon.
  • TinaDay1114
    TinaDay1114 Posts: 1,328 Member
    You definitely need to stretch as much as possible -- hamstrings, calves, hip flexors, lower back. Stretch a little before a workout, and a LOT afterward, before your body cools down. I usually keep running when I'm sore (or do some kind of activity) just to keep the blood flowing there. I find the longer I sit still, the longer the soreness / stiffness takes to resolve. But you may have to slow down, or decrease your distance for a bit, depending on how everything feels. ESPECIALLY if you're brand new to running. Listen to your body, and do what you can do.
  • FitbeTMF
    FitbeTMF Posts: 251
    My trainer always tells me motion is lotion! The more you move, the less sore you are
  • nekosimba
    nekosimba Posts: 239 Member
    I did do some stretching, but probably not as much as I should have. I guess I was just a little over ambitious with doing the C25K plus working out on rest days.

    I do have some good shoes from the running room. They are so much better than the cheap ones I had when I first started working out a year ago.
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    I'd switch from doing intervals on the elliptical to a steady state routine. Tends to help a bit more with recovery between C25K sessions.

    But as others have said, push through soreness, rest for pain.
  • josiereside
    josiereside Posts: 720 Member
    If you have a smart phone look into yoga for runners app. It has great pre and post run routines.
  • msaestein1
    msaestein1 Posts: 264 Member
    You might be overdoing it with the run and the elliptical.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    So I just started the C25K program this week and my legs are already killing me. It burns when I walk or do stairs. I did day one of C25K Monday, then yesterday I worked out on the elliptical doing intervals. Day 2 of C25K is today. I want to do it, but I also don't want to over exert myself. Will running help ease the pain? or do my legs need a rest?
    Push throuh sore muscles. But if it feels like an injury (pulled muscle, shin splints, stress fracture), NO!
  • nguk123
    nguk123 Posts: 223
    I like that you are trying to crosstrain around C25K, but maybe getting on a rowing machine, or going for a swim would be better than the elliptical or cycling....
  • DontStopB_Leakin
    DontStopB_Leakin Posts: 3,863 Member
    Just soreness and muscle stiffness

    Then push through. The activity will actually be good for it, as it'll increase blood flow to the muscles.
    ^This.
  • newcs
    newcs Posts: 717 Member
    Just soreness and muscle stiffness

    Then push through. The activity will actually be good for it, as it'll increase blood flow to the muscles.

    I agree with this. I've been in the situation and while I was working out, the soreness went away. It hurts like hell sometimes afterwards but at that point, you've gotten your workout out of the way :) It'll get a lot better. If you get actual pain like joint pain or a sharp muscle pain, then definitely take a rest but soreness is normal and working out will help you get through it.

    I also did yoga and stretching at night when my soreness was bad. It helped a lot. I just used cheap/free online videos.
  • MidwestAngel
    MidwestAngel Posts: 1,897 Member
    Just soreness and muscle stiffness

    Then push through. The activity will actually be good for it, as it'll increase blood flow to the muscles.
    ^This.
    Quoting for good measure
  • newcs
    newcs Posts: 717 Member
    I like that you are trying to crosstrain around C25K, but maybe getting on a rowing machine, or going for a swim would be better than the elliptical or cycling....

    Rowing, done properly, is a full body workout and mostly in the legs. Done improperly, it's an injury waiting to happen.

    Swimming is a good low impact alternative but realistically I'd go with a full body circuit workout that focuses more on upper body with just a little lower body thrown in on non-running days. I've been doing that since October and it's worked out really well.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    i would stick to either the couch to 5k or other cardio, not both.
  • BlackTimber
    BlackTimber Posts: 230 Member
    So I just started the C25K program this week and my legs are already killing me. It burns when I walk or do stairs. I did day one of C25K Monday, then yesterday I worked out on the elliptical doing intervals. Day 2 of C25K is today. I want to do it, but I also don't want to over exert myself. Will running help ease the pain? or do my legs need a rest?

    You need to take it a little easy. For now, just do the C25K. Do not do any other intentional exercise. For today do some walking and stretching.

    The more fit you become the more you will be able to work through some soreness, but as a beginner it might not work and you could end up with a set-back.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Push through. Then go buy a foam roller. You can thank me later. Foam rolling changed my life.
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    Just soreness and muscle stiffness

    Then push through. The activity will actually be good for it, as it'll increase blood flow to the muscles.
    ^This.
    Quoting for good measure
    It really can't be said enough
  • victoriannsays
    victoriannsays Posts: 568 Member
    I pushed through the pain and got quad tendinitis. I was out of commission for a few weeks - so be very careful. If its just muscle soreness, massage them and do a really good warm up and stretch really good afterward :)

    Listen to your body
  • josiereside
    josiereside Posts: 720 Member
    Push through. Then go buy a foam roller. You can thank me later. Foam rolling changed my life.

    can you provide any exercises or references on the best way to use a foam roller for a runner???

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