What causes calves to burn and tired arms when running?

teamAmelia
teamAmelia Posts: 1,247 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
A few months ago, I started a running program and my calves would burn and my arms would get so tired. Towards the middle of the program, I no longer had that problem. I started to redo the same program, just about 1 mph faster and I'm experiencing the burning calves and tired arms. Is this bc of I'm going faster and my body isn't used to it?

Replies

  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    A few months ago, I started a running program and my calves would burn and my arms would get so tired. Towards the middle of the program, I no longer had that problem. I started to redo the same program, just about 1 mph faster and I'm experiencing the burning calves and tired arms. Is this bc of I'm going faster and my body isn't used to it?

    Bingo! You're making muscles work harder than they're used to.
  • iheartbiology
    iheartbiology Posts: 104 Member
    Also, are you tensing up when you run?
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    Whenever you change something so that your body isn't used to it, you'll experience DOMS. For instance, on Saturday after each lift, I controlled the negative for a couple of seconds rather than just return immediately to the start position of each rep... I ache really badly today!!
  • TheGymGypsy
    TheGymGypsy Posts: 1,023 Member
    When you use your muscles you build up something called lactic acid on them. The more you work those muscles, the higher their lactic acid threshold it, making it more difficult to make them sore.
  • ThePlight
    ThePlight Posts: 3,593 Member
    Whenever you change something so that your body isn't used to it, you'll experience DOMS. For instance, on Saturday after each lift, I controlled the negative for a couple of seconds rather than just return immediately to the start position of each rep... I ache really badly today!!
    Oh my god, I did that yesterday lol. The burn felt SOOOOO good. I'm paying for it today. TOTALLY WORTH IT. Will do again.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    A few months ago, I started a running program and my calves would burn and my arms would get so tired. Towards the middle of the program, I no longer had that problem. I started to redo the same program, just about 1 mph faster and I'm experiencing the burning calves and tired arms. Is this bc of I'm going faster and my body isn't used to it?

    1 mph faster is quite a bit of time difference.

    I would say that accounts for your muscle pains/fatigue. Most people work pretty hard to shave 30 seconds to a minute off of their pace. To do that so quickly, I think, would be difficult and would probably cause quite a bit of tiredness.
  • fhargis0002
    fhargis0002 Posts: 113 Member
    lactic acid is a bi product of ATP production (our body's energy) and it creates the muscle fatigue and soreness. The more you workout the better this will get.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    The burn you feel immediately as you are running is lactic acid build up.
    http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-does-lactic-acid-buil

    The soreness you feel hours or a days later is DOMS.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness
  • whitebalance
    whitebalance Posts: 1,654 Member
    I've found that I have a little less of it when I get more potassium into my day. YMMV.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    Whenever you change something so that your body isn't used to it, you'll experience DOMS. For instance, on Saturday after each lift, I controlled the negative for a couple of seconds rather than just return immediately to the start position of each rep... I ache really badly today!!
    Oh my god, I did that yesterday lol. The burn felt SOOOOO good. I'm paying for it today. TOTALLY WORTH IT. Will do again.

    I was alright until I tried loading the shopping from the trolley into the boot of my car and then my shoulders decided to remind me what I'd put them through! :D
  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    The speed increase (which is significant) will account for the calf soreness.

    If your arms are sore, you are probably tensing your shoulders while running and keeping your arms too high. Try dropping them down and shaking them out to release the tension on your biceps. Concentrate on running with them loose and relaxed.
  • thatjeffsmith
    thatjeffsmith Posts: 110 Member
    If your arms are sore, you are probably tensing your shoulders while running and keeping your arms too high.

    This! I need to work on this. For 5 miles it gets sore. I imagine when I work my way up to 13.1 I won't be able to get away with it anymore.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    In a parallel universe when everyone is trying to do things as slowly as possible, I tell my tai chi students to activate their lats and pull their shoulders down as they will often find their shoulders start to rise.

    If you find your shoulders are sore, raise them up to your ears and drop them down as far as they will go to remind yourself that you're starting to raise them.

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