Help! Quad pain

[kathleendsm]

Hello all, I'm training for the Princess and my "corral placement" half in October. Training is actually going really well, I'm faster than I've been in the past couple of years and I'm feeling hopeful as I head into the half on October 20. Just one issue...my left quad. While I'm running it feels fine, but after I stop it gets pretty sore. Actually, it is sore until I move around for a few minutes, and then after walking a bit it feels fine again until I sit for too long. If I take a rest day or two the pain goes away, and then returns after the next time I run.

Any suggestions? I really want to do well in this race and get into a decent corral. Plus I'm just feeling really good about where I am right now. I'm going into my last 3 long runs and want to make sure I can finish training and run a good race. Thanks in advance!

 

[cewait]

Most likely it is an ‘itis’ of some sort or a Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). The only way to get a true understanding of the issue is a visit to a health care professional.

However, to give you an idea of things to think about…Can you be a little more precise on where in the quads.... ie inner quad just above knee, outer quad and high or low, middle quad about a third of the way up?

Do you stretch post run? Roll your legs? Any other pains or recovering from other pains.

 

[kathleendsm]

Most likely it is an ‘itis’ of some sort or a Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). The only way to get a true understanding of the issue is a visit to a health care professional.

However, to give you an idea of things to think about…Can you be a little more precise on where in the quads.... ie inner quad just above knee, outer quad and high or low, middle quad about a third of the way up?

Do you stretch post run? Roll your legs? Any other pains or recovering from other pains.

Thanks! In terms of location, it's about half way between my knee and hip on the inner thigh....so maybe the adductor rather than the quad? I walk a bit to warm up before I start running, and walk to cool down for a few hundred yards. I also stretch after running: quad stretch, inner thigh stretch, hamstring stretches, hip flexor stretches. I don't roll my legs but am intrigued by trying it. I do have bunions and occasional foot pain, but new shoes are helping that. It could throw off my stride though I suppose.

As I said, the odd thing is that when I'm doing activity, it doesn't bother me. It's after resting if I get up that my leg "yells" at me, and then after moving around for a few steps it stops hurting so much.

 

[cewait]

Thanks! In terms of location, it's about half way between my knee and hip on the inner thigh....so maybe the adductor rather than the quad? I walk a bit to warm up before I start running, and walk to cool down for a few hundred yards. I also stretch after running: quad stretch, inner thigh stretch, hamstring stretches, hip flexor stretches. I don't roll my legs but am intrigued by trying it. I do have bunions and occasional foot pain, but new shoes are helping that. It could throw off my stride though I suppose.

As I said, the odd thing is that when I'm doing activity, it doesn't bother me. It's after resting if I get up that my leg "yells" at me, and then after moving around for a few steps it stops hurting so much.

Could be a small and subtle change in stride from the new shoes. Run in your older shoes on the next shorter run to see how it reacts. Your description sounds a lot like DOMS. DOMS is that soreness that you feel in a muscle after a hard workout. Depending on you, your body and the severity of the workout, DOMS usually hits about 24 hours after the work but can be felt a person in a short time. DOMS in a smaller muscle can go away once the supporting muscle is warmed and the blood flow increases.

Try the old shoes on a short run and see if that lessens the issue.

 

[kathleendsm]

Interesting! Would that be typical in just one leg? My right leg seems fine, but now I wonder if I'm somehow putting more pressure on the left or have a different gait. I'll try out my old shoes. I really hope that's the reason, because then I wouldn't worry so much....with this race in about 5 weeks I'd like to avoid changing plans!

I really appreciate your advice and knowledge.

 

[DoctorK]

Isn't there a correlation between running against traffic on cambered roads and left leg (lower leg) injury?

 

[cewait]

Isn't there a correlation between running against traffic on cambered roads and left leg (lower leg) injury?

It is thought that this can occur. Though the injuries tend to be more joint related and not as much muscular. Does not mean that this is not camber related, it seems to make sense to eliminate the newer shoes from the equation first. Thinking of the mechanics of a new found cushion, a natural tendency to lengthen the left leg stride as a result, especially if one is looking for a little extra speed – it is something to consider.

It's a great question.

 

[kathleendsm]

It is thought that this can occur. Though the injuries tend to be more joint related and not as much muscular. Does not mean that this is not camber related, it seems to make sense to eliminate the newer shoes from the equation first. Thinking of the mechanics of a new found cushion, a natural tendency to lengthen the left leg stride as a result, especially if one is looking for a little extra speed – it is something to consider.

It's a great question.

Now that is intriguing....I have been looking for more speed. Should I be paying attention to my gait, is it possible that I'm thrusting out my left leg and straining it a bit?

I know one of my issues is that I have trouble doing easy runs. Once I see those pace numbers going down it's really hard for me to tell myself that it's ok to slow it down, even for long runs. I'm wondering if that's part of my problem and if I need to force myself not to make every run a tempo run.