Posted by Runner NYC on 5/22/2007 on Runner NYC's blogAs some of you know from my posts, I ran a 10k (to a 1.5 minute PR) on Saturday and an 18-mile training run in 3 hours on Sunday (15.5 minutes faster than my last 18-mile training run and 7 minutes faster than my 18-mile race PR). I worked really hard this weekend and my quads were still a bit sore when I got up this morning. But, I had a ladder on my schedule, so I got on the treadmill and started, assuming I'd have to modify the program when my legs got too sore or tired. Not only did I finish the ladder at 8:35 pace, but my quads weren't sore anymore! How/why did that happen? Is this some trick that I should be using every time I run hard and am sore as a result?
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littlemamalopez says:
Okay, I am no doctor, but here's what I think. You are sore because of tiny tears in your muscles due to the race, training of the weekend. When you exercise, your flowing much needed blood into the muscles and they tend to heal faster.
simon says:
Yeah, exercise has got to be better than TOTAL rest, right?
Here's another thought. (Outstanding PRs, by the way, especially the 18-miler). Did either the race or your 18-miler involve much downhill or uphill running? That's what usually causes the most damage and soreness. Downhill, because you are breaking while you are powering on, is worse. If so, then the flat, steady pace treadmill session was actually therapeutic, like Littlemama says.
Also it didn't hurt as expected because you were using the muscles in a different way.
Of course, it could just be that the realsoreness just hasn't caught up with you yet!!
Runner NYC says:
Thanks!!
The 10k was in Central Park and involved hills for the first half of the race. My personal policy is to give everything to the hill on the way up (run it as hard as I can) and take it all back on the other side (run as fast as I can). I do not brake unless I have to! The 18 miles were on the treadmill. Far from experiencing more soreness, I set a 2-minute PR in a 3.5 mile race last night (after running a 3-mile race the night before)! I rested this morning (I only cycled about 5 1/2 miles to warm up for my personal training session).
I know I did a lot this week, but the Tuesday and Wednesday night races were for my company team. I did not race on Tuesday - I ran it much slower than I could have to keep a co-worker on her pace. I didn't even feel like I was laying it all out last night.
I'm working hard because I want to run the Arctic Circle Marathon at the end of June and I only have a couple of weeks left before I have to taper. Things will be a lot easier now that this week is over.
Thanks for the advice and info and support!!
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