Figuring this out...

OK. So since I'm at a loss for what is causing my leg pain, which is negatively impacting my running enjoyment, I've decided to track the hell out of myself for a few weeks and see if anything comes to light. Hopefully it does, or it just gets better with consistency. If not, I will have details for a doc. :/


3 mile run
Time: 1:15 pm.
Surface: mostly brick sidewalk
Terrain: gently rolling hills, no big climbs
Shoes: Brooks F'uglies ;)
Overall pace: 10:43 min/mi
Breakfast: English muffin with egg and cheese, coffee, water

Pre-run:
- Walked briskly a few minutes. Both lower legs started to hurt immediately with that.
- Before running, I rubbed a little and felt how tight they were. Outside tight, especially on right leg.

Run:
- First 1.5 I took very easy, over 11 min/mile pace.
- Breathing was light, but the run didn't feel easy.
- First 1.5 miles was painful, lower right leg only. 5 out of 10 on pain scale (10 worst).
- At 1.5 miles I stopped and walked a few minutes. Stretched calves and hamstrings.
- Last 1.5 miles I picked up the pace. Leg still tight but stopped hurting.

Post-run:
- Walked for cool down.
- Right leg still tight, but barely any pain. Just the remnant that hurt really bad a few minutes ago.
- Stretching: hamstrings, glutes, hips, quads

Windy Day...Sucky Run

This morning I started out with Greg to do a 3 mile run. I was hoping for a good run but the leg pain was back in full force, both legs and really bad. At a mile, I stopped to stretch. When I started running again, my legs and feet felt like paddles. Biomechanically everything felt wrong. So I bagged it and turned around while Greg continued to get his 3 in.

On the way back I stopped a few more times to stretch, but nothing worked. The pain was so bad I was wincing. The pain with whatever is going on in my lower legs is always very bad. It feels like my legs are trying to rip open, starting on the outer sides. Today's was a 9 out of 10 on the pain scale, while usually it's probably a 6 or 7.

I picked it up at the very end, trying to stretch things out. I was happy to be done at 2.3 and hobbled through my cool down walk until eventually I could walk normal.

So frustrating. I have no explanation. This just happens or doesn't happen for no reason I can yet see.

For the next three weeks starting now, I'm just going to focus on 3 mile runs, and cross-training, and consistency...and we'll see if that gets me anywhere.