Ask The Penguin: Dead Legs

Dear Penguin

have been running 3-4 x a week since the beginning of March and have been feeling really good. I got my average up to 16 miles a week and just increased that avg to 20. My waddle pace is around 11/min mile for the short 3-4 miles, and the longer 6-10 miles is aroung 12:30/min mile pace.

Last week I ran 10 miles and felt good, this Sunday was suppose to be 8. Around 4 1/2 miles my legs quit. I’ve never really felt this before, they were extremely heavy and I couldn’t keep running. I had to walk 2.5 miles back home?

I have heard this called possible dead legs? I don’t know and have found it extremely hard to find good information on this? I have to do 3 miles Tues morning, 6 miles on Thurs, 3 miles on friday and 12 miles on sunday?

I hope it was a fluke, but I don’t know? what are your recommendations?

Welcome to the wacky, wonderful world of long distance running and walking. Some days easy is hard. Some days hard is easy.

There are lots of possibilities, almost all of which are nothing to worry about. It could just be the cumulative fatigue of the training, it could have been weather, it could have been diet or hydration.

It could also be something else going on in your life. Work stress. Family stress. You get the idea.

Be the best private detective you can be. Look for the evidence.

And, in the end, you may discover that the best thing to do is to take a few days off to let your body, mind, and spirit rebuild.

All the best,

Waddle on, John

John “the Penguin” Bingham, Competitor Magazine columnist Author, The Courage to Start, No Need for Speed, Marathoning for Mortals and Running for Mortals.

Have a question for John? E-mail it to thepenguin@johnbingham.com.