question about quad. pain

[jaypea]

Hi Cathe and anyone else who can answer my questions!
I have been doing your tapes (have almost all) for a solid 2 years now. I don't enjoy running, but walk often. The other day, on the last day of school, the teachers and students (I'm a teacher) went on the track field and participated in various relays. I didn't run a lot, or so I thought, but the next day (and still 3 days later) my quadriceps are VERY sore!!! I have stretched them many times, but am wondering if I just used entirely different muscles, when I did that little bit of running, than I use in your workouts. Other people's quads were sore too, but they never workout. I'm just curious.
Maybe I should start incorporating running into my workouts???
Thanks for reading

 

[Stacy]

If it's any help...I also have been doing Cathe's videos for the last 3-4 years. I dont run either. A fe weeks ago I ran the 5k Race for the Cure at a snail's pace and couldnt walk for 3 days!! My legs had never been so sore! If it werent for a bad knee, I'd probably incorporate more running into my fitness regime.

Stacy

 

[hounddogs]

Dear jaypea:

I think your quads endure very strong eccentric contractions when you run, unlike anything encountered in stepping or hi-lo. If you never run, you are going to feel that soreness after even a little running. Just my guess, sorry to butt in on a Cathe question.

--Ann

 

[junemom]

Just want to jump in and confirm what the last poster mentioned. I have been doing only Cathe's for the last 10 weeks or so (have been working out regularly with firms and others for the last few years) and I started my summer running again two days ago. My legs are sore in places they NEVER get sore after Imax, or powermax, or MIC. I also walk alot too, but I think running is a very strenuous exercise for the legs. I love it for that!

Christine

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Jaypea! You have just experienced why I promote cross training. Yes, you used your muscles in different ways and they responded. If you were to continue to incorporate running into your workouts regularly, this soreness would lessen each time, over time, as your legs got acclimated to the workout (alas, time to shake it up again with more variety;-)!).

Another reason why you could have been extra sore is because relays involve short bursts of intense movements. This creates more lactic acid build up in the muscle, therefore creating more soreness.

I love to incorporate running and step into my weekly workouts because they compliment one another for better muscle balance. Here is why:

1)Step is a form of vertical training (climbing) while running is not (unless you are running hills)

2)Step training has the foot strike the floor toe, ball, heel, while running has the foot strike the floor heel, ball, toe.

3)Both step and running use the legs but running recruits much more hamstring muscle, while step recruits much more quad muscle (unless of course you are doing leg relay intensity bursts in which the quads are very actively involved)

 

[jaypea]

Thank you Cathe for answering my question with so much detail(thanks to everyone else who answered it as well). I can't tell you how enjoyable it is to log on to this site every day and gain support and helpful information from everyone here, especially the lady who keeps me going....the one and only Cathe!