Sore Quadriceps after two week section hike

[Coffee]

I normally run 40-50 miles per week and have run four marathons over the past 18 months. Last week, I completed a two week section hike on the AT in which I averaged 20 miles per day, although my final two days were longer at 24 and 29.5 miles. Since returning from the hike, I've noticed that my quadriceps are particularly sore after a couple of miles of running. I did not notice any soreness while hiking, just a bit of general fatigue at the end of the trip, especially the last day. Last week I ran a total of 18 miles with six miles on Saturday and I was really feeling the soreness. This morning, I ran five miles and it is only a little better. My plan was to do 30-35 miles/week for a couple of weeks to get back into running before resuming a 40-50 mile per week training program but now I wonder whether I need to give my legs a total rest for a while? Has anyone else run into this symptom when resuming running after an extended hike?

Fortunately I do not have any races until the fall, so I could take it easy for a while. But I am hiking the Colorado Trail this summer and have a marathon seven weeks after returning so if I have similar symptoms at that point it could really have an impact on the race.

Any words of wisdom would be appreciated. I do have an annual physical next week but my primary doctor isn't an expert on sports medicine and I'd ideally like to avoid going to a specialist as I'm well below my insurance deductible for the year.

[johnnybgood]

Any words of wisdom would be appreciated. I do have an annual physical next week but my primary doctor isn't an expert on sports medicine and I'd ideally like to avoid going to a specialist as I'm well below my insurance deductible for the year.

Sounds like a case of pushing too hard when the body was already fatiqued. Maybe even throw in dehydration factors along with that can cause deep muscle & tissue injury.
My nugget of wisdom to you is to ratched it down a notch, especially for a week or two.

With some down time , rest and a heating pad those quad muscles will once again take you places.

Good Luck !

[canoe]

WOW you were really getting on it. Hiking and marathon are two completely differant animals. Maybe you were using differant muscles or using your muscles differantly. Rest for a day or two like Johnny said then go walking again. Did you tell us how much weight you were carrying?

[Coffee]

I had a relatively light pack... 26-27 pounds at the start and after resupply, which of course went down each day. Running and hiking definitely use different muscle groups, it seems! I'll take the advice to rest for a couple of days and see where that leads. Thanks!

[johnnybgood]

WOW you were really getting on it. Hiking and marathon are two completely differant animals. Maybe you were using differant muscles or using your muscles differantly. Rest for a day or two like Johnny said then go walking again. Did you tell us how much weight you were carrying?

This is the same thing one of my hiking buddies who does marathons told me. Certain muscles with a grouping are more commonly used for hiking up and down mountains while other muscles are used for running.

[Alligator]

26942Elevation profiles from some well known marathons. Compare to your recent trip.

Maybe work some trail runs into your training, sounds like you don't typically? If you haven't previously and you start to, recognize that you will be running slower in general and may need to alter your style by walking hills to start. Maybe an elliptical machine if you can't get to anywhere hilly.

Sorry I don't know how much rest you might need though.

[Malto]

I had the same thing after my recent Zion run followed by A Death Valley to Whitney hike. I look at it as the same sort of thing as recovery after a marathon.

you did a marathon distance. While slower than a marathon run, it had more elevation gain and loss. You may need to recover.