So as I sit here, waiting for the basement workout space to free up, I’m reflecting that in less than a month I’m supposed to be running the Falmouth Road Race, the big race I’ve been working up to since March when I first started running, and I can only go for training runs about one day a week. Why? Leg Day. That’s why.
See, the trouble with Leg Day is…it’s deceptive. During, its miserable – stumbling to my water bottle after putting the weights down. After, my legs are Jell-O as I try to ascend Mt. Everest to take a shower. But after that…I’m fine! I feel great. Why not go for a run?
Then tomorrow happens.
Because you’re not going to be all that sore ON Leg Day. No, no. Tomorrow you’ll be sore. After you thought it was a good idea to add in a run, too. I have made this mistake, and I have learned.
Why is Leg Day so damn awful?
Just like any other workout, you’re not REALLY gonna feel it until the next day. So why does it ache SO much when you get there?
Leg Day seems to require the most recovery time of any workout I’ve done – not just strength training, but workouts period. If I had to venture a guess, I’d say its because they don’t get to rest unless you sit. Think about it – every day for 16 (or more) hours a day your legs cart you all over creation. Even when you’re not going anywhere, they’re still holding you up. But once a week, when that just wasn’t enough, we pound on them even harder in the spirit of fitness. During sets, they’re on fire. Between sets, they’re still on fire as you stumble to get water and write down your weights. It’s a relentless pounding. I usually have to wait until the second or even third day after a serious Leg Day workout to be able to go on a run. I’m sure there’s a more scientific “factual” answer, but…I did say I’m not a professional, right?
The trouble with Leg Day is…its frickin’ hard! That’s probably why so many people don’t do leg day, or don’t do it right. It’s also easy to hurt your back or knees on Leg Day (but that’s a topic for another blog post).
When all is said and done, the trouble with Leg Day is it’s a lot of hard work that knocks out your legs for a couple days. Nevertheless…
****UPDATE 7/18/13 1:35 pm****
A fitness friend tipped me off that apparently the whole “it doesn’t hurt till tomorrow” thing is a legitimate condition called Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness.
https://saveyourself.ca/articles/delayed-onset-muscle-soreness.php
See, we’re learning together!
