Legs feeling really heavy when running since i started squatting

[Roy Jones Jnr]

When i run it's like i'm having to make a whole other effort to lift my legs for every stride.

Is there anything i can do to make my legs feel lighter or get back to how running used to be ie just normal not feeling heavy legs or do i just have to ride it out and will get used to it over time?

[jas]

Obvious answer is : allow ampt recovery time after squatting

Also, it's going to feel heavier since your legs are likely to be bigger as a result of squatting

Squatting is good - it teaches the nervous system and muscles to work in unison which applies to athletic performance

Go for a lighter weight with higher reps

If you really like working out the legs, work out the calves more - they are smaller muscles so won't put on as much size as the big upper leg muscles and it's beneficial to do loads of reps with calves since they are endurance muscles

Lactic acid build up May be contributing to your problem too.
Drink lots of water to flush this out. And of you really want to speed up recovery time, try ice baths.

[Ray Corso]

Replace running with swimming!
If your a competing fighter then squats are used in early training to strengthen your legs. Once your gain fight conditioning squats are not part of fight preparations.
If you want that same type of leg workout use beaches for running and shadowing also make a "slow matt" to shadow on. A ring canvas cover that has an old horse hair under matt and leave the canvas loose, not stretched.
My first gym in the 60's had a 15x15 spar ring with a deep matt the "movers" hated!!!!! It sure did make them better once they got in a competition ring, they thought they were on ice hahahaha!!!
Ray.

[BennyST]

When i run it's like i'm having to make a whole other effort to lift my legs for every stride.

Is there anything i can do to make my legs feel lighter or get back to how running used to be ie just normal not feeling heavy legs or do i just have to ride it out and will get used to it over time?

Squats take a lot out of your legs, so that probably signifies that you aren't allowing enough R and R between sessions.

Give it a good couple of days minimum and maybe even have a icy cold bath after doing a session of squats. They'll get stronger with time though, and then the recovery won't be as much of a shock to your system, so it will be a little less draining.

I remember I used to do heaps of frog jumps, and they would annihilate me. Particularly when I first started working on really strengthening my legs, and I did a full session of frog jumps, I couldn't even get up stairs the next day. Brutal. The following day was even worse. But, over time, my legs got used it to it and I found that (frog jumps) and fast, one legged squats to be a very effective method of both leg strength and endurance. I spent about six months just focusing on getting faster, stronger legs, lots of skipping, running and those two above exercises and my legs never got tired after that. Arms would still feel like lead, but my legs never did.

But, yes, I had to spend extra time resting them up initially. At least an extra day of no leg stuff. But, if you're just doing weight squats, I'd consider changing to a more plyometric based squat that focuses on explosive power and speed. The ol' frog jumps are a killer, so I'd recommend them as well as burpees with a double jump, instead of just the usual single.

Extra rest, to keep it simple.

[BennyST]

I was also very lucky that I had a beach right next to my gym and house. It had a long winding steep path that led down to the beach through lots of bushland. My run consisted of a slow warm up to the beach, down the path, then along the beach through the soft sand which was an absolute killer in itself, but then back up the long, winding path eventually which got steeper and steeper as it got closer to the road home, so that by the end, I was nearly puking and basically walking, even though I had to put every ounce of myself into getting up to the end. At the very end, just before the road which levelled out so I could crawl back home, it had about 30 meters of an extra steep incline section. Every time it was utter hell getting through that last 30 meters. Felt like Rocky at the top of the stairs every time.

I must admit, I'm still amazed that I used to be able to put myself through that for so long and then go train at the gym later in the day. It was crazy. I tell ya what though, I had beastly fitness and crazy strong, fit legs. Never got tired.

Probably should have been some kind of runner instead of a boxer. Never had the pure talent for boxing. Had the determination, but never the talent (talent=power in this case).

If you've got a beach near you, get to it!

[jas]

As you can see Roy jones some posters use this opportunity not to help but to make themselves feel better by gloating about stuff they cAnt prove

Just keep at it, develop good habits

[Roy Jones Jnr]

Yeah sorry lads my fault, should have been clearer in my opening post.

Been doing bodyweight only squats for a few months now and my legs have got a decent bit bigger, especially my thighs.

''Also, it's going to feel heavier since your legs are likely to be bigger as a result of squatting''

This is what i meant. My legs have gotten bigger, not by a huge amount but enough for them to feel heavy when i'm running, and even slightly when i'm walking.

Don't mean specifically after i squat, they're just like that now. So even if i take a week off training my legs they still feel heavy when i run.

So what can be done to make me able to run carefree again like i did before doing squats without feeling like i'm having to put extra effort into lifting my legs for every stride?

Or is it just something i'll have to put up with given my legs have gotten bigger therefore they'll feel heavier?

[Roy Jones Jnr]

I was also very lucky that I had a beach right next to my gym and house. It had a long winding steep path that led down to the beach through lots of bushland. My run consisted of a slow warm up to the beach, down the path, then along the beach through the soft sand which was an absolute killer in itself, but then back up the long, winding path eventually which got steeper and steeper as it got closer to the road home, so that by the end, I was nearly puking and basically walking, even though I had to put every ounce of myself into getting up to the end. At the very end, just before the road which levelled out so I could crawl back home, it had about 30 meters of an extra steep incline section. Every time it was utter hell getting through that last 30 meters. Felt like Rocky at the top of the stairs every time.

I must admit, I'm still amazed that I used to be able to put myself through that for so long and then go train at the gym later in the day. It was crazy. I tell ya what though, I had beastly fitness and crazy strong, fit legs. Never got tired.

Probably should have been some kind of runner instead of a boxer. Never had the pure talent for boxing. Had the determination, but never the talent (talent=power in this case).

If you've got a beach near you, get to it!

I wish pal!

Thanks for the advice.

[Ilves]

1. You are not used to squatting yet and therefore your legs are fatigued longer and feel heavy.
2. You don't do enough for recovery. Remember that just not doing something with your legs isn't recovery. Walking, stretching, light yoga, massage and foam rolling are recovery.
3. It's partly mental. Your mental energy is going to squatting, your legs are feeling stiff after workout and the feeling of stiff and fatigued legs stays on your mind and when you run, you have negative placebo effect.


Keep training, eat well, sleep well, don't drink/smoke, do recovery exercises and get over the mental block that is telling you your legs are heavy.

[jas]

Are you squatting with weights?

More frequently squatting will prevent the 'heaviness'

for me, I can have brutal workout and then go sprinting the next day or running 6 miles but this is due to years of squatting heavy weights at high and low volume.

Not true , it obviously depends on how many reps you are doing

Also as it relates to boxing doing only higher weights low reps isn't gonna be best....

Also make sure you contract the muscles and have good form