Why Do Your Legs Feel Heavy When Running? The Surprising Answer You Need To Know!

Whether you are a pro marathoner or a beginner, you may have experienced heavy, tired legs as you do your runs. And since you are a runner, cumbersome and tired legs may seem a common problem for you.

Although there are home remedies to relieve these symptoms, the heaviness and fatigue may still continue despite over-the-counter drugs and rest.

If this happens, the cause may no longer be the typical reasons. So, why do your legs feel heavy when running?

What Could Trigger Heavy Legs

You must remember that weight training may cause stress to your muscles, especially if your exercises cause too much definition in your leg muscles.

If you put weights on your feet, you should not be shocked of the heaviness and campy sensation that you are feeling. Broken muscles fibers may cause it.

However, if none of these reasons trigger the weight in your legs, you may be experiencing other severe cases. So, what are other reasons why your legs feel heavy when sprinting?

Other Potential Causes

Leg heaviness triggered by your morning or afternoon runs can occur during excessive training. It may also be because of overtraining without taking some rest periods, running on rough trails, and wearing improper running shoes.

You see, intense sprinting may increase the build-up of lactic acid in your body. Thus, it may contribute to the tiredness of your legs. The heaviness in your legs may also heighten because of sprinting in high surfaces.

Moreover, damage and tear to the leg muscles may also lead to strains and sprains. It may also be due to any other medical problems, including tendinitis and compartment syndrome. But, if not vitamin deficiencies may cause it.

Weighty Legs Caused By Iron Deficiency

Runners should always make sure that they check their iron levels regularly. Why is that so? Depleted iron levels may lead to anemia, which causes dizziness and tiredness.

Iron deficiency has also been connected to restless leg syndrome, especially when the iron levels are evidently small.

If the imbalance still continues, you may feel your legs restless even when doing your runs. If this happens, it may lead to the heaviness of your legs.

Leg Tiredness Brought By Decreased Vitamin D

Although calcium may help you build up your bone density, vitamin D also plays a significant role in your body. Many fitness experts advise runners to drink vitamin D supplements and to eat vitamin D rich foods to alleviate leg heaviness.

When you have a vitamin D deficiency, your feet may feel fatigue and tired all of the time. It may also put you at higher risk to develop injuries.

Vitamin E Deficiency May Cause Heavy Legs

Lack of vitamin E in your body may also cause tired legs. It is critical that you watch out of your diet and training.

You see, getting too much hungry and doing excessive exercise may contribute to the decrease of your vitamin E in the body. Thus, you need to take your blood tests to determine your vitamin E levels regularly.

Fatigue Legs Caused By The Lack of Vitamin B1

Tired legs when performing your sprints can also be due to your lack of vitamin B1 or Thiamine. When your vitamin B1 levels become depleted, you may experience muscle cramps and odd tingling sensation in your legs.

What’s even worse is it could lead to fatigue and heaviness. Starving yourself and not getting enough Thiamine in your diet when training may cause heaviness in your legs.

Caution Yourself When The Heaviness In Your Legs Persists

You may seek the attention of your physician if ever the fatigued legs continue to build up. You may consult your doctor if you can’t move and lift your leg when you are running or doing other activities.

A dead leg may indicate some more serious medical problems, including multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and even nerve-ending or muscle damage.

Conclusion

Whether you are training for a marathon or you are a casual runner, you may not be a stranger to muscle cramps and heavy legs. You may opt for home remedies and other measures to relieve the symptoms of heavy legs.

However, if the fatigue and tiredness in your legs remain constant, you may seek the advice of a medical practitioner. He or she may also give you an ankle splint or brace and physical therapy.

Your doctor may also provide a nerve or muscle stimulation if the leg heaviness becomes severe, especially if it halts your running and other daily activities.

Sources:

• http://www.builtlean.com/2012/06/05/overtraining/
• https://runnersconnect.net/running-nutrition-articles/iron-deficiency-in-runners/
• http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/5_exercises_for_strong_shapely_legs.htm
• http://www.livestrong.com/article/418931-what-happens-when-you-exercise-with-a-vitamin-b-deficiency/