I've been working through a tough training program for over 6 weeks with no problems until yesterday. I didn't exercise yesterday morning but by afternoon I was incredibly stiff and achey. I could barely sit down without pain. Mainly hamstrings and glutes. I did go to the gym last night since I was meeting my daughters there and scheduled to do an upper body workout but I couldn't run on the treadmill without more aches. Still sore this morning.

Any suggestions??

FYI - I've been working out regularly since February. I took the summer off weight training to just enjoy running outside, but returned to the gym about 6 weeks ago. Started with a BFL challenge (I'd done one challenge before) but switched 2 weeks ago to the rock Hard Challenge routine.

Amy

Seems very familiar... Could be sign of sciatica - "Caused by an irritation of the sciatic nerve, this pain can radiate down the back of the leg and all the way to the foot. It feels like burning, pins and needles or an electrical sensation. Consider cross-training, instead of running and when the pain diminishes, try a walk/run. Sitting can aggravate sciatica. Make sure your sitting posture is good (especially in the car) and use pillows if needed to adjust your back and buttocks into a more comfortable position. " (Runnerswold.com)

My own experience. Despite of being a very disciplined runner (rest days, stretches, etc.) I feel this pain from time to time. My healing method two excellent stretches.

First one: (do it as often as you can get up from your chair)
Put your hands on your hips and cross one foot over the other. Tighten your quads, then inhale and stretch your torso up. On an exhalation, bend forward at the hips (not the waist), coming down as far as you can. Rest your hands on the floor or on a support for balance if needed. Once down, "pull" your feet toward each other without actually moving them, to engage the iliotibial band. When you come up, keep your back straight. Repeat with your legs crossed the other way. Lastly, uncross your legs and repeat the forward bend with your feet placed hip-width apart, quads taut. Again, pull feet toward each other without moving them.

Second one: (you can do it in your bed, or during watching tv, etc.)
Lie on your back. Bend your RIGHT knee up to your chest, clasp it, and pull gently toward your LEFT shoulder. Hold it for 30-40 sec. Then bend your LEFT knee, clasp it, and gently pull toward your RIGHT shoulder. Hold it for 30-40 sec.

These are excellent glut/hamstring stretches - they can help to heal even if it is not sciactica.

When the butt pain hit us, we usually give ourselves one day rest from running, but doing these stretches repeatedly. After 48 hours we could always run again.

I'm not sure if you are looking for a cause or a cure?

today is Thurs. You last worked out on Tues, is that right,with soreness starting Wed afternoon?
What did you do either Mon or Tues - did you up weight on lifts or up reps/sets? If not your workout, Did you do anything unusual - like have to take the stairs at work or jog a hilly route? Move a couch? Anything that would have been weight bearing and stretching your hams/glutes at the same time - like carrying & putting down heavy boxes?

if it is just unusual DOMS (and not sciatica), I find that a light workout of same muscles is good - e.g. bodyweight squats. Seems to get the blood moving, as does alternating hot/cold in the shower. the "sore to touch" just takes time to abate - you're probably a little swollen/inflammed and the nerves are just irritable to touch.

Lisa, you have an excellent point. You asked the right questions - I forgot to ask.
I was concentrating only on the running. If after weeks/months of painless running suddenly this kind of pain appears, sciatica could be an explanation. But certainly there are many other activities - causing similar soreness.

Sirius, I hope the time you read these posts, your soreness already has eased.

Galadriell -
our focus betrays our favor - you run, you picked up on "couldn't run on treadmill". I weight train more than cardio, so picked up on "gym for UBW" and figured that the previous was a LBW on a split plan.

Sirius - how are you doing today?

Quote from LisaS:
Galadriell -
our focus betrays our favor - you run, you picked up on "couldn't run on treadmill".

Last Saturday I attended a very boring reception (it was mandatory for my husband ). After one hour I suddenly noticed, that I had been checking people's legs/steps for long minutes. "She is an overpronator, he is an underpornator", etc.:-))))

Hi Lisa and Galadriel,

Thanks so much for your insights. I am still very achey. The oddest thing is when I run, my butt hurts as it bounces. I'd never even noticed my butt bouncing before.

I guess I'm asking more about whether this is normal or whether it might indicate a nutritional deficit of some sort.

I had done a lower body workout the day earlier but nothing significantly tougher than usual. And I wasn't tired or sore after the workout. As I said in my first post, I switched to the Rock Hard Challenge from BFL 2 weeks ago, which specifies doing a weight workout followed by 30 minutes of sprints. Perhaps the legs were tired from the lifting and then got shook up somehow by the treadmill running????

I don't think it's sciatica. Feels much more 'muscley'. Feels very much like when I first began lifting with BFL last year. You know that 'can't even sit on the toilet' kind of pain.

Anyway, thanks for the help. I ran today and it felt good to be outside. I'll do another upper body tomorrow and will see how I feel before doing the treadmill sprints.

Amy