Of all the races I’ve done, the Snowdon Mountain Race is the one that has produced more post-run soreness than any other. DOMS, or delayed onset muscle soreness, is what makes the legs hurt for days after doing something that the muscles are not accustomed to doing. The quads (front thigh muscles) can be particularly badly affected after a bout of fast downhill running. This is because the muscles are trying to work very hard and tensing whilst they are being stretched; they are literally being pulled apart. It causes muscle damage, and it hurts. Hopefully, the muscles repair stronger than they were before — adaptation — and are better able to cope next time.
Of course, the problem for most of us is that we seldom run down mountains and the rebuilding process is reversed over time.
Anyway, it was 5 days after Snowdon that I ran again, and probably 3 days before I could do anything other than comedy walking. But of course, as usual, it was all worthwhile.
I was back barefoot running 10 days later for 2.5 miles on the road without drama.
Total miles for 2 weeks: 22.7
Barefoot: 2.5
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