Okay Noob here with first Brick, Tight Legs

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2012-07-31 11:43 AM


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Subject: Okay Noob here with first Brick, Tight Legs

Hello,

I am signed up for a Sprint and just did my first brick workout, but my legs were so tight after I got off of my bike, it was hard to run.  After walking a minute, they relaxed and I was able to run like normal, but just wondering if there is a way to get my legs feeling relaxed and ready to run before the run?  I had a climb basically all the way back to my brick transition, so I'm sure that didn't help.

2012-07-31 11:46 AM
in reply to: #4339205

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Expert
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Floriduh
Subject: RE: Okay Noob here with first Brick, Tight Legs
Having your legs screaming at you when you initially start to run off the bike is normal and knowing this will happen is part of the reason for doing bricks.  You don't want to find that wonderful sensation for the first time in a race.  As you train more it becomes less prominent, but is probably the primary reason I run negative splits in a race.
2012-07-31 12:10 PM
in reply to: #4339205


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Subject: RE: Okay Noob here with first Brick, Tight Legs

just keep doing bricks once (no more than twice a week).   come race day if you tapered correctly you wont feel heavy legs when the run starts.

 

 

2012-07-31 12:18 PM
in reply to: #4339205

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Subject: RE: Okay Noob here with first Brick, Tight Legs
Welcome to the world of triathlons...Laughing
2012-07-31 12:20 PM
in reply to: #4339205

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Expert
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Prattville, AL
Subject: RE: Okay Noob here with first Brick, Tight Legs
Try riding the last bit of the ride in the standing position... start to engage the running muscles... and keep doing bricks... Cool
2012-07-31 6:43 PM
in reply to: #4339205


19

Subject: RE: Okay Noob here with first Brick, Tight Legs
Thanks folks! However, more bricks not necessarily the answer I was looking for ; ) but I kept telling myself "Pain is temporary!"

2012-07-31 7:00 PM
in reply to: #4339205

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Elite
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Laguna Beach
Subject: RE: Okay Noob here with first Brick, Tight Legs

It gets better with practice.

A couple ideas:

  • Try shifting to an easier gear with about 4 minutes left on the bike. This may help loosen your legs a little.
  • Double check your bike fit. Just getting your saddle height and fore/aft right could also help.
  • Keep it up: The more you run off the bike, the better you get. Almost every run I do is off the bike, about 5 bricks or more per week. My marathon PR was set off the bike and my lifetime 10K PR is only a few seconds off my fastest 10K split off the bike.
  • It takes a year of hard work to learn to run well off the bike.
  • Racing will make you faster.

I hope those help.

2012-07-31 7:16 PM
in reply to: #4339205

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Fernandina Beach, FL
Subject: RE: Okay Noob here with first Brick, Tight Legs
I find lowering gears and "spinning" the last mile or two a huge help
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