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Lactic Acid Build Up in Legs

Steven FordSteven Ford
in General Training Discussions

So my training partner and I where out for our ride today at about the 50 mile mark we stop at an intersection and she stops and she says her legs are on fire, not cramping but she believes it was a lactic acid build up. I was wondering what might of caused something like this as we have not over 50 miles numerous times before. Here are the details of the day, it was about 50 degrees at the start, she was drinking water, gatorade and infinte, I don't know how much she consumed and that is a problem she has of not drinking enough. The course was pretty flat with some roller but nothing to crazy. We did stop at mile 42 or so and have a slice of pizza  it was lunch time (or close to it).

 

So chime in as this happens to her once in awhile and since she is my only training partner I need to keep her going.

 

Thanks

Comments

  • Gordon CherwoniakGordon Cherwoniak

    Steven,

     

    I've got nothing good nor do have have great understanding so take my comments for what they are worth. 

    1) My first though is this actually lactic acid or just tired legs/exaustion?  Lactic acid is typically from anerobic efforts so how are you handing the hills? Does she have to hammer up to keep up with you? 

    2) In my experience when I start going painful when I have reached my upper limit for distance/effort. I guess I could call it on fire.  Is this an overall fatigue issues.  What was the weekly/monthly training load like before these issues. 

    3) Is there a nutrition issues her beyond the ride water, gatorad, infinite?  Is you training partner trying to lose weight, cutting calories or maintaining a weight for races?  Again I find when I'm restricting calories especially beyond the 300-500/day for me (and I weigh 226) I suffer on the longer rides especially when you don't get the calories on the ride.

    How did she feel after the Pizza?  Lactic acid will flush out of the system fairly quickly but if you are pushing pretty hard on the ride she may not be recovering from very hard efforts 

    Sorry just some random thoughts to look in to

    Gordon

  • jneedelljneedell

    Just my two cents, but lactic acid does not feel on fire to me. On fire to me means hot and when my legs are hot it is because they are well primed and putting out power well. Sort of in the zone as long as you remain well fueled during that long of a ride.

    JN

  • Brian Quarton [OLD]Brian Quarton [OLD]

    There is a lot of misunderstanding about what lactic acid is and isn't. http://running.competitor.com/2011/...acid_29432 I couldn't get hyperlink to work.

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