Running With Skinny Legs! Bad body build for running?

S

SilverSkies

0
Hi everyone
I'm new to both this forum and running. I've never been fit and am only managing a 10.25min mile. Even that feels fast for me!
What I'm noticing tho is that I'm not puffed afterwards, I just feel that I can't run any longer/faster.
I am 5"10 female, 30 years, and around 60kg so I am not running to lose weight. My legs have always been really thin, I carry my weight on my top half (big boobs etc!) so I'm wondering if my build means it will be harder for me to get into running.
I guess my question is, is it harder to run with skinny legs that lack muscle?
Are some people just naturally better built for longer distance?
I also have pain in my lateral knee, toward the back that gets worse when I'm using the treadmill (but not during the run)
Thinking maybe I should pick up another cardio option ??
Any advice would be awesome
Wish I could be one of those people that can just hit the pavement for 10km!!
Thankyou :)
ps I also have a bit of femoral anteversion (self diagnosed) which means my knees turn in bit, but my feet still point straight.
 
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Use some variety in your runs. The body adapts and improves only when it is forced to do something that is beyond the scope as what it has already adapted to. In other words; if you run 3 miles at a 10:30 pace three days per week for a month, your body has already adapted, it is already equipped to that workout and no further adaptation is needed. If you only do that three-mile workout one day a week and replace the other two workouts with sprint drills one day and 5-miles at a slower pace the other day, you are now forcing your body to adapt to running faster and further.
Oh and skinny legs and a bit of femoral anteversion aren't a big problem
 
Some basics questions to help me out here.

You say you just can't run any further/ longer. What point is this at?
What are you feeling that makes you stop, muscular or mental fatigue, pain, discomfort, boredom, lack of interest? The more detail the better.

Yes there are people better designed for distance running, I am one of them. There are however very few who cannot achieve distance if the want to and the limits on them is usually medical. There is a sumo wrestler who 'ran' a marathon, took him 12 or 13 hours but he did it.

Technique is incredibly important as is support. The inward going knees and large chest makes me think of the many women I see who go for a run in t-shirt and standard bra usually controlling their breasts with their hands and compensating for the lack of balance at the knees, which is the body stopping them falling over. There are serious supports out there, they are generally not flattering but when running this shouldn't be a concern. My wife has tried a number of them and most either try to hold them solid almost pretending they can be ignored, useless, or the absorb and control motion. The version she has uses is sportjock, with clasps and zip at the front. This brand may help you but it may not and there are many others.
Another thing that can cause the knees to move inward on either gender is pronation at the feet, this is corrected with well matched running shoes. Again there are loads on the market, and everyone has to find what works for them.

Technique wise please check what your arms are doing. I would bet a small amount of money, crazy not stupid, that your arms are crossing your body as you run. If you are and wondering how I could guess, I used to do the same. Correcting this by driving forward, where I am actually running, felt really un-natural at first, but I have been doing this for over 20 years now so crossing my body now feels un-natural. This technique error will drive a twist through your knees and if the legs aren't strong make the knees bend un-naturally.

This may be useless as it may not cover what is going wrong, but hopefully you can give me some detail that means I can help if it is.
Running is possible, we are designed to do it, that doesn't mean it's easy.
 
Running is one of the best types of work out for dropping or keeping a regular weight. You will find that it is a major way to get rid of off extra calorie consumption and that it is the second most effective work out with regards to the calorie consumption expended per minute, following only after cross-country snowboarding.
 
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