Exercising while sore?
 

Good? Bad? Why?

I'm rather sore today because I've been running 5 miles the last couple days, along with 20 miles of bike riding. See, I'm trying to bust a plateau. My body is telling me that running today might not be the best idea, but I'm afraid that if I don't, I'll stay at my current weight (which is still four pounds OVERweight and nowhere NEAR what I want to be).

During the weekends, I normally don't exercise as much as I do during the weekdays, though since I'm trying to bust a plateau, I want to take it up a notch.

So, basically... yeah... if it's bad for my body to exercise while sore, I just want to know why.

It depends on what kind of sore.

If it is in any of the joints absolutely stop.

If it is purely muscular then in general movement is better to help relieve soreness. There is a slightly different feel to "sore because I am tired" and "sore because I have a mild strain" but I cant describe it well. Both can be exercised through though.

I dont know how quickly you ramped up to running back to back 5's but watch adding too much too quickly or you can get injured and then be able to do less.

I would say go out and do something today, but at a easier level. A long walk OR a short slower jog. When you are sore you should not push the pace or mild strains can progress to tears - now is not the time to do high intensity intervals. If it is primarily running that made you sore, then maybe bike or swim. If it is just overload, then just back off and do less.

As frustrating as it is...ramp slowly to increase exercise will in the long run do you better than sharply increasing.

caveat: if you do go out to run and any of the pain gets sharp or gets worse STOP. Muscle soreness that is just overload should EASE during a workout.

Yup, you have to figure out what "sore" is. Getting sore from working muscles a lot won't keep you from exercising, but from overusing those muscles, that's a different story. If you feel too sore, then don't. If you want to be cautious, try just walking instead of running to give the muscles a bit of relaxation.