I suspect I have found a reason for the extreme aches, and it's not to do with the running!
I've been getting shooting pains from my right hip right down to my knee, along with discomfort that long ago was diagnosed as muscle inflammation that I get every so often. It never hurts when I run, but I do feel it more acutely when accompanied by "normal" exercise achiness, it's more when I'm sitting for long periods or lying in bed. This bout has been going on since Christmas.
At the weekend I remembered once reading that artificial sweeteners can cause muscle pain and since I joined SW I've been having loads of them in Mullers, hot chocs, etc. I cut them out totally as of yesterday morning and already the shooting pains have stopped. I went for a run this morning and I've just got the sort of achy muscles you'd expect beginning to creep in, but nothing that will make me creak or wince when I've been sitting for a while like I have been lately. Could be coincidence, but I'm going to continue to give sweeteners a wide berth for a while to see if it continues to improve.
And according to my app, this morning's run was my best yet, for distance and speed, and I only needed two brief walking breaks, so I'm feeling pleased with myself
