Leg fatigue

Question
Hi,

I started running a year ago when a friend talked me into doing a triathlon as birthday gift to myself when I turned 50.  I have met awesome people and feel blessed to be able to do this but do have a quick question. I had never run more than 100 feet without getting winded and have made really good progress.  I am up to 9 miles (on my long run days) and run 20 to 25 miles a week.  If you have ever done a tri you know how your legs feel when you get off the bike and start to run.  That is what my legs feel like at about mile 7.  I am not short of breath by any means but my legs lock up.  They do not want to move.  I am not having any cramping so it has nothing to do with circulation or electrolytes.  Got any suggestions?  Your time and efforts are greatly appreciated.  Thanks, Becca

Answer
Well let me throw a few things at you for consideration.

If you are only up to 9 miles on your long runs, you shouldn't expect to whiz thru the tri. Your legs feeling all locked up is PERFECTLY natural. After biking, your legs are already extremely fatigued, thus the locked up feeling. I know exactly the feeling you're talking about. It's nothing more than great stress on your legs. If you said you were having injury pains, certain pains in certain places, then we'd have more to talk about. But it is just fatigue.

How to overcome that fatigue, and how to train to overcome it, are more to consider.

If you expect to bike x distance and then run x distance, and you can't do it, then you have a training flaw. You aren't training for it.
To train for it, you definitely need to include biking in your schedule. Running and biking wear on your muscles in such a different way, you HAVE to train with more biking. You need strength in your legs, so when you get off the bike, your legs won't have gone through as much of a strain. Just like running a mile when you were 2 years old, and when you are 20. When you're 20, it won't affect you as much as it would if you ran it when you were two.
Try to train with back to back biking and running. And try some alternatives that strengthen your legs, like some resistance machines in a gym. If you can run 9 miles as a long run, endurance ISN'T what you need to build. You need more leg strength.

It would help in your race if you used some liniment oil to loosen up your legs after you get off the bike. You may be too stubborn to take 70 seconds of standing there after you get off the bike, but it might be worth it to you. But try it out in your training. H-E-B has it in a little orange box, called Dr. J.H. McLean's Volcanic Oil Liniment.
I use it, and it does wonders to loosen up my legs.

I can't say that I've ever done triathlons, but I do have a little insight into what your weakness might be.
Best of luck with your training,
Jared