And I do mean serious.

Since as far back as November of last year, it seems that every time I try to start adding lunges and squats to my workouts, the backs and sides of my thighs ache and even hurt (a lot) during runs or just throughout the day. It'll start as early as the next morning after these workouts so I have had to avoid them.

I don't seem to have issues with donkey kicks, bridges, fire hydrants and even the hip abductor at the gym, just when I try to do squats and lunges.

What the fuck? Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Someone needs to look at your form and see if you are recruiting the wrong muscles, or in the wrong sequence, or using some substitution, or some variant.

I second this. I got a free training lesson when I joined my gym and realized I had been doing squats and lunges wrong for years!  Granted,  I hadn't really done them much because my "form" prevented me and they were so painful.

 

I used to do them a lot, a whole lot with no issues whatsoever. But when I started upping my mileage early last year, I had to stop because my legs always seemed worn out during my runs. I figured if I can slowly get back to doing them, my legs could handle it.

But you've also had some tight areas, near injury etc since then. You could be substituting and have no idea that you are or recruiting differently  because of it. It is easy to start to do something differently even slightly and not realize your body is adapting to avoid the tight areas etc.

Possibly. But, figuring out what the underlying issue that is causing it so you can fully address it versus throwing stuff at it without knowing the cause is important. You might get the right solution by chance. Or not.

Okay, who do I go to for stuff like this?

Last Friday I went ahead and did 3 sets of 12 squats, and stopped there. I was a little achy Saturday morning but I didn't run, Sunday's 8 miler didn't really have any issues at all except for some little soreness. That is definitely an improvement compared to early last month.

Again, I will go against the current here. If it's hurting me, and I don't have to do it, I would stop. I might not be a strong runner, because of my weak legs, but since lunges were hurting me more and more in the groin area as I kept doing them, I had to stop hockey, and running was next. So I quit the lunges instead. After many months, I am running pain free again.

A good personal trainer that has some clue would work.

So would a Physical therapist but I don't think you need to go that high up.

For what it's worth I pretty much gave up squatting when running became my full time hobby as the two do not play nice wit each other. I do lunges mostly during the off-season (and even rarely then) when my mileage is low and recovery is not paramount.

For me below the waist strength is focused on the hips, adductors and abductors. Quad and hamstring strength is not as important as quad and hamstring flexibility but we all have to figure out what is best for us.

Your contributions to the group from a physical therapist's point of view is invaluable by the way.

I second, third, fourth, fifth, etc, all the good advice the good folks above gave you, FreeSoul.   You might have some musculoskeletal limitations.  For example, in my case, I am limited in a lot of "movements" I can do because of my hips and spine and my arthritis.    I am lucky in that I am retired military so I have very good medical care not available to a lot of people.  My physical therapy review was done at a military hospital and the therapist actually went WITH me to the military gym and was VERY specific with me for my exact 'limitations" in what weights I could/could not use, what exercises and stretches I should and should NOT do.   I also get follow-ups and 'flexibility testing"  from the PT annually, to monitor any changes.  VERY helpful!  The military definitely takes care of its own!   Well, maybe not the VA so much , but I think they might be getting better now.  I am thankful, however, that my medical care is done at an actual military hospital.

As others said,  a look at you by a knowledgeable personal trainer and/or physical therapist might be beneficial for you.  Of course, that may cost  a bit of $$.  And as a suggestion, you may first want to get a complete physical by your primary care doc just to rule out there is no underlying issue (ligament problems, muscle tears, arthritic joints [yes, even 20-somethings can get arthritis!], or whatever) and then go from there.   Of course, all this may cost you some $$, especially if some things are not covered by your insurance,  so you definitely have a decision to make in that regard....how far are you willing to go, and how much is your health and the ability to stay active worth to you?    I wish you all the best!