Calf cramping on long run; lingering pain for days after (Read 114 times)

and I am now one week away from my 2nd half marathon race.  Training had been going extremely for several weeks prior to this long run but started getting some minor aches and pains, but nothing that a good nights sleep didn't help.

So this cramping started during my last scheduled long (easy) run last weekend,--two weeks away from race day.  I was on mile 8 when I started getting twinges in my left calf.  I stopped, stretched and massaged till it felt better.  Resumed my run, but 2 miles later the calf started cramping.  I stopped again, massaged and stretched and resumed the run; a half mile later the cramping becomes severe.  I stopped running and tried to massage it.  That didn't help.  Thinking I may have torn something I decided not to try stretching it.  I hobbled the 2 miles back to my car.  When I got home I took a hot bath in Epsom salts; wore compression socks the rest of the day.  The next morning it was still very sore so put in a call to see the doctor.  Dx was bad cramp; he did ART and said to give it a few days of rest till the weekend but to stretch it. 3 days later it felt pain free but I followed Dr. advice and gave it the additional day.  So yesterday I went for a short easy run.  Calf felt great first 3 miles then started to get angry.  I ended the run; stretched, and then foam rolled it later in the day.  Rubbed in Ben Gay  and took Ibuprofen.  24 hours later it is still sore, just not as bad as the week before.  Been foam rolling it and stretching.  I have a follow-up session already scheduled with the Dr. for more ART, but not till Tuesday. Have a regularly scheduled therapeutic massage on Wednesday.  I am guessing I will be pain free in a couple of days.  My concern now is in running the half marathon race a week from today.  I am so worried about it cramping during the race and not being able to finish.  I had been hoping for a really good race considering how well my training had been going, but now I am losing confidence to even start the race.  Any suggestions to get me through this and help me run pain free next weekend?  I appreciate any and all advice!!!!

Sounds more like a slight pull vs cramp.I have had those in past. Each time I tried to come back in 3 days it would come back. When I gave it a full week, it healed and was fine. This would be my suggestion. Also, don't overdue all the rollers, massage, ART etc. this is a minor injury. Needs a bit more time. Before your next run or race, soak your calf in hot bath or hot towels to warm up area. Walk 5 min before your run. If a race, do a mile warm up jog 20-30 min before. Easy stretching ok but only after area is heat d up. Ice after activity.

Thanks TChuck!

Race is one week away and feel like I should at least run one or two easy runs this week, but also don't want to set myself back if what I really need is a full week of no running. At this point I don't think I gain anything by testing it out.

Last Saturday did an easy 3 miles, no cramping in the calf, no soreness in the calf.  However did feel soreness creeping in in my quad and knee.  Chiropractor addressed this by doing additional ART on my anterior hip, which was tight, tight tight; 4 semi-easy miles on Wednesday (2 very easy and 2 miles at half marathon pace + 15 seconds), no cramping or soreness.  ART on Thursday addressed hip, quad, calf and ankle. Feel like I can finish a 13.1 mile race.   Plan on another very easy 3 miles today; race is on Sunday.   At this point I think I can make 4-6 miles with no issues, what's in store after the 6 mile mark is a question.  I'll be questioning my loss of fitness, will my calf start to cramp? will my quad start feeling achy? what about my knee?  Wish I could put these negative thoughts out of head and just run the damn race.

How are you & were you able to run your half? I am interested in knowing as I have been experiencing similar symptoms. Thanks.

Yes, I was able to run the race!  No cramping in my calf.  At mile 9-10 I started to get really tired and achy in my hips and left quad, but no pain in the knee or calf.  My time for the race was 30 seconds slower than my first half that I had done earlier in the year so was satisfied with that.  I was pretty happy to come out of the race with no injuries. I am still seeing the chiropractor on a twice weekly basis-he's working on chronic pain issues I've had with my upper back and shoulder and still addresses the hip/knee/quad as needed.  He did give me exercises to do for the quad/knee (which I fail to do when it isn't hurting) but should be done daily.

Since the race my weekly mileage has not resumed to a level that I had hoped to be at by now.  Did one 5k race a couple of weeks ago that told me I'm really losing fitness (won my age group but was not a good race for me); caught a nasty cold after that race,  and just now starting to feel like I'm ready to start rebuilding my fitness and will see how the body holds up when I get to 30-35 miles/week.