Pain in bottom of calf?

tjmonjay

Computer Man

posted: 7/14/2011 at 6:28 AM
modified: 7/14/2011 at 6:40 AM

Hey Guys,

So I've been running daily for a while and just started tracking it a couple days ago yay! (even if its just a mile) but lately I have had this terrible cramp/pain right at the bottom of my calf (very very bottom). It hurts to walk and move it but once I start running and warm up a bit I don't even notice its there... until I start to walk again. Anyone have any clue what this might be? or maybe a good way to stretch it out?

Thanks! Shy

MTA:

Link if pic doesnt work - http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/calfl.jpg/

Excuse the terrible pic I just googled it but where the arrow is is where it hurts lol

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." :)

Cherrieruns

Maggie

posted: 7/14/2011 at 6:37 AM

not a doctor so take with a grain of salt but I have what sounds like the same thing and doc told me it was achilles tendonitis from overuse.

Cherrie " I May not be able to change every Thing that I face, But I cannot Change ANYTHING until I face it...." author unknown "All that I am or hope to be I owe to my mother"....Abe Lincoln

"It does not matter how slow you go so long as you do not stop."
Wisdom of Confucius

Jeff

posted: 7/14/2011 at 7:10 AM

That's not Achilles Tendinitis; it is most likely a calf strain.

The Logic of Long Distance

MrRipper

posted: 7/14/2011 at 7:44 AM
modified: 7/14/2011 at 7:45 AM

Pain in bottom of calf

If this isn't what you are talking about, then I'll agree with the both of the prior posts - Achilles or Calf.

In either case, possibly due to overuse. Just starting out, it's important to start slow and easy. Learn to listen to your body. Your log says effort level "8" on the runs you've logged. You might be better off mixing in slooooww running with walking to help achieve more fitness and get your body used to the stress (based on my personal experience only). If a 14:00 mile feels like an "8", then you should probably hold back on pushing the pace to 12:00 or 11:00 until after you are able to put in more time on your feet.

2013 goals: • 1st Marathon • <1:45 HM • Stay healthy

NaderAlfie

posted: 7/14/2011 at 8:06 AM

Quote from Jeff on 7/14/2011 at 7:10 AM:

That's not Achilles Tendinitis; it is most likely a calf strain.

It sounds like a calf strain to me. I had something like that earlier this year. If it's a calf strain, stretching will likely make it worse. As Jeff pointed out to me at that time, running will also make it worse.

If you rest it now, it likely be no more than a small set-back.

Jeff

posted: 7/14/2011 at 8:33 AM

The arrow doesn't point to the achilles, so there's no reason to suspect achilles tendinitis.

Also, it is unlikely that a calf strain would be due to overuse, per se. More likely it resulted from dehydration during a run or from pushing too hard on a single run or a set of consecutive runs.

Like NaderAlfie said, avoid stretching, use ice, massage a bit. Return to running when there is no more sharp pain (maybe a week or so, depending on severity.) You can use the elliptical and other modes of exercise that don't "pound" the calf, in moderation of course.

More info:

http://orthopedics.about.com/od/sprainsstrains/qt/calfstrain.htm

The Logic of Long Distance

CliveF

posted: 7/14/2011 at 9:37 AM

I suffered a calf strain in June 2009, probably for the reasons Jeff posted. Took a couple weeks off, ran a very easy 3mi, took another couple off (doc had suggested four weeks total). Then ramped up into a Higdon Intermediate HM plan without incident.

I was told by two different docs that incomplete healing leaves a weak spot that can subject you to repeat strains in the future. A couple tennis-playing friends have friends in their leagues who've had strains, pooh-poohed rest/recovery, and have had multiple recurrences. So I took the four weeks off.

bobev

Decker Challenge 09/12

posted: 7/14/2011 at 10:34 AM
modified: 7/14/2011 at 10:34 AM

I aggravated my calves by running only in my hilly neighborhood combined with transition to minimal & BF running. Had to back down and find level ground to concentrate most runs on and it helped a lot. I still have to walk/jog/walk a bit in the first mi or two to be sure no tightness develops. It doesn't help that I had major left calf surgery in '86 (Faciotomy) and that is the one that hurts. I also found that I can ease the tightness by high knee running which leads to fore/mid foot strike and less calf strain (for me at least). Heel strike seems to make the calf worse. This from an experiment of one...LOL

bob e v
2013 goals: keep on running! Is there anything more than that?

Finish halves, 3M Half 1/13 and probably Decker Challenge in Dec
History: blessed heart attack 3/15/2008; c25k july 2008 first 5k 10/26/2008 on 62nd birthday.

tjmonjay

Computer Man

posted: 7/14/2011 at 11:19 AM

Quote from MrRipper on 7/14/2011 at 7:44 AM:

If a 14:00 mile feels like an "8", then you should probably hold back on pushing the pace to 12:00 or 11:00 until after you are able to put in more time on your feet.

The reason those are "8"s is because they are all up/down hill, and pretty big hills at that, I just started tracking my runs I can do a normal paced mile in 10 mile on a track/flat road within the 4-5 range.

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." :)

jdais

posted: 7/14/2011 at 12:12 PM

I had a calf strain a few weeks ago. I did century bike ride and should have taken the next day off, but decided to go for an easy 3 mile run. I guees my calves were still sore from the bike ride. Stopped running for about 2 weeks and slowly started running easy, no hills or speedwork

Swim , Bike, and Run A LOT

Pain in bottom of calf? (Read 1882 times)