Lower Calf Pain
12
Member
300 days
randaln posted 42 weeks ago.
I have limited experience but have had an issue similar to this in the past.
There were three reasons why my calfs (usually my right) act up.
First is shoes. I change shoes between 300 and 400 miles depending on where I run (treadmill vs outside). It's not the soles so much as the cushioning wearing out.
Second is making the transition from being a sprinter to longer distances. This is partially tied into the next one which is stride. Generally too much push with the foot/calf and not enough "knee through" (my own interpretation) of how it feels.
Stride length and leg turnover. The discussion forums on RunnersWorld web site have good responses on both.
Hopefully this helps.
Randy
524
Member
1324 days
Tamara posted 42 weeks ago.
If you can, see an orthopedist. I was diagnosed with tendonitis in both my achilles tendon and in the posterier tib, which resulted in calf pain. New shoes, orthotics, as well as lots of calf raise exercises, etc... all help. But make sure it's not something more significant.
"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit." ~George Sheehan
1
Member
306 days
Jpullaro posted 42 weeks ago.
I developed the same problem in both calves a few months ago. The bottom calf muscle would become sore in the first 10 min of my run, by the 20 min mark I was forced to walk and stretch...then I would be sore for the next 2 days. A friend of mine had the same problem months before, and told me to buy Tonic water with Quinine. I was very sceptical at first but he swore by it. I tried it and worked like a charm. I would drink 8oz a half hour before the run and another 8oz after.
3 to five days I noticed a difference. Within 10 days I was running like normal again. I know it sounds strange but give it a try it really does work. Makes the calves nice and loose!
Best of luck
92
Member
525 days
Sloswimr posted 39 weeks ago.
Very timely, this has just happened to me. I know the tonic water with Quinine can help cramping muscles. My dad had malaria from WWII and had to drink it for the rest of his life to prevent a reoccurence of the cramping.
Usually with gin so it may adversely effect training/racing. ;D
28
Member
636 days
zanzabar88 posted 39 weeks ago.
If you're getting a problem only in one leg, I'm inclined to think you've got an injury rather than cramping issues. Probably tendonitis. There is only one thing you CAN do for this: rest, ICE, NSAIDs, massage. Take it easy until it gets better. I cannot stress this part enough: ICE and massage after every workout!
I wanna start placing in my age group!
81
Member
324 days
M posted 39 weeks ago.
I don't know where you are when not in Ireland, but since they drive on the other side of the road from in the US, are you also running on the other side of the road now? If there's any crown at all, it could just be that your leg is compensating for the different angle that it's tending to have in relation to the road. Just a thought.
I'm spending a semester in Ireland, and lately when I've gone running I've started getting of pain in my lower calf in my left leg. I've been running on a lot more hills, and I just got new soles for my running shoes, but it's only my left calf. My right calf sometimes will begin to hurt, but not as much as my left. The calf gets very stiff and will usually be stiff for a couple days after. Walking has helped stretched it out, but every time I run it starts to hurt about 10-20 minutes into the run.
Anyone have any explanation, I thought it might be a deficiency of sodium or potassium, but I'm eating a banna and orange a day so I'm pretty sure that their is something wrong with my nutrition.