My leg started hurting

[DoozerMcDooze]

It's my 2nd run after I completed the C25K.

About 15 mins in my left leg started hurting. I tried to carry on, but had to stop.

Both the bottom half my legs feel really tight.

I can still walk on it, but it is a bit sore.

What have I done to myself, what have I done wrong

Dooze

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Hi DoozerMcDooze, sorry to hear this😐it could be a knotted muscle ( I have felt something similar once). Elevate and ice it (packet of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel).

It should feel easier in a day or so, but if it gets worse get proper medical advice.

Could have been you were a bit dehydrated and/or pushed a bit harder than usual.

Lots of us have invested in Massage therapy roller sticks to help with tight calf muscles. Do read the instructions before using one though and don't use it if your injury is serious.

Adding toe lifts and heel drops into your post run stretches can be helpful too. Stand on the bottom stair facing up with your heels half off the step. Go up onto your toes and hold...then back to level. Then gently drop your heels just enough to feel the stretch, hold and back to level. Repeat a few times. It feels really nice after your run.

Hope this is helpful...take a few days off running too obviously. xx

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Oh no 🤦‍♀️ sorry to hear this!(no idea what it could be) but rest sounds best. Hopefully you recover quickly as you’re enjoying your running so much 😊

[NCC1701 Graduate10]

I strained my calf on my first or second run post C25K graduation in Sep. I got loads of great advice from the forum. In particular rest-up until your healed (there’ll be plenty of time to run again once you’re better) and when you start again do loads of stretches before/after your run and take the first few runs slow and easy. It worked well for me. I’m injury free and enjoying my running.

[Silverfox1943 Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Too easy to think you can beat the world, thats when injuries occur.

Slow and easy. Listen to your body it will know when to increase distance or speed. It alltakes time; more for some.