Ooh ouch calf muscle pain

[Determined55]

Good morning lovely fellow runners. What a beautiful day it is here in East Anglia, I hope it is where you are too!!

This morning I had a bit of a painful ouchy run and I staggered home at the end of my 3.5k. I’ve only been running for just under 6 months and completed the C25k in March so I am still very much a novice.

I’ve noticed that my left calf/outer ankle feels a bit stiff between runs recently but it’s the first time it’s really actually bothered me on a run today - ouch!!! So I need to take action!

My question is, do you think it’s my running shoes? I bought relatively cheap ones when I started running (I didn’t know if I would stick to it) but I think I’m a big over pronator so should I get a proper analysis done?

And/or would strapping help? I have no idea how that works!

I confess I am a bit slack at the after run stretches and sometimes get distracted when I get home (‘ooh here’s my cat’…..’ooh coffee time’……..’quick I must have a wee’) and then I forget or rush them 😖

Thanks in advance for any advice gratefully received 👍🏼

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Stretch stretch stretch- don’t be distracted. Do go to a running shop and get a good pair of shoes, 1/2 or full size larger than normal shoes but it does sound like stretching may be your 1st solution . I’ll edit post with a link in a moment. Happy running 🤗

nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/h...

Hold each stretch for 30secs or more, or do each one twice

[Determined55 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Thank you - yes I do believe my laziness at stretching doesn’t help 😏 I’ve been doing these nhs advised stretches but am so bored with them I think that’s part of the problem! I wonder if there are any other especially good ones for the calves?

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to Determined55]

Stand on the edge of a step with heal over the drop ie you facing the up and let heal drop down until you feel the stretch. Invest in a roller but beware it will hurt. You can pick them up for a few pounds

[Determined55 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Ooh yes a roller - good idea, I will have a look see 👍🏼

[Vragtes Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Rollers are good but be careful with the type that looks like a rolling pin that you don’t overdo it. Too much pressure and you can do damage. My other half has both a foam roller and the rolling pin type. Found the foam roller was the best and the calf pain was definitely helped by this.

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Exactly what Grannyhugs says! If you have a tennis ball or similar then that’s really useful too for rolling under your calves… while you’re waiting for your foam roller 🙂

[Determined55 in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you! There are about 30 footballs hanging around here but a tennis ball may be harder to find!!!

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to Determined55]

😂 makes a change from asking a neighbour for sugar ….

[Determined55 in reply to Irishprincess]

My neighbours would probably think ‘oh no, what madness is she up to now 🤦‍♀️’

🤣

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

My physio has me drawing the letters of the alphabet in the air with my feet (one foot at a time) whenever I sit down. It seems to be helping my ankle flexibility. That is an add on to all of the stretches…..

[Determined55 in reply to Beachcomber66]

Wow thanks! - capital letters or lower case?! 🤣

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to Determined55]

😂😂😂 Mrs BC asked the same question; I found that I can do either ….but went for capitals.

[Vragtes Graduate10 in reply to Determined55]

I’m doing it in Morse code😀

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

You should try it standing up. It strengthens the standing ankle and also there is evidence to suggest it improves brain function and thus decreases risk of early dementia. 🙂

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

Yeah right 😂

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

For clarification; I am too old for early anything 🙂