I have been reading in other threads about people with "pains" in their calf muscles. Firstly, running uses muscles that we don't normally use when walking - and also uses muscles repetitively. This latter situation causes a form of mild RSI ( repetitive strain injury). Many peoples calf ( and other) muscles are very weak and underdeveloped due to their previous sedentary lifestyle.
BUT - calf muscles in particular are affected by the conditioning they have been receiving from the style of shoes (especially heel height for women) that they have been wearing for many years of your "non"-running life .
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Bazza1234
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I've been thinking the same over the last couple of days Bazza. I usually wear smart heels for work, but am thinking I may need to shop for some 'sensible' shoes (boo, hiss...). I'll try, but I know I'll just come home with another pair of fabulously impractical heels! I also read recently that the ballerina style flat summer shoes for women can be really bad for your feet. Sigh...
Yes - your feet will not like ballet style flat shoes because they have become accustomed to high heels. But what shoes did you wear when you were first walked ?? -- and how high are your heels when walking barefoot - which is the way we were born to walk??
I wear Red or Dead flat brogues for work (I think they're called 'Rosie') and love them - they work with trousers or dresses, don't hurt my back/calves/legs, and have plenty of room across the toes for my hobbity feet. But they are delightfully androgynous and that's not everyone's cuppa.
And I do have one or two (or three) pairs of what my brilliant mother-in-law refers to as 'f*^k me shoes' (towering, beautiful, bum-enhancing), but they're for dates and weddings and frivolity.
I tend to vary between several different pairs of trainers and my boots with a low heel. I don't do high heels unless I'm going out and know I only have to walk from house to car, car to restaurant etc as they just kill my feet.
The point I am trying to make is that , whatever shoes you mostly wear , they "condition" your feet and leg muscles in a certain way and your muscles become accustomed to them. As soon as you change shoes - be they to a high heel( evening gown style) or a low heel ( running shoes with low heel to to drop or even barefoot) , your leg muscles will complain and need to be re-conditioned!!
Yes, that sounds right Bazza. So probably I should wear a mix of shoe styles to try and condition my legs to all of them. I wear walking boots a lot at the weekend and sometimes flatter casual trainers. Hopefully they'll even out the heels.
Oh I hadn't thought of that...I wear heels generally for work, very high . Perhaps I should start wearing flats, never considered that before....
I have non-heel liking feet, so for dressing up I go more with platform style shoes to get the extra height, rather than high heels, but am jealous of people who can manage to walk in high heels! I normally wear comfy square-toed boots. I wouldn't go near those ballerina pumps, no arch supports, and the soles must wear out so quickly...
Well, once a year (for the office Christmas party) I can be persuaded to wear heels but they are SO excruciatingly uncomfortable and painful that that's the most I can manage. The rest of the year its flat. Flat boots, brogues, ballet shoes, flip flops, trainers.....I have never had either calf or shin pain while running. So whilst I may not look sexy or elegant I AM comfortable for 364 1/2 days a year and that's what's important to me !
It is interesting that you don't wear heeled shoes during your non-running life - and have had no problems with your calves and shins when running. This is as I would have expected.
For work...... Kickers boots, purple, except I've worn them so much that there's very little heel left at all, just about none on the outside edge. Did you know the heel on Kickers wasn't solid? Once you've worn down the first quarter inch or so you find out they've got hollow compartments. It's really annoying when you get a little stone stuck up there as you then rattle when you walk, I've been filling the heels with glue from the hot glue gun for a fair number of years!
However I've decided they need to retire and have been looking for new boots, cheaper than the kickers, and after a very long and painful search I've finally replaced them with a pair of plain black (boring) low heeled ankle boots.
For days when I'm not working I have a pair of nice Clarks heels, about 2" high, rather sturdy shoes, but still fairly smart. My shoes with 2½" heels are that bit too high for total comfort.
I'm with Henpen that comfort is more important than elegance, apart from on high days and holidays when I'll 'make the effort'. I don't tend to get achey legs, just tired ones.
Heels, heels every time. I can't wear completely flat shoes or ballet pumps as, guess what, they kill my calves. I have always worn high heels, even walking up escalators on the underground, can walk for miles in them. I do have "flat" shoes and boots for practical reasons but even they have a bit of a heel.
Given all the above I have never ( touch wood here) had calf problems.
You are probably wearing "traditional" trainers with a heel to toe drop of 12 mm+ ?? This is the reason that people say that you should transition slowly from high heeled running shoes (traditional style) to low heeled, "minimalist" style running shoes.
I am finding heels uncomfortable since started c25k. So wearing small dainty wedges with dresses rather than FM shoes which will be reserved for rare occasions.
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-- and how high are your heels when walking barefoot - which is the way we were born to walk??
what shoes do you recommend?
Wow what a difference. ? down to different running shoes
Running shoes 
