It was all going so well .....

[JenB65]

On Wednesday was feeling fantastic as ran for over 20 minutes then went out this morning for run 1 week 6 did warm up walk and some stretches and two and half minutes in strained my calf muscle. Just back from hospital. Gutted, if anyone has any advice to make sure I don't have this problem again would appreciate it.

[Northernspirit Graduate]

Oh no!! Gutted for you. Depends what the doc said I guess? You will have to rest it for sure, I did mine but not as bad as needing hospital visit. Just a pull or strain, I iced it a lot, hot baths, gel, got myself a foam roller too. Took me 2 weeks but I am running again ready to embark on week 9. I really feel for you but it will get better.

[JenB65 in reply to Northernspirit]

Can I ask what is a foam roller? Doing ice packs, resting and also gentle walking, just gutted that I was just really able to push myself, had two great runs this week and was hoping for third :0(

[Northernspirit Graduate in reply to JenB65]

Foam roller - you can buy at sweat shop / sports shop etc. basically as large tube covered in hard / nobbly foam that you roll your calf / whatever hurts over. Kind of an instrument of torture but voluntary seems to work! The massage effect stimulates blood supply and thus recovery, so they say. Not essential and you mighty want to check first that its ok for you? Chin up....you will be ok.....I was at week 9 when I got a calf strain and was on a real high at the time good luck

[old_git Graduate]

Oh dear Jen, so sorry to hear of your problem. Wishing you a speedy recovery!