Calf muscles

[thugh1]

How do I stop my calf muscles from hurting when I rum

[chanchan]

Do some cool down stretches when you get back from your runs.

[MrNiceGuy]

In addition to warming up sufficiently (dynamic stretching) and cooling down afterwards (static stretching), work to strengthen the calves, improving their ability to handle the force placed through them with each footfall. Doing so also reduces risk of injury and increases their endurance.

Try to ensure that you land mid-foot (with feet directly in line with the upper body and avoid over striding or forefoot striking, since both can lead to fatigue and discomfort of the soleus muscle of your calf.

[Rignold in reply to MrNiceGuy]

I would disagree with this. Strike with whatever part of your foot you naturally strike with. You will have been doing that all your life and trying to change the way you put your foot down at this stage is much more likely to result in unnatural gait and cause you pain. There are people who heelstrike, people who forefoot strike and people who midfoot strike and there are advocates for all styles.

[MarkyD Graduate]

Warm up very well. Warming up is *NOT* stretches but walking briskly for at least 5 minutes. C25K has us warming up for 5 minutes, but if you've been sitting for a while, or generally are not very active, then 5 minutes might be a bit short. Try walking briskly for 5 minutes, and then start the podcast/app. This will help you get a 10 minute warmup, which may help.

And do some gentle stretches whilst you cool down after the run.

No doubt one of the experts will use the words "epsom salts" in a minute....

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

Just to avoid confusion, MrNiceGuy and I are in agreement. He says 'dynamic stretching' and I say 'walking briskly'. Both are aspects of the same thing. Whatever you do, don't stand still when your muscles are not warmed up and do 'static' stretches. Stretching/Pulling a cold muscle for 20-60 seconds is going to tear it.