Newbie! Running first thing and calf aches.

[LanaDelRayofSunshine]

Help! Advice needed! I've completed R2 W1 this morning, but had a fair amount of calf ache. On my first 'run' I had no aches at all. Is this because my run this morning was first thing and my first one was later in the day? Is it a good idea to do some stretches prior to an early morning run, rather than just the warm up walk? Advice please, as I don't want the calf ache to hinder my progress!

[Hidden]

Hey I am not a medic or anything, but all I have read on these pages, says that aching is okay but pain is not. And generally in the early part the consensus is to stretch after but not before. Take your rest day or days and see how you feel, it's often hard as a newbie to work out the difference between a good ache and a bad pain! There are loads more on here who can probably help a bit more. Take care and good luck next time out

[Charlottetrip Graduate]

Some days I ache some days I don't. Just make sure you have your rest day. Don't feel bad if you have 2 either.

Aches normally go in a day, well they do with me anyway.

[RebeccaSK Graduate]

I had a lot of aches in the first few weeks - none of them turned out to be anything bad but I listened to what my legs were saying and if they were really bad gave myself two days rest between runs. The rest days are crucial - just make sure you have a rest between runs. As long as you do the five minute warm up walk you shouldn't need to stretch as well - but stretch afterwards, definitely. In fact, there are many trains of thought that say you shouldn't stretch cold muscles (before the run). I'm not sure what's right and what's wrong but I don't like the feeling of stretching out cold muscles at all!