Cramping pain on both legs?

[bob_e70]

Hi all,

I am working my way through the C25K in the hope that I can cure a cramping issue that I suffer with.

I am fairly fit and not over weight, but if i do a prolonged amount of exercise I get severe cramping sensations on both calfs and the soles of my feet.

I first noticed this during snowboarding and now into week 4 of C25K I am still getting it. I am not too tired to keep running, but the pain in my legs and feet are forcing me to stop.

I have tried researching this and think it may be either calf fatigue or achilles tendonitis.

Any thoughts? I really want to keep running but this proving a real stopper 😓

Thanks,

Bob

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Are you on top of hydration? That’s a big cause... are you stretching after runs? Are you massaging or foam rolling them? Are you doing exercise on rest days? All of them could help. Sadly one cause of cramping is previously cramping... not sure how long that takes to go back to normal. I’d suggest seeing a physio too.

[MarkyD Graduate]

I used to get very bad calf cramp during snowboarding. So bad sometimes that I would have to stop, loosen off my boots and give my calves a rub-down. I solved it by adjusting the lacing on my boots. In the end, I really only laced my boots to just above the ankle. I have naturally large calves and the snowboarding boots were simply too tight around my calves, causing the cramping. I don't snowboard now (bad shoulder injury) but I still have tight calves. My physio has prescribed daily calf stretches, mainly to get over a prolonged episode of achilles tendonitis (strictly, tendonosis).

I'm not medically qualified, and your symptoms are quite general. But I reckon a good look at how you lace your shoes, if you need more/less inserts to control any pronation, and calf stretched is going to help. If you can spend £60 on a sports physio appointment, it could be the best investment in your running that you ever make.