Annoying Calf muscle.

[Gravy01]

I would love to take up running again. Left calf muscle will over burn and that will be Mr out again. Apart from stretching before and after is there any other tips on improving my confidence to get back out running.

Many thanks

David

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes links to stretches appropriate for pre and post run.......they are not the same thing.

Doing heel drops on a daily basis can help with tight calf muscles, as can foam rollering or a sports massage.

Enjoy your journey.

[ju-ju- Graduate]

You could consider getting your gait checked, and also to start as slow as possible and take it very gently to allow your body to adjust.

[Beachcomber66 Graduate]

Hi Gravy01. I had recurrent calf problems at the start and in the middle of C25k. I thought "ok, trying to run again at age 66, what did you expect" ....etc. As always, faced with a problem, I came up with a cunning plan. Step 1, I went to a running shop and had my gait checked; I had a pronation issue and needed running shoes with a bit of stability in them. Step 2 was hydration; I bought zero tablets which dissolve in water; I still use them every day....they taste ok, so they remind me to drink plenty. Step 3 was a dynamic warm up immediately before running ( see the info from IannodaTruffe)...my golden rule being don't stretch a cold muscle. Result, problem fixed. I still get the odd calf strain, but they either go away quickly or I get the physio to sort out the worst ones with a sports massage. Physios give you daily exercises too, which I do (nearly) every day. I suspect all of that in combination contributed to the "fix".....but I have kept doing them all just in case! Sports Physio is a good bet; at least then you will know what the problem is and have a targetted solution. Hope you can sort it out.