Hey guys,
Firstly you guys are the kindest online Community I’ve met. Genuinely mean that.
Secondly, my calves just aren’t up to it. They just tighten up like a clam making running over even a minute pretty unbearable. It might be partially psychological but I think in the main it’s definitely physical.
Just a quick question before I go. Is walking considered a form of exercise and is it as good as running for mental health? That’s the reason I started jogging.
Thanks again.
Hi Mister
Sorry to hear re calves being tight and I’m not knowledgeable enough to offer advice on that (sorry)
However
I do know that walking will also impact calves... but cycling won’t!
I know this as it was advice given to me but I also tried and tested this when I was struggling with my legs
Walking, jogging are high impact .. and cycling low impact..
I cycled and the next day did a 10k when I thought my legs would feel tired... they didn’t!
it’s still exercise ( great for mental health)... but easier on the legs...
hope this helps 👍
Walking is good too but with your calves feeling as they do at the moment I’m not sure it’s the way forward - you will get there!
Be kind to yourself! Don’t give up - we are doing things that our bodies haven’t felt for years, if at all, so we need to take our time and bed in slowly 😀
Also do some gentle stretches that will work on calf strength - I searched on this forum for some 👍
I went for a brisk walk today and my legs felt fine. It was pretty nice. Sometimes you just have to do what you can. I’m blessed to be able to walk. So if I can’t run then so be it.
Out and about is what matters! 👏👏
The difference exercise does is unbelievable.. lifts your mood thru the crappiest of day’s 😀
I hear you. Walking won’t release as many endorphins as jogging but it’s sure better than zero!!
I’m not sure I’ll be eligible to stay in this group just briskly walking though? 🙈
Aww - You’re one of us now... you can’t leave and by the sound of it you don’t want to either.
I’m sure C25k is within your grasp ... just takes time to adjust... as you say it’s an awesome and positive forum
I struggled with some weeks and I had walked 10,000 steps a day for the 3 months prior to embarking on it... (then again I am a lot older than you)...
It doesn’t have to be calendar weeks.... why don’t you try doing the 3 runs over a 2 week period... that leaves 4 rest days in between and will give your legs time to recover...? Just a thought
Walking - get a steps app on your phone... if you’re anything like me ... I love a bit of motivation .. seeing my steps add up motivated me to walk ... strava and C25k motivates me to do a combo of walk/run/cycle and the virtual trophies collection is growing! I’m a sucker for a bit of bling!
Can't say that I consider walking to be high impact?!
Maxi80 you can go for a brisk one hour walk and burn off as many calories as a 30 minute run ( at least at my pace 😁) but have loads of time to yourself to relax and think.
Maybe see a physio and find what's going on with those calves.
It’s not high impact. It’s classed a low impact moderate intensity when it’s brisk (3.5mph)
Sorry mister .. someone on here told me that ... unless I read it wrong 🤷♀️ Like I said... I’m no expert 🙈
Don’t worry about it mate!
Really? I’m only going by what I’ve been told on here 🤷♀️ like I said I’m no expert 🙈
Walking is definitely excersise. Like with any excersise it's about finding what works for you. I'm no expert but I would say if you having constant calf issues perhaps you should seek expert help as it could be wrong shoes, support needed, more stretches/massages of muscle, who knows. If you want to do something don't let your physical self stop you, there is always something you can try. Good luck in whatever you do.
In answer to the question about endorphins, it all depends on the intensity of the exercise.
medicalnewstoday.com/articl...
Running is more intense than walking so will give a greater effect than walking, though there is still a beneficial effect from brisk walking.
I’m having the same issue with my calves. The physio said that it’s quite common with people who haven’t run before at all. They think it’s a problem with not stretching enough etc but actually it’s just that their muscles just aren’t strong enough yet for the work they have to do (ie. the load they are under due to the impact) and running uses completely different muscles than walking, so the calves will have baby running muscles. She told me to build up very slowly and gradually, but to keep at it, and eventually they will strengthen.
So she advised me to
- take enough rest days for my calves to properly recover from a run, (so that means I often have extra rest days);
- stop straight away if I feel an extremely sharp pain
- repeat the runs and weeks until it feels quite comfortable before moving on to the next level
- do strengthening exercises on rest days (squats, abs, leg rotations, on other areas of body)
- stretches after a run and on rest days
So I’ve been progressing very slowly through the programme, and having additional rest days. I can feel my calves getting stronger. It is a gradual thing.
I think maybe you might be in a similar position if you’ve never run before. Take the programme gradually, but keep doing it. You will make progress. Doesn’t matter if that progress is slower than you’d like or than others people, or that it’s two steps forward , one backwards. The most important thing is to keep running as eventually those muscles will start finding it easier.
Running is the most natural thing; we have evolved to run. I know it doesn’t feel like it though! Because I have never ever run before, running seems as alien to me as riding a camel, but once my muscles and body (and brain!) get used to it, it will seem natural, I’m sure, and hopefully enjoyable! You’ve just got to keep sticking at it!
Give yourself a few good rest days for the calves to recover and then continue. The fact your calves feel in agony is just the muscles getting built up. As long as you having fully strained them, you will be fine and will , after a rest, be in a stronger position than you were before, for your next run.
Typo: Last paragraph should say “As long as you haven’t fully strained them”
Hey! Thanks for all of the insight. I’ll defo be copy and pasting it! Splendid.
I went for a lovely brisk walk today and it felt good. Walking is enough for now. If all I can do from now is walk briskly then so be it. Not everybody can be a runner. At least with brisk walking you can enjoy the scenery!
Some calf stretches: foot-pain-explored.com/calf...
Hi! Please dont give up... a month ago i had a go at c25k.. struggled with running. I stopped.. i joined a gym, worked on the bike and treadmill... i also lost weight... today i re didWeek 1 Run 1 and I did it! And I am over the moon. My legs just weren't up to it... so i conditioned my legs, making them stronger... it worked!
I can 100% recommend to do the same... its sooooo important also to warm up and cool down, no matter how little you do...
Gym is not scary, I was very anxious about going but now I love it!
Really really hope you'll give it a go.. then when you're ready, you can have another go at c25k...
The other way is to still do c25k, but slower walk the walking bit and faster walk the run bit...
There's no race... following the app... do the 9 weeks, then have another go at running...
Good luck my love xx
Lizzie x
You’re doing fabulous. Well done you. Such a wonderful and inspiring message! Thank you 🙏🏻
I just don't want people to give up, or not see that it can be done... I'm 48, and not done ANY real form of exercise since school... if I can do it.. I want people to know that they can too... I suppose the biggest hurdle is believing you can and you've got to want to do it.
If I can inspire just one person then I'll be overjoyed!
Please remove the following if its not allowed:
you can find me on Instagram @olderbirdgettingfit
Lizzie xx
Perhaps I shouldn’t say it here but I find walking way better for mental health. Of course, I mean good walking, over hills and dales, amongst nature, for hours. Unlike running, gram for gram, it’s a lot more time consuming.
I’ll tell you what, my advice would be to try yoga for those calves and, I suspect, those tight hamstrings. There are many yoga forms but I’d recommend Iyengar.
Cycling is excellent cardio exercise but the gear is expensive and it’s a more dangerous activity. Also, not advisable for urban roads, I think.
Hey Ian.
Yeah I do love a walk. Non-impact wonderful-ness.
I have a road bike but man it’s such a ballache to maintain. Walking home with a puncture is demoralising too 🙈
Do you have cleats too? That’s a tough learning curve. First time I fell sideways off my bike at a standstill was at a T junction in front of about a dozen pedestrians and a taxi pulled up beside me. Funny thing was it all happened in slow motion yet I knew I couldn’t do a thing about it. 😳
It'll be such a shame if you leave the group but it definitely doesn't have to be forever! I thought I'd respond because I did some research a few years ago into the benefits of walking for work and there are tonnes of positive effects on wellbeing. Walking can be meditative and reflective. It not only can slow your heartbeat down a little making you feel calmer but it can also allow you to reflect on any issues bothering you. It engages the left and right hand sides of the brain which means that problem solving can become a much more creative process and its effects can continue for a bit after you've stopped walking too. I hope that's helpful 🙂
Hey.
Well I’ve found the intellect of the group! That’s great information. I enjoyed my brisk walk today. About 3.5mph for an hour. And that’s stopping to take photos too! I reckon doing that every day would be sufficient. Thanks for all of your support mate. Keep in touch 👍👍
That's brilliant! I always recommend stopping for photos on a nice route 🙂. Yes, keep in touch and yep, I'm a PNE fan for my sins lol
I’m in Chester so not too far away. My mate was in uni in PNE many years ago so I’ve sampled its delights 😂
Season ticket holders live here (I'm not one!) 
Up the millers!!!!
Haha I left the forum for a couple of hours and thought I was returning to a football debate due to the notifications 😂. Come on you whites lol! I was a season ticket holder for about 10 years but unfortunately nowadays I'm sadly more of an armchair supporter. They're still very close to my heart though
Walking is good.
Walking in woods and forests is good.
Walking in beautiful surroundings is good.
Running is also wonderful but whatever your decision pound those worries away beneath your feet 😎
Good luck and hoping to see you back here.
Hey, don't give up on the running ,
And don't give up in the forum .
Nothing wrong with the brisk walks though
Sounds like it may take a bit longer for your calves to accept the running ,
Use YouTube, I can highly recommend James dunne , he's a fantastic running rehab coach , take a look .
Just keep trying the running occasionally, you may well get used to it in time !
But stay on here , it's a great community
Don't give up on us or the Running yet ok ! 👍
Thanks mate. I’ll stick around. I can just be a cheerleader 😂
Sorry to hear 
I'd echo what most have said above: walking is an excellent form of exercise, especially if it's brisk.
As for your calves, and if you're still to be able to jog/run, then strengthening them will help enormously. The tips above are all good.
I don’t feel like I engage my calves that much when walking but hopefully it will strengthen them 👍
Don’t give up! Go to a physio! Have you tried gel heel cups and high drop shoes? We all have problems at some point
I totally agree about people being really supportive here, I’m feeling the same as you. It’s my second week but decided to do week 1 again and couldn’t do all the running, probably done half and walked the rest. I don’t feel like I can walk properly after the running section it is so sore and heavy. I maybe need to build up with just walking for a few weeks or more. Good luck whatever you decide but walking is definitely good for your mental health.
Cheers and you. I’ll probably walk a few miles a day for the foreseeable 👍
Sorry to read this, and hopefully things change for you in the future.
At the end of the day, you know your body and how it feels better than anyone, so I’m not going to try to talk you out of it. However I will share my own personal experience of calf pain, which I was plagued with (and still am to an extent), all the way through C25K.
A few weeks into the programme I had to stop for a fortnight as my calves had become so painful. I thought I wasn’t going to make it back to running, but after a decent rest, stretching, rolling and new shoes, I cracked on and made it through. It was hard at times, and I had to have additional rest days, as others have suggested above, but I’m at a point now where my legs are pain free and I don’t have to sit out for days on end.
Maybe just have a few weeks out enjoying some walking and see how you feel? You’ve come so far already, I know you can go the whole way 😀
That does sound like a good idea. I just don’t how they’ll stop being so tight though. Today it was unbearable after 3 minutes. People say to persevere but I just couldn’t. I’m going have a few weeks of walking a few miles a day. It won’t help my calves from being tight as hell but it’ll be good for the mind.
Cheers for the encouragement 👍👍
Have you tried a foam roller or compression socks alongside stretching after every run and good hydration?
I wont bombard you with more info, everyone has probably already told you everything and I'm no expert
All I will say is, you need to find what is right for you. If that's walking and you can cope with that, and its enjoyable then that's what you should do
In time you may find you can return to running, you may find, as I have, in order to cope with the increase of run times I only go out twice a week instead of 3 times. I'm ok with that because I've realised what I'm capable of, I also know in time that may improve
Stay here chatting and posting if that helps, it really is a lovely place
Good luck on what you choose and how you continue your journey 😊🥰
That’s a great idea going out twice instead of three times. I think I’ve been a bit militaristic in my approach. I need to be more flexible and not so rigid.
I’ve been going for 4 mile walks a day in the hope that my calves will improve. I even ran up a large hill and I was perfectly fine! My legs are made for short bursts and not stamina.
Thanks for all your support 👍👍👍
I walk 3 times as many miles as I run per week easily, but then I have dogs so I have to 😊 but even without them, I am the biggest fan of walking.
For me, walking in nature is like therapy and meditation all rolled into one. I zone out and just enjoy the fresh air.
Walking rocks so do what's best for you and if it's getting you off the couch and you're getting fresh air and improving fitness then that's an achievement in itself. All workouts give you something different. Stay in touch though, we don't want to lose you!! X
Thanks mate.
Whilst I’m walking, I might just stay and be a cheerleader!
Do you reckon walking releases endorphins? I think it does. Waking makes me whistle! I am including a tiny bit of jogging too 👍
Getting excited for the Bupa Great North 5km on Saturday.
Still Running! :) but not ready for the heatwave?!
Combined age of 304 but still running :) 
About to do W1D2, but a question for gym goers?
Near the end but struggling :(
