HELP! I can't run anymore. The runner is "broken"

[Rick-shaw]

On Friday the 4th of September, consolidation run 24 ("Stamina mp3"), I did an extra 7 minutes and ran my first 5K. I was elated!!

I did it again on Monday the 7th, in 36 minutes. Really happy again. But my calf was hurting a bit at the end. Stretching didn't help at all.

On Wednesday, I could only do "Stepping Stones" quite slowly because my calf was hurting from the outset. The pain spread to my whole left side.

So I rested 4 days.

On Sunday the 13th I did "Speed" (16 minutes), because I was not hurting so much, but when I finished it was a "total relapse".

So I stopped running for 6 days and then tried again yesterday but only lasted 3 minutes before my calf whispsered to me that I should stop.

Today, I tried again and lasted 20 minutes, but my calf is bad again.

Will I ever be able to run again?

What should I do? I never ran in my life before C25K and was sooo happy!

Apart from that I'm pretty fit at 64 years.

What could this be? It's nastier than cramp.

Thanks for your help, if you can

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Have you had a gait analysis? I’d get a physio recommended to me I think. Good ones are magic 😊

[Rick-shaw Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Hey, thanks for answering.

My gait is neutral, but thank you for the advice. Looks like everyone is, like you, recommending a physio. Thank you, I will do that

[Jell6 Graduate]

I'm sure you can be fixed, but you need to recover properly, and that might be several weeks.

The risk of injury is high if you do too much too soon. That's why this is such a great programme.

A sports physio is a good plan. Make an appointment, do what they suggest. You'll be running again before too long I'm sure. 🤞

[Rick-shaw Graduate in reply to Jell6]

Thank you for answering and for your advice. I will see my doc tomorrow and get a recommendation for a physio

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Please go and see a physio and find out what you have done. Some injuries - like a calf tear for example, mean no running until it is well healed. I am not medically trained but have had a nasty tear myself and my physio was worth her weight in gold!

Please don’t write off your return to running though - I suspect you have just tried to run on it too soon.

My own calf injury (at week 8 of the program) kept me out for a while but has given me no problems in the 5 years since.

Fingers crossed for you.🤞

[Rick-shaw Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

That's so encouraging. Thank you so much. I will do what you say and hopefully get compeletely fixed. If I stop for too long, I will probably have to go back to C25K! But that's OK.

[Sandraj39 Graduate in reply to Rick-shaw]

I had to go way back in the program but was just happy to be running again! You will get there!🤞

[Meanmommab Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks for that. I tore my calf 6 weeks ago and am waiting on a physio and feeling so frustrated. You have given me hope.

[Sandraj39 Graduate in reply to Meanmommab]

It's horrible isn't it? I remember worrying that running was over for me at the time but was also determined to get back. Keep the faith - this is an injury that needs time to heal. Hopefully a physio will offer some massage to smooth the scar tissue and can also give you some rehab exercise.

Good luck! 🤞🙂

[Meanmommab Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Comments from someone who has been there gives me hope and the confidence to be patient when feeling despondent.

[iain-strachan Graduate]

It's very frustrating not being able to run because it gives so much pleasure. I have been unable to run at all for some months following an Achilles tendon injury. I went to a physio, and was given quite demanding exercises to do, and told it takes 3-6 months!

I'm almost back to normal (at the start I couldn't walk more than about 1 km without ending up hobbling).

But have recently restarted - first checked to see if I could run for 1 minute in a walk. Then did 3x 1 minute and walking the rest, then 5x 1 minute, then C25K Week 1 run in total.

Next run I did Wk2R1, and the last two I've done Week 3 runs.

So after a gradual build up to doing Wk1R1, I am now doing an accelerated pass through C25K. The first few were frustrating to do because my body wanted to go further, but I daren't risk inflaming the tendon.

I think it's generally recommended after a period on the IC to reintroduce it with walk/run alternations.

But best to give it a complete rest for a few weeks. Also cycling is a form of exercise I found didn't aggravate it at all - might work for you too. But cycling just doesn't give the buzz than running does. It is far too energy-efficient (the bicycle is a remarkable invention), and too easy to go along at a reasonable speed without much effort, I find. With running you are putting in the effort all the way.

Just go very carefully reintroducing the running. My doctor (who is a marathon runner) told me that the impact of landing is around 8-9 times your body weight.

[Hidden in reply to iain-strachan]

I graduated from the c25k and finally completed my first full 5k last month but ended up with Achilles tendinitis! It's only now in the last few days I'm walking without hobbling! So thanks for your reply! I'd given up hope of running again tbh!

[Rick-shaw Graduate in reply to iain-strachan]

Brilliant, thank you! So nice to hear that cycling is OK :). I will get my bike out (the one without an engine ) and go for some rides, after seeing my doc and/or a physio.

So nice of you to answer.

[nowster Graduate]

Another vote for visiting a physio. I had to swallow my pride and visited one after I'd injured my ankle/shin three weeks ago.

[Rick-shaw Graduate in reply to nowster]

Thank you for your vote That looks like a unanimous piece of advice.

Will do !

[Jackapoodle Graduate]

Oh I feel your pain. I tried to run through the calf pain and made it worse so now hobbling. I see a sports physio tomorrow (recommended to me by my local running shop). He did say when I telephoned that I shouldn't run but could cycle.

I'm gutted, was doing consolidation runs, had a programme of slow improvement in mind, and was loving just being out there.

The physio did say it could be a long frustrating process if shin splints but we'll get back out there Rick-shaw!!!

[Rick-shaw Graduate in reply to Jackapoodle]

Thank you. And good luck to you with the physio!

[Roxdog Graduate]

Like everyone else has advised, see a physio. If you are willing to pay, you can see one quickly or even online. To encourage you, I was out with an injury for 6weeks after completing a lot of consolidation runs and running for an hour after increasing my times. After injury, I did not need to repeat the programme, I just did some very slow, short gentle runs for a couple of weeks and then built up again.

You will be fine and very good luck. Keep posting because it keeps you in touch with running if you're on the IC and you'll find others in the same boat!

[Rick-shaw Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

Thanks for that. So encouraging to know that I might not need to start all over again