I’m at the beginning of c25k again, with week 1 on repeat currently due to pain / tightness in what I thought was my soleus muscle (this is on both legs) while running which eases after a while when I walk. However, looking up this muscle I came across the Achilles tendon and that seems to be exactly where my legs are tight. I use the recommended warm up in the app and the stretches after running. I do regular calf raises and other strength exercises. Any thoughts would be very welcome as it’s holding me back. I don’t think I could rub any slower either. I’m singing along to my music as I run. Help!
Sore / tight calves. Or is it?: I’m at the... - Couch to 5K
Sore / tight calves. Or is it?
That was obviously meant to say ‘run any slower’ not rub. Although I do stop to stretch and rub the area on walk breaks which helps a bit.
If it is your Achilles playing up then regular eccentric heel drops will probably help.
If you do some of your heel drops with the knee bent you will beneficially recruit the soleus muscle. Straight leg heel drops target the gastrocnemius more.
A good heel drop regimen to adopt would be:
15 with straight leg, 15 with bent knee
Two or three times a day, each leg
Get yourself a foam roller, was a lifesaver when I started for similar issues
What seems to work for me, before and after run. Have you tried Rollering your leg muscles using a foam Paint Roller (clean, unused for painting)
I'm not very clued up on this but just maybe your doing too much and need to back off a bit and rest???