A really hard 12k

[backintime]

My legs were really tight...the view was worth it though.

Any tips for tight calves ? It's the first time I had it this bad...it took nearly 5k for them to loosen up.

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

I cannot recommend a massage stick highly enough. I use mine every night before bed. Best 8.50 I've ever spent, had it at least 3 years now

66fit.co.uk/products/66fit-...

[backintime 10 Miles in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I have one but I tend to use it after runs only. I'll put it beside my bed to remind me

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to backintime]

I hop in a hot bath after a run and give my calves a good going over with my hands in the bath but I use the roller every night before bed.

Don't forget to stretch after your run too. Lunges, heel drops/ raises etc.

[backintime 10 Miles in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks, I do stretch, I will add a bit more.

I was standing for 2.5 hours watching a local football match before my run, maybe that tightened them up a bit lol

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to backintime]

Also try my super lazy calf massage; grease up one knee and the opposite calf, lie back on the floor or bed and just drop your calf onto the (raised) knee and ease it back and forth. Full weight might be too much to start with if its really tight, but it works great and is so easy!

[backintime 10 Miles in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Will do !

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Oh wow! That even works with my trousers on - no grease involved 😀

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon]

Beautiful photo. No tips, alas.

[backintime 10 Miles in reply to Stephen_UK]

Thanks, I wish I had a better camera on my phone to do it justice, it was gorgeous tonight

[Hidden]

Gorgeous photo and well done on 12km. You’re making great progress. I have tight calves too although they are getting better. I do heel drops a lot. I stand on the edge of a step and hold onto something for support and off I go raising and dropping. You could probably do them by going up and down on your toes at the sidelines of a soccer pitch too

[backintime 10 Miles in reply to Hidden]

I do calf raises while cooking and washing up and cleaning teeth, I should have thought while I was watching !

[UpTheStanley Half Marathon]

Stiff calves have never been a problem for me at the start of a run, but using compression socks has much reduced stiffness afterwards, both immediately and the next day

[backintime 10 Miles in reply to UpTheStanley]

Thanks...I don't seem to suffer much the next day, it was just a really hard run with my calves so tight...I took it slowly and they loosened up. Maybe it was my intervals this week lol

[C3PO Marathon]

Also easing back. I had really tight calves this summer. I'm pretty sure it was increasing my mileage too much too fast. On a couple of my runs, I stopped and stretched them a bit before continuing.

[backintime 10 Miles in reply to C3PO]

Thanks - This is the first week I've done real intervals (as opposed to just 3 varying speeds) and the first week I've had really tight calves - I'll see how next week goes and maybe try and spread the runs out better

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Stretch. A lot. Stretch every day, whether you are running or not. Stretch after every run. Oh and a bit of massage with the foam roller is good - if you don't mind the pain!

[backintime 10 Miles in reply to Whatsapp]

Thanks, I will add more stretches in - I am doing calf raises a lot, but I will add in other stretches on non-run days