New Shoes and calf pain.

muddyventures

I was wearing Brooks Adrenaline (last two years, but the same mileage on them last year, as I did in the first 5 months this year on teh second pair). They went from feeling like heaven to feeling like two bricks, so I went in to get new shoes and was fitted and went through the whole video process again, and now I'm wearing a saucony kinerva 3. I put them on and they felt like heaven, the shoe 'tech' told me to start out slow in them and alternate... did I listen? NO! He told me it would be a transition, but he never really told me why, so now that I have calf pain, and have been google-ing I find out that its possible my calf muscles have been shortened because of my footwear. No biggie really, I need to alternate my shoes and really stretch..

I'm posting this either as a heads up, or a have you had this happen.

kandrews24

Oh. Good to know. Thanks.

latischer

I think you may have calf pain because you might not have broken in your shoes well enough before you went into the intense running and higher mileage rates. I think the more you run in the shoes the more use to them you will get and also since you switched shoe brands that may have an effect on it since they are most likely made differently.

muddyventures

I think you may have calf pain because you might not have broken in your shoes well enough before you went into the intense running and higher mileage rates. I think the more you run in the shoes the more use to them you will get and also since you switched shoe brands that may have an effect on it since they are most likely made differently.

Yes, this sounds possible too, because I never follow the 'rules' until after I find out why there are rules. Someone can post if they wish, or I can google it, but how do you break in a pair of new running shoes?

timboom1

I think you may have calf pain because you might not have broken in your shoes well enough before you went into the intense running and higher mileage rates. I think the more you run in the shoes the more use to them you will get and also since you switched shoe brands that may have an effect on it since they are most likely made differently.

You shouldn't have to break in shoes these days, if they are the proper shoe for you they should fit and feel fine.

The transition however is due to the differences in the shoe, the saucony is a more minimalist shoe, and you will run different in it, using your calf muscles and other muscles much more than before. This is why the slow transition, so you can build up those muscles without the problems you are currently having.

Rest up and let the calf muscles recover and then go slow and short in the new shoes, alternate with what you are used to and build up the muscles for the more minimal shoe and you will be fine.

muddyventures

You shouldn't have to break in shoes these days, if they are the proper shoe for you they should fit and feel fine.

The transition however is due to the differences in the shoe, the saucony is a more minimalist shoe, and you will run different in it, using your calf muscles and other muscles much more than before. This is why the slow transition, so you can build up those muscles without the problems you are currently having.

Rest up and let the calf muscles recover and then go slow and short in the new shoes, alternate with what you are used to and build up the muscles for the more minimal shoe and you will be fine.
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I'm definitely wishing I would have done this, it feels like I've been doing stair climbing for 3 straight days. ouch. I still love the shoe and look forward to stepping it back and doing this the way I should have.. I'm just hard headed.

DG_Allen

It sounds like you went to a shoe with less heel to toe drop. It's a classic when people switch to barefoot, VFFs or minimalist shoes.

On the plus side, your calves are getting stronger

Drastiic

It sounds like you went to a shoe with less heel to toe drop. It's a classic when people switch to barefoot, VFFs or minimalist shoes.

On the plus side, your calves are getting stronger

I looked it up, the Kinvara 3 has a heel-to-toe drop of 4mm, which is in the 0-10mm range of minimalist shoes. If you're making the transition, everywhere you read will advise you to take things slow. As in really slow, like less than 10% of what you would normally do in your regular shoes and slowly bump it up every couple weeks. If you start feeling pain, stop and try again tomorrow.

ETA: The shoe isn't close to being barefoot because the heel height is 22mm and forefoot 18mm, which means there's plenty of cushioning. The transition time won't be as long compared to if they were true minimalist shoes, but I would still take it slow.

hwibowo

Like everybody said, every transition will take some time to get used to.

Also, running shoes don't need break-in period.

DG_Allen

That shoe is minimal and maximum at the same time! Nearly a 1" think heel! My Merrells are 4mm heel and toe.

The lack of drop is chaning your gate and your landing on your forefoot. Bend your knees, take shorter strides and let your calves relax.

muddyventures

Thank you all...there is some really great information to act on. I'm definitely going to have to focus on transition, but my excitement to run with less is bubbling over. I feel like this will be a great step in making running so much more enjoyable.

snw_

Im a rumner an get new shoes every hundred or so miles. and i always get fitted and evn i have this pain during the break in period. sometimes i do, sometimes i dont.

i juat recommend a goof fitting session where they watch you run on a treadmill. ive even come back the next day and traded them out for free.

good luck.