Runners: Bruised Calves?

When I first started running I had huge problems with calf pain. My calves are very tight and they were ok while running but constantly sore at other times. I used to have one giant black bruise from my knee to ankle on each leg where the muscle had torn and bled. Eventually the pain and the bruising stopped but I found a firm roll on the calves helped to dissipate the bruising (I ended up using a rolling pin!)