Calves sore when running

StephNicole2018
StephNicole2018 Posts: 24 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am thinking I am using my calves too much and other bigger muscles like hamstrings too little when running. I am new to running so I could be wrong but I remember reading that somewhere. My calves get tired and feel very tight while other muscles not such much. It only occurs while running and ceases after a minute of walking or stopping. I stretch with dynamic stretches before and static after. It doesn’t feel like cramps. It happen about .25 into my 2 mile run. I am not going very fast, about a 10-12 min/mile tops. By the wear on my shoes it looks like I underpronate, I am going to get an analysis and fitting next week to find out. I have notified I don’t seem to pick my feet up very high off the ground and am wondering if that has anything to do with it. I do run on dirt roads with a few small hills, it’s what we have hear in BFE and I appreciate the outdoors more than treadmills. Any input or suggestions to try would be great.

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Run slower, have a break till you're fit for new shoes, keep stretching.
  • Purplebunnysarah
    Purplebunnysarah Posts: 3,252 Member
    I get that sometimes, especially when I've not run for 3 days or more in a row. Because I know it's going to suck, I run slow to start. I take frequent walk and stretch breaks (every 400-800m) until it feels better or until my run is done. And I stretch a lot afterwards.

    If it lasts more than one run I reevaluate my shoes.
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    Go have your shoe fitting and see if that helps. Improper shoes can cause all sorts of aches and pains.

    It's pretty common to have tight muscles early in a run, and then they loosen up once you've been moving for a while. Your stretching will help somewhat with this (assuming, of course, that you're targeting that area...here are some possible stretches: https://www.active.com/running/articles/before-you-run-the-dynamic-warm-up?page=2). But it might just be a matter of going slowly at first, and then you can pick up speed after you've loosened up.
  • StephNicole2018
    StephNicole2018 Posts: 24 Member
    Thanks for the input. I am interested to see if the shoes improve it. I’ll let y’all know how the shoes improve it when I get them.

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