[Ron Burgundy]

Hi all,

I'm new here, so forgive the possible stupidity of my question!

I'n in training for my first race of any sort, MK Half in March and have been training for about 5 or 6 weeks.

Everything was going very well and suddenly when i went running one evening and stopped off to stretch and felt basically a knot in my calf, I stretched it out and then went for a briefish 40min run and it felt fine.

basically, since then I often feel a ball in my calf and the following day I basically get a pain between my calf and my shins on the inside of my leg, if that makes sense?

Is that sounding like a shin splint? Any help/advice/tips would be massively appreciated!!

Cheers

 

[twinkle toes]

Hi Ron

Welcome to the forum.

Are you new to running?

If so have you been to a specialist running shop to be fitted for trainers incorrect running shoes make up for alot in injuries or you may have been doing too much too soon, which could be the cause of the pain in your leg?

Hope this helps

TT

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Hi Ron

Welcome to the forum.

Are you new to running?

If so have you been to a specialist running shop to be fitted for trainers incorrect running shoes make up for alot in injuries or you may have been doing too much too soon, which could be the cause of the pain in your leg?

Hope this helps

TT

Hi,

Yeah I went to a specialist running shop and was studied etc etc. Ended up with some NB's - apparently I had a pretty neutral style.

I've been doing 3 runs a week, but I'm assuming that's ok?

 

[Fulmar]

Welcome Ron!

Does it hurt at all?
Have you lost some mobility/had your running style altered by that?

 

[Katten]

Welcome to the forum, Ron

It sounds like you've torn or damaged a muscle in your calf, causing it to swell. I suggest you rest it completely for a couple of weeks, and find some exercises to stretch and strengthen that part of your leg.

If it's not healed or mostly healed after 2 weeks, best check it over with a doctor or physio

I loved that film by the way

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Welcome Ron!

Does it hurt at all?
Have you lost some mobility/had your running style altered by that?

Hi, sorry for delay in getting back on here.

To be honest, it never hurts, I can just 'feel my calf' occasionally, if that makes sense?? I've rested it for a few days and it is feeling a lot better.

As for changing my style, no it's not made me do that. Once I get going, the tightness almost completely disappears. It sounds odd, but it only resufaces 1) if I have to stop momentarily to cross a road or something and then I feel it when I get going again. 2) when I'm finished I feel it again about 30mins after stopping and it stays for a while and then gradually fades over next couple of days, but the feeling, as I mentione before sort of moves around to the side of my calf and shins.

Welcome to the forum, Ron

It sounds like you've torn or damaged a muscle in your calf, causing it to swell. I suggest you rest it completely for a couple of weeks, and find some exercises to stretch and strengthen that part of your leg.

If it's not healed or mostly healed after 2 weeks, best check it over with a doctor or physio

I loved that film by the way

Thanks for your info and recognising the name!

I assumed the knot feeling was a muscle issue, so thank you.

I'm sort of torn at the moment (no pun intended) because I feel like I'm falling well behind on my training. The farthest I've done is just over 6 miles (took around 55mins) and the race is the 3rd of March. I'm still enjoying it, but really want to do the race in around 1hr50 or so.

Is that pretty unlikely now? I'm a fairly fit and healthy guy, not had to lose weight etc, just a case of massively increasing my stamina and obviously my speed.

I'm going off topic a bit here, but any help is well appreciated! I know aches and pains are to be expected as my body isn't used to this, so am happy to go through them, but obviously don't want to do myself some proper damage.

Cheers!

 

[Steady Edwina]

Ron,
Sometimes just the impact of running can lead t micro tears, which can esult in a build up of scar tissue and can make your muscles feel notty. The sensation you are sometimes feeling - does your calf just feel a little tight and does it slacke off durng your run? From what you've said I would say you are ok to continue training just make sure you build up your mileage gradually and stretch afterwards holding each strech for 30 seconds. Have a deep tissue sports maasage can also help unknot some of those muscles and usually costs around £30 for an hour - lots of sports physios offer them.

March is still quite a few months away - you still have plenty of time.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Ron,
Sometimes just the impact of running can lead t micro tears, which can esult in a build up of scar tissue and can make your muscles feel notty. The sensation you are sometimes feeling - does your calf just feel a little tight and does it slacke off durng your run? From what you've said I would say you are ok to continue training just make sure you build up your mileage gradually and stretch afterwards holding each strech for 30 seconds. Have a deep tissue sports maasage can also help unknot some of those muscles and usually costs around £30 for an hour - lots of sports physios offer them.

March is still quite a few months away - you still have plenty of time.

Hey,

Thank you, that is a massive help indeed! I've been warming down, but only holding stretches for say around 6-8 seconds. The bit about it easing off once I get going is spot on.

I'll give it another day then get back on the roads and take it easy..I'l just have to keep running during Christmas too!

Thank you for your help - luckily I have a good friend that's a physio! Thank you again, hopefully I won't be back (on the injury board at least!)

Cheers

 

[Fulmar]

Hello again Ron.
What you have there sounds like something very common and that every sports masseur will have come across often.
Of course that making a diagnose over the internet is not the best of ways but you seem to have what in portuguese we would call a "knot". When part of a muscle tightens considerably.
If that is the case, you're very likely to get rid of that nuisance simply by means of a few massage sessions.

Definitely - seek the advice of an expert and don't let "just any" masseur/physiotherapist put their hands there. Get references as sometimes a massage badly done can cause serious damage.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Well, yours truly rested the leg and the muscle felt pretty good.

Went for a run on Monday night, all going well, it was my first interval training. Had 5 minutes left of my 50mins and stopped to cross a road...then when I went to set off again, at my slow recovery speed - my shin suddenly hurt. And kept hurting all the way.

Woke up in the morning, painful shin, still hurts today

Really gutted, I have an appointment with a very well recommended physio / osteopath so hopefully they'll be able to help me!

For now, I'll have to take a week off and hope my levels don't fall off too drastically!

It "feels" like a mild shin splint, which can hopefully be sorted reasonably well - and hopefully I can get back on track!

I thought running was supposed to be liberating? I'm just worrying all the time about how much training time I've got left!!

 

[twinkle toes]

No need to panic you race is in March, better to get yourself fixed first rather than it flare up again right in the middle of a training schedule as you will only put more pressure on yourself.

You will need to rest it, you won't lose what you have gained so far by taking a week off.

Hope all goes well with the osteopath.