After taking a week off from last Sunday’s calf problems, I figured I was ok to start running again. I’d gone for a long (2.33 mile) walk on Tuesday night which helped a lot, and on Wednesday gotten a massage from Kris that seemed to really knock the problem out of the park; Thursday afternoon it seemed to be entirely gone. So, about half an hour ago I suited up, headed down to the Arlington Boulevard Trail… and in less than a third of a mile it was starting to hurt again. By the half-mile point it was starting to increase rather than decrease, and that’s when I stopped.
It killed me to stop. It’s still killing me to have stopped. Part of me keeps thinking that if I’d kept going it would’ve gotten “worked out” and started to decrease. The rest of me thinks that it’s better to be safe than sorry, that it was the right decision to not keep running and risk further injury.
But I’m pissed at myself, and mad, and just really torn up by all this (no pun intended). I don’t take injury well as you can tell, and any and all doubts that had gone away about starting back up with official training a week from today are now back in full force.
And just think, this is what I do for fun.
Are you stretching your calves frequently? Or doing other lower-leg specific flexing exercises or anything?
I’m sympathetic about the injury bit. I hope it gets better.
I am, but I’ve been better about doing so in the past. Guess what I’m taking up whole-hog again? 🙂
Don’t know if it’s any help, but have you tried getting a massage?
Before the marine corp in 2004 I went to the Teal Center in Ballston and they did an excruciating but helpful massage on my IT band. Helped me do the marathon, although I really wish I had known about getting a cortisone shot– as that probably would have helped doubly . . .
forgot to add, tonight I’m going to *try* to hit my first pacers running group (could be nixed by errand-mania). Of course, I’ll be training all summer, so I’m sure there will be plenty of other times for us to catch up . . .
Seriously, try the Teal Center — but make sure you tell them you want sport medicine — not this wimpy soothing stuff. 🙂
Thanks for the heads up — I got another massage from Kris today and she’s going to hit it tomorrow as well, but it’s good to know about the Teal Center.
Needless to say, no running for me tonight; as it turns out I’ve got a friend’s birthday party to hit. If I can keep from running for another week or so, coupled with increased stretching and such, hopefully it’ll lick this problem and get me back out on the trails again. (Famous last words, I know.)
well, I skipped the run too. I was too busy in the end, and finally got groceries. You know when you are dead tired but hyper at the same time?
I ended up falling asleep on the couch at midnight in a total stupor. Woke at 1:45 and brushed teeth etc. It’s like a train hit me!