Runner's Training Tips: Calf Pain

I've just started training for my second marathon in Paris in April 2009, I planned to get 6 weeks of pre-training ,running 20 miles a week, under my belt before hitting the 20 week marathon training programme proper in December.

I'm now 4 weeks into the 6 week training programme, however I'm experiencing pain in the outside of my mid to upper right calf.The pain doesn't really bother me when I am running as it is quiet mild, unless I'm running sharpely up or downhill. However during everyday activities like standing up from a seated position, climbing stairs, or getting out of the car I get a sharp pain donw my calf. When I elevate my leg for a while, and down the same activities they don't hurt initially, but if I stand for a while they hurt again. I'm going to give myself some of rest for a few days and see what happens.

 I was wondering if anyone has experienced these kind of symptoms, as when I search on the web for information on calf pain, all I get is information on shin splints, and calf strains in the lower calf.

 Thanks

Hi!

When something aches after you stop or when you get up in the morning after a long run or a hard workout, it could be tendonitis.  The tendons attach the muscles to the bone and don't have the blood supply that the muscles do so healing takes a bit longer.  You may feel it around the joint rather than the muscle itself.  When it gets worse, you feel it all the time.  Be careful!  Running hills aggravates things because to get up the hill you flex your foot more.  Going down your stride is a bit longer and you hit further back on your foot giving that calf a good jolt.

That being said, you may want to try rolling that muscle with a foam roller.  What you're doing is called self myofascial release (self massage).  Find the tender spot by rolling on the roller.  When you find the spot, stop there and hold it for 30sec.  Sometimes you'll feel better almost immediately.  Usually it takes a week or 2 of rolling (once or twice a day) to feel better.   Of course, getting a professional massage will help.  The massage therapist will press hard on the "knot" in your muscle to get the muscle to relax.   

As for the foam roller, most gyms have them.  If you want to find out more about it, Google "self myofascial release".   There is a good article by Mike Clark  on SMR in the training section of www.performbetter.com.  It is an equipment company but has great articles in the training section.

Good luck!

Let me add to what jodaddy ended with.  Several years ago I had a sudden sharp pain in my calf that took me out of production for a while.  There wasn't any apparent explanation for it like sprinting or hill work or sudden stress.  Then about a month later I had a PE (pulmonary embolism); a blood clot on my lung.  A PE can be very dangerous and potentially fatal.  Although a connection was impossible to make, a blood clot can result from DVT or Deep Vein Throbosis.  DVT is a blood clot in the leg, mostly in the calf which can cause pain and possibly swelling but not always.  In my case it's possible the blood clot originated from a DVT, broke loose and ended up on my lung.  I had zero risk factors and I was in my mid-40's!  Clearly not a normal candidate for such a thing.  But it happened.  My personal rule now is, if something is out of sorts and is not easily explained I get checked out.