I met with some of the North Texas Trail Runners this morning at the MADD shelter. Our goal was to run the Northshore trail from MADD to Rockledge Park and back, about a 10 miles round trip. I was feeling really good and thought I was up for the run. I was expecting to see a lot of this...
or maybe some of this...
But instead, I had to leave the trail and limp back to the Jeep. So I ended up seeing a lot of this...
I have been plagued by my calf muscle injuries for the last few months. I must say that I am getting very frustrated by this. I have the will and mental desire to go the distance, and my lungs have healed enough to support the runs, but my calf muscles keep giving out.
I'm not really sure what to do about it. I might have to seek out a running coach or other specialist that can examine my stride to see if the injuries are self-inflicted. Or, maybe this is an issue of conditioning, that I need to strengthen the muscles that keep giving out on me. I don't know.
My wife has a simple explanation... I'm just too old for this crap! But I suspect I am 20 years younger than some of the people that passed me on the trail today.
I am not giving up.
Do you have a foam roller? I have not been plagued with calf injuries, but I have with other injuries, and the foam roller does WONDERS. I try to use it daily on every muscle whether or not I run.
ReplyDeleteThere is also an animal called "the stick." I find it works the kinks out of my calves better than the foam roller. I use the foam roller for my quads and hamstrings.
ReplyDeleteOh and, keep it up! I am told regularly by my wife and friends that I am too old and crazy for running all hours of the day and night. It just makes me want to run more. My favorite time of the day is to run is at 3AM. Is it crazy? Sure, but so are a lot of other things that we do everyday. It is simply the most peaceful time of the day for me with no worries on my mind.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to find a PT that is a runner. It is important to quiz them about being a runner. Ask them if they will go out on a short run with you for an evaluation of your gate. (You can ask the store manager at a running store if they know of a good one. Chances are they will.)
Last bit of free advice here is to make sure you are running in the right shoes. Go to a reputable running store and get fitted for shoes for your feet. I dont live in Dallas, but I have run a couple races there. Luke's Locker seemed to be a pretty good place to start to get fitted. Run a couple miles in the shoes on a treadmill and take them back if something is wrong with them.
Don't give up. Try daily stretching of the calve with a pro stretch (google it)as well as self massage of under foot and calve. Then look at employing you hammys and glutes more while running (technique). As running on your calves (toes) is a sure way to tire quickly and injure them.
ReplyDeleteChin up. It will all come together soon...
Keep pushing, you will get there. I went from "couch to 50 miler" in 7 months. Now 8 months later (Nov 6, 2010),I am trying 100 to raise money for a 7yr old family friend with ovarian cancer $10 at a time.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Greg