I'm 28 years old. It seems like almost every time I go for a run (I've only really been running for about 6 months), I get a sharp pain in my right calf about 20-30 minutes into the run. I stop running and just walk or go to another exercise. My calf is then sore for the next couple of days. I am stretching before and after. What am I doing wrong? Should I stop stretching beforehand? I would really like to go a week of running without having this pain come back.
Answered by Jamie Kerem First off I would tell you not to worry too much about your calf. From the duration of the pain as well as its timely occurence, i think its safe to say your calf just needs strengthening as well as adapting to the new strain you are placing on it by running.
The stretched you do before and after are perfectly okay. I would advise an active, or dynamic, stretch beforehand. This includes something with a lot of movement in order to stretch the muscle as opposed to holding a static stretch. This will fire up the neurons in your muscle and prepare them for the stress. Try something like skipping on the spot or springing only on the balls of your feet.
Inflammation may also come into play that can cause pain in your calf muscle. Make sure to eat plenty of anti-inflammatory foods and drink PLENTY of water. A well hydrated muscle is a happy muscle!
If pain persists while you're running, you may decide to push through it until the end, but if it a bad pain, consider stopping to massage out any new-forming knots in the muscle.
You may also want to consider knee high compression socks which have been proven to improve circulation in the calf muscle.
I hope these suggestions help you!
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