Question- Every time I get in a good hardcore run, my calves hurt for days and days and days after. Like so painful when I flex my feet. It's beginning to frustrate me because it takes so long to recover from the previous run, so I'm missing days that I should be running! I've tried meds and comfy shoes. Any tips?
Whenever I end up seriously sore from running or strength training or the like, I find that it does hurt for days, sometimes to the extent that I have trouble sitting down. But what I also find is that although it hurts when you first start your run in that condition, once your muscles get warmed up it doesn't hurt at all. I don't generally stretch pre-running, but I can see it helping. Either way, it sounds a little simplistic, but what works for me and what I'd recommend is...running anyway. It stops hurting within a couple minutes in my experience.
Make sure you warm up by walking for 5-10 minutes before your run then stretch, stretch, stretch after your run... If you're sore in the evening stretch, the next day walk around and stretch again... It may be your legs getting new to the workout. When I first started I was sore a lot and for long periods of time, now I'm barely sore and when I am, I stretch..
im going to offer different advice... sounds to me like it might be some kind of tendonitis. The good news is the the correct shoes, with a good/correct pair of inserts can solve the issue.
Its very hard sometimes to differentiate between muscle pain/stiffness, and tendon issues.
The fact that you dont seem to be a new runner makes me think its not muscle soreness, and the fact that it occurs after a "hardcore run" making me think you run "often"?
Just a slightly different perspective... you might want to have your doc take a look.... easy to diagnose, easy to "fix"
Also, it could be that you are doing too much hardcore and not enough light running. Running puts some unique stresses and strains on muscles and tendons. If you have other aerobic capacity, you may be able to run faster than your structure is ready for.
I would take three weeks of all VERY easy running, nothing too fast, nothing too long, nothing too hilly. Each week you can build in a bit more time if you are pain free, but no intensity. And then if you are pain free start with an easy run and do a very very short segment of higher intensity. Then run easy for 2-3 days then try again. etc. Keep your running intensity moderate for awhile and get your higher intensity cardio work on something with less impact.
What do you mean by "comfy shoes" Sometimes more cushioned shoes are stffer which puts a lot of strain on the calves and achilles. Comfy doesnt always mean proper support.
Watch the use of meds. If you are causing injury, running on meds is masking pain and can increase injury.
if you are sore, try and move the next day, walk, swim, elliptical, cycle.
My legs are sore after I run hard for longer than normal. Usually my upper thighs and calves. I've had relief with a foam roller. And I agree with ennay, you may be running too hard.
Every time I run, my legs hurt for days after!
