Muscle Pains
By: Colleen | September 23, 2009 | Category: Health
Apparently because I've turned 26 my body has started to break down on me. Okay, that's being a little dramatic, but it feels like 
the truth.
Last year I set a goal to run in and survive my first 10-miler. I did, and it was great. After years of just hitting the treadmill to keep myself from looking like a whale, it was nice to have another purpose for my efforts. After completing the 10, I figured why not try for a half-marathon? It's only 3.3 miles more.
This leads me to today. I'm trying to get serious about this training, but my body just won't let me. On an average day, I like to run about 40 minutes and I can do that comfortably. A few weeks ago my left achilles started to get tender and sensitive. This is not an uncommon injury for a runner, and I've had to deal with it being much worse in the past. I'd let it rest a few days, and then get back to business. It would be fine for that first run back, but only get irritated again as I continued my work-outs. With lots of stretching and icing, I seem to have that under control.
Now my problems have shifted to my right calf muscle. It's very, very tight and is significantly painful enough to not let me get much past 20 minutes of running. As far as I know, I'm doing everything to ease this away, but it won't budge. I stretch, apply heat compression, massage, and you can smell the icy-hot on me a mile away. (Which may have a direct effect on my dating life...)
Since I haven't been able to train the way I'd like due to injury, I've started taking spin classes. Spinning is NO JOKE and it applies a lot less pressure to my joints and calf muscles. Now I'm starting to worry if I'll be able to fit in the proper training I need before the race in November.
Any runners / athletes out there have any similar experiences? What helped / hurt your healing process? Any recommendations?
Permalink
| View Comments [11]
| 
E-mail This Entry
| Tags:
calf_muscle
injury
marathon
running
Bookmark and share: 
About social bookmarking
RSS Feeds
E-mail Updates
give it a couple more years. I flipped the odometer over to the BIG 3-1 this year. Chasing my kids around has tought me several things
1 - kids bounce when they fall, much better than we give them credit for
2 - i don't bounce as well a i used to
3 - not bouncing hurts and may require assistance (Help, I've fallen and i can't get up)
4 - it does not hurt to keep NSAIDs on hand in case i forget to bounce
5 - keep the chiropractor on speed dial.
Comment Permalink
They kept warning that those pains were warning signals my body was sending out. However I was under the supervision of my brother who was a marathon runner and trainer. So I pressed on.
Now, at only 53, I'm considered permanatly disabled. All my injuries happened between 18 and 27... and made themselves known again at 39. by 45 I needed a cain. I have had seven surgeries, just to keep walking.
My advise, listen to your body. You are going to need it for a long time. Work-out, stay in shape, enjoy the burn.. but most of all listen to your body.
To the best of my knowledge, we only get one. But with the way technology is going, that could change by the time I post this.
Comment Permalink
Turns out the Disney is a special place to run at. Your first name apears on your bib, and if you start walking people start calling out your name to encourage you on.
I was so embarased I eneded up running the entire thing.
Needles to say as soon as it was over I called my parents to tell them that I had succeeded, then crawled into bed.
Worst thing I could have ever done! I spent the rest of the weekend hobbling to the hot tub and the ice machine for alternating treatments of hot and cold.
I could have seriosly injured myself, but was lucky.
I was going to try for another half marathon this year, but changed my mind at the last minute.
I have come to the conclusion that running 13.1 miles is not my forte, but a few I can handle. In light of this I have decided to go out for a mini triathelon, which ranges between 1/4 to 1/2 of a full triathelon. This might be something you can look into, since it is divided up between swimming, biking and running.
Looks like you already have a good start on the biking!
Comment Permalink
Tight calf muscles though are something that can be worked out with a sports massage or something like that (which may also help the Achilles issue).
Good luck! I hope you can still do the race in November!
Comment Permalink
On a lighter note I currently have strains in my right hamstring and calf (due to the injury noted above). Stretching helps but you might also want to try some exercises where you strengthen the muscles. Nothing strenuous, but simple calf raises will do. It will help the muscles repair correctly.
Finally, I just went out and bought a compression sleeve and that has helped!
Comment Permalink
Comment Permalink
I had a calf strain last week and thought to icy hot and massage it. That only made it worse. I found that stretching it and leaving it alone allowed it the time to heal. I would have been better in a day but after messing with it, it needed two. Also, the need for healthy foods/ vitamins cannot go unmentioned- they will help you heal, energize you appropriately, and make your work outs mean more.
Comment Permalink
I really wanted to continue my training & participate in the race event because I was doing it for charity so I went to a sports massage therapist. I paid $30 or $40 for a half our session. Let me tell you, I learned sports massage is not the same as swedish massage. She went to work on me and it hurt. It was worth it. I immediately felt relief. She set me up to go back to see her for another session but after that first session I never had to see her again. I never experienced the pain again after that and I completed the half marathon.
I would advise you to pick up some books on sports medicine that will give you information on preventative measures as well as treatment plans for injuries. This has been helpful for me. Alot of times its just not giving yourself an efficient amount of time to warm up. The older you get the more time you need to warm up properly.
I hope this helps.
Comment Permalink
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTRY
The misuse of private and public political funds by congressional representative is incongionable. There was an expose regarding one week long golf outing that cost $225,000. That is ten times more than what I earned in one year.
When will the congress stop these personal insults to the American Citizens? The men in this position are there to provide policies for the benefit of our rights and livelihood. Yet they continually abuse the power they hold for their own greed and agendas. A complete change of policy is in need for the benefit of Americans.
For all the citizens of America, these are a few changes necessary, for the government in enacting of any proposals and policies that we want now and in the future.
1.Use of any peaceful or military personal, is to be approved, by the majority citizen’s vote before any action is started.
2.That congress is to give complete disclosure of any new policy proposals in their entirety and the reason the proposal is desirable.
3.Prohibition of lobbyists is necessary in having any contact with ANY political personnel.
4.Rules and regulation on salary caps and expenses needs implementation immediately.
5.Have an official Congressional programs agenda for a consistent and reliable review of each committee’s proposal.
To be enact upon by the following:
a)A majority vote of these proposals by all citizens to be on the ballot of the next presidential election.
b)No State shall have priority over the other states in consideration for any type of proposal.
c)No corporation business or individual will have priority over the majority of rights to citizens.
d)Ethical, legislative and judicial standards set in place for these proposals only for the betterment of all America and each of its citizens.
6.Moral and judicial standards for any congressional indiscretions will have dire consequences (including judicial recourse).
7.The general American population shall have a review of all representative performance and attendance to be available through public access.
8.No increase of monetary congressional salaries or gratuities unless approved by a citizens vote.
9.That each congressional representative is to provide evidence they earned the position they were elected to.
Comment Permalink
Thanks for gave good information for mussles.
http://www.healthyrecipes2go.com
Comment Permalink
http://www.gainmusclefast.us
Comment Permalink