Sport related injury

[Mooselet8]

I have started half marathon training in the last few week, ever since last week my calf muscles have been really tight even during normal days- I have been stretching them. I tried to go out for a run last night, with proper run coaches but couldn't- I am now in a lot of pain, to the point I can't walk properly and couldn't sleep last night! Any suggestions?
Thanks

A hopeful bump

Foam rolling?

If it continues get checked out by a physio and make sure you haven't injured a muscle/ligament?

@AnthonyCrowley thanks for reply, I have tried rolling it (with a rolling pin) which unsuccessful worked and gave me more bruising!

Whereabouts in the calfmis the pain? Low down, near your ankle or more central? Is it both legs?

@AnthonyCrowley it's on my right leg only and down the lower part of the calf towards the ankle

If you're in pain and can't walk, firstly I think you need to listen to your body and rest, properly, until it is better.

When you say you've started HM training, do you mean you'd increased your running to HM distance, or have you started training from scratch, or something in between? Have you increased distance or pace, or both? When is your HM?

How are your trainers, could you be running oddly due to them being 'wrong' for your feet, or excessively worn? They say about 500 miles in a pair don't they, but I find when I'm going long distances they don't last as long (eg regularly doing 15+ k wears them more than doing 5kms?)

Are you stretching properly after running?

It sounds like you have some sort of muscle pain, 'pulled a muscle' or otherwise overdone it. Personally I would rest for a few days, see if it improves with the usual RICE treatment (rest, ice. Compression. Elevation) and if not then seek professional help, especially if you are intending to continue training on it. Even a running shop or local gym/pt might be able to advise you?

I agree, if it's one side it's far more likely to be a pulled muscle or even some sort of tendon issue. Could be in the right area for your Achilles' tendon?

Doesn't sounds like delayed onset muscle soreness if it's only one leg.

You need to rest for now and when you return to running get a gait analysis done or even see a podiatrist with a running interest. Make sure you follow a proper programme. So don't do too much too soon.

Invariably I have found two things out from my (albeit short) running habit.

1. if you can't pinpoint when you did it, then more often than not it's a cumulative injury, which usually falls to technique somewhere being the problem (eg compensating for a wonky knee, or poor foot strike, or any one of a million other things!) and 2) if you keep running on it, without correcting it, it will get worse.

When I trained for my half, I actually did more strength training than running sometimes. You could continue to do that while your calf recovers so you're not going completely without training?

Thanks- so to answer some questions, I have started on a programme to do this half marathon which is in September, we are all beginners and led by 5 coaches. My trainers are literally brand new, brought them from a specialist running shop a few weeks ago. Tonight I was limping around a shop and my knee gave way in the same leg, so now have a lot of pain in the knee

Oh gosh, In that case it's probably simply that you've overdone it. It's not like shin splints is it (where you feel like the bones of your shin are splintering?) do you reckon it's the muscle? I'd imagine you've pulled it/over done it. Lavender essential oil is very good for muscular aches, but really it's rest that you need. Mention it to your coaches, the fact that it's one leg only could suggest you need to do some single leg strength work, or maybe you're misaligned or doing something else 'lopsided'. Did you get your gait analysed for your trainers? That's the other thing that could show any minor discrepancies in your technique (mine showed that my knees knocked together and the trainers recommended corrected it)

Good luck in your half! When is it, which one are you doing?

Your knee is giving way and you can’t run? Why are you asking MN and not a physio honestly? Make an appointment and stay off it in the meantime

See a physio. Although it might be back/sciatica.

If not properly injured core and strength work plus yoga/pilates should help..