Calf pain and upcoming race

MrsKP11 · April 2012

I have my first race on Sunday (10k). My last run was Wednesday, and it wasn't even that good (I'm pretty sure my only not-so-great run of the entire training). On Thursday I woke up with a pain in my calf. I took yesterday off and stretched but today the pain is still there. I am so worried about hurting myself on Sunday. I plan on taking today and tomorrow off too just to make sure. My questions are:

I shouldn't bail on the race, should I? I reaaaaaally don't want to. I am willing to take time off after it if needed...

Since my last run will have been Wednesday, will Thurs, Fri, Sat off be too much and negatively affect my race? Should I try a very easy run today?

shorewife · April 2012

Is it your calf or your achilles? Meaning, do you think it is muscular? If so, try rolling it out with a tennis ball. I had a giant knot in my calf muscle and although the tennis ball trick didn't make it totally go away, it helped a lot.

Mush-Tastic · April 2012

shorewife:
Is it your calf or your achilles? Meaning, do you think it is muscular? If so, try rolling it out with a tennis ball. I had a giant knot in my calf muscle and although the tennis ball trick didn't make it totally go away, it helped a lot.

If it's muscular, then I'd do what the PP suggested. I have had calf knots the size of golf balls that have taken literally weeks to get out with deep massage. It hurts like crazy, but I was still able to run on it. If it's your achilles, though, I wouldn't mess with the race. That can screw you up in the future for much longer than you probably want to deal with it.

PrincessPeach05 · April 2012

ITA with the calf vs. Achilles as mentioned above. I have a calf strain and took an entire week off of running, then when I returned to running wore a compression sleeve while I ran and iced the calf post-run. I also took ibuprofen for pain and saw a PT (when I was at PT they did do a laser thingy, but I am not sure it really helped.) I now stretch/do exercises before I run and so far so good. It put me behind training for a 10k, but it was worth it. I would get a compression sleeve and try the race if it was me (and if it was indeed my calf.)

MrsKP11 · April 2012

Thanks- I think it could just be the calf- it hurts but it doesn't seem TOO serious. I have a compression sleeve for my shin (same leg) so I'll probably wear that and ice it a bunch, and still do the race. I'll assess it after to see if I should take time off before getting into my half training.

Calf pain and upcoming race

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