Another day waking up to a sharp ache in my left calf this morning. It’s right at the bottom where the muscle joins the bone, an inch or so above the ankle. It’s not unbearable, but it’s noticeable when I walk, despite the sterling efforts of the sports masseuse Lillian yesterday.
I was reading an issue of Runners World from a month or so ago this morning and there was an article that seemed to suggest some people’s body shape and size predetermines what their maximum racing capability should be. In other words, some people should just stick to running 10ks or half marathons, rather than going for the big ones.
It’s something I’ve had suggested to me before, by the gym instructor who used to run the exercise room when I worked at Associated Newspapers. We’d been looking at ways to sooth my constantly sore shins and after resting, getting support trainers to stop pronation and trying every stretch in the book to find they only provided periodic relief, he suggested I could possibly only ever work my way up to a half marathon.
It was playing on my mind this morning and so I ran Tooting Common. which I’d found relatively easy on the leg when I was running with my pal Ben yesterday. This morning though, I did the exact same route in six minutes longer… a significant difference over a short distance like three miles.
I can’t but help think ahead though… I’m determined that by running easy for the next four days, icing as much as possible and taking industrial strength Ibuprofen, I’ll manage to do my long run this Sunday and get my training for the Brighton Marathon back on track… It’s a 17miler and should really sort the man from the boy…
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Miles today: 3
Target: 495
Miles to date: 628.36
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1 comment
Steve Swift says:
March 3, 2010 at 23:09 (UTC 1)
I stuggled with sore/torn calf muscles in both legs for years.
After seeing a podiatrist I took to wearing orthotics and since then, touchwood, it’s been fine. You are undoubtedly paying the price for an accumulative build up of wear and tear but you don’t need me to point that out.
Maybe see a podiatrist to see if orthotics might give you even more support and protection than the shoes you are using. There are also gel heels which might be of use if you are putting too much strain on the lower legs.
Either of these will need to be used with a neutral shoe to guard against over-correction.
I don’t buy that argument about us being physiologically limited to a certain distance. When you do your marathon just look around. There are plenty of living examples of people bucking that particular theory.