Slight calf strain ...

zulutango

I'm training for a marathon at the end of November, and last night about 9 miles into a 10 miler my calf pulled slightly. I had done 25km the previous day and it was arguably too much distance in such a short time. Anyway, I stopped straight away, and walked or lightly jogged back to the car.

Today the strain is there, but I can walk fine, without a limp or anything. I'll definitely hold off on the running for a few days though.

Now, I'm just wondering, in this situation, would getting a massage (or foam rolling) of the calf be a good or bad thing to do. Would it help it heal, or is it a no-no? I don't want to consult a physio because it's really not that bad, but I'd like to know what experienced runners think.

kit3

zulutango wrote: »

I'm training for a marathon at the end of November, and last night about 9 miles into a 10 miler my calf pulled slightly. I had done 25km the previous day and it was arguably too much distance in such a short time. Anyway, I stopped straight away, and walked or lightly jogged back to the car.

Today the strain is there, but I can walk fine, without a limp or anything. I'll definitely hold off on the running for a few days though.

Now, I'm just wondering, in this situation, would getting a massage (or foam rolling) of the calf be a good or bad thing to do. Would it help it heal, or is it a no-no? I don't want to consult a physio because it's really not that bad, but I'd like to know what experienced runners think.

Can't give medical advice here but I would strongly advise you to get it checked out. Same thing happened to me at the end of July. I left it a few days & ran again. It was on a knife edge (but niggly but ok to run) for the rest of the summer but went again the start of Sept & it still isn't right to run on. Was training for Dublin but that's out the window now. Prompt treatment now might save you a lot of grief.

zulutango

Thanks kit3. I'm not looking for medical advice really, just a general understanding of the issue I think, and an insight into the experience of others (which you've given, thanks!).

It really seems too slight to go to a physio, but I would consider getting it massaged or just foam roll it myself. I'll give it a few days anyway and see.

kit3

zulutango wrote: »

Thanks kit3. I'm not looking for medical advice really, just a general understanding of the issue I think, and an insight into the experience of others (which you've given, thanks!).

It really seems too slight to go to a physio, but I would consider getting it massaged or just foam roll it myself. I'll give it a few days anyway and see.

Cool. Best of luck with it.

echancrure

I had the same thing about 2 weeks ago (training for DCM), I wasn't on a hard run but just in the last mile of an easy run I felt a pull in left calf. I reckon it was just muscle tiredness from all the running. I did the same as you and stopped and walked back.

The day after I could feel it, especially if I pressed on it, but I could walk fine. Here is what I did:

- I stopped running for 2 days
- I foamed rolled everyday
- I went to the sauna making sure that my sore muscle was resting on the hot wood
- I brought and wore compression socks during the day
- I massages the area myself quite vigorously
- I used a hot water bottle to rest my calf on while watching TV

I used all that for about 4 days and when I started running again slowly at first the pain was only present when pressing on it, an then it disappeared totally after a week (I even managed VO2 training after a week).

So for me it was probably muscle fatigue rather than a tear and the aggressive treatment worked.

iamjenko

Physio will treat it for you properly and give you a rehab programme and get you back up to full speed in a week or two. To ignore it and hope it goes away would be to put your target event at risk - anytime i've delayed a physio visit thinking it was ok i've invariably ended up at the physio a couple weeks later with a worse injury than the initial one!!

zulutango

I gave it a week and got a massage a few days ago. Tonight I went for a very light run but had to stop about half way through. It's worse now than it was a week ago. Off to the physio with me.

kit3

zulutango wrote: »

I gave it a week and got a massage a few days ago. Tonight I went for a very light run but had to stop about half way through. It's worse now than it was a week ago. Off to the physio with me.

Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately sounds all too familiar. Best of luck with it.

zulutango

So, today is three weeks since the injury. Following two physio sessions (which really helped) I managed a light 8km yesterday and it held up well. Also, I''ve been doing some rowing sessions to try and keep the aerobic fitness from sliding.

Now, my marathon is on 27th of this month. Realistically, I have this week and next to get back up to speed. I feel like I've lost a lot, and any kind of distance seems daunting.

I'll be going to the physio again in the morning and will get his advice. When I asked him previously he said that I should be able to do it, given that a lot of the work was already done, but I don't feel that way myself. Before the injury I had got up to 26km at slightly under race pace and I was weary after it.

Any thoughts/advice appreciated!

Ceepo

zulutango wrote: »

So, today is three weeks since the injury. Following two physio sessions (which really helped) I managed a light 8km yesterday and it held up well. Also, I''ve been doing some rowing sessions to try and keep the aerobic fitness from sliding.

Now, my marathon is on 27th of this month. Realistically, I have this week and next to get back up to speed. I feel like I've lost a lot, and any kind of distance seems daunting.

I'll be going to the physio again in the morning and will get his advice. When I asked him previously he said that I should be able to do it, given that a lot of the work was already done, but I don't feel that way myself. Before the injury I had got up to 26km at slightly under race pace and I was weary after it.

Any thoughts/advice appreciated!

Let's think realistic about this....you are recovering from a calf strain. 8k is your longest running in 3 weeks. 26k is your longest running to date....
And you want to run a Marathon in 3 weeks time..

Not been a smart ass..but it would seem to me to be the wrong thing to do

zulutango

Thanks. I appreciate honest advice!

I reckon I can get through it at a slower pace than the target, assuming the calf holds up. The flights and accommodation and entry are already booked now so I'll be going (for a holiday if nothing else!).

The programme is out the window now, so I'm wondering what the best way to prepare might be.

Ceepo

zulutango wrote: »

Thanks. I appreciate honest advice!

I reckon I can get through it at a slower pace than the target, assuming the calf holds up. The flights and accommodation and entry are already booked now so I'll be going (for a holiday if nothing else!).

The programme is out the window now, so I'm wondering what the best way to prepare might be.

That's will probably be determined by your calf and how it's recovering. What ever you do don't over do it. Realistically you're not going to get much fitness gains but could end up been fatigued going into it.
It's always fine lines.
Enjoy the holidays is my advice