Any Runners On Here??

[pubrunner]

can anyone tell me why my lower calf just on my right leg is still feeling it everytime i run. i woukd have expected it to get easier, but i still struggle

It could be down to your shoes; it might be that your heel is lower than it is in your usual shoes. In turn, this would affect the lower calf. I experienced this, when I started barefoot running, for exactly this reason. I suggest that you try a heel 'wedge' insert in your right shoe.

 

[pubrunner]

I'm by no means a biomechanics expert, it seems to make sense that using the whole foot will encourage more even muscle development and control in the same way that using free weights instead of gym machines does

A good analogy and entirely accurate, IMO.

Start out with just half a mile of barefoot running and you'll feel the next day, that you've had a workout.

It's the best thing i've ever done.

Me too !

 

[defy-one]

i bought a pair of cheap nike running shoes ariund 3 years ago at the same time as my treadmill.
before various injuries and my knee anthroscopy i never had an issue. i guess my stride has changed after my knee problem.
i will try running bare foot and let you know how i get on. my reason for running is not to enter long distance races or anything like that, but to keep my leg muscles in good condition. i don't want muscles that i don't use in cycling suffering atrophy, which long term would affect my knee.
my plan is to run a mile or two twice a week.

 

[pubrunner]

i don't want muscles that i don't use in cycling suffering atrophy, which long term would affect my knee.
my plan is to run a mile or two twice a week.

Barefoot running just once a week would certainly be 'noticed' by your muscles.

What shoes will you be using ? Be careful, 'cos it could well aggravate your lower calf muscle.

 

[defy-one]

I use spd-sl on my road bike .... No issues with riding many tens of miles.
Hoping to use spd on my hybrid - don't envisage a problem with those either

 

[Berties]

Barefoot running does not suit every one and you have to gradually start to use them as pub runner has already said
Calve injuries as I learnt can occur as a secondary injury caused by upping mileage on the wrong shoes,
I learnt a lot from a few sessions with a biomechanics expert,right shoes,etc stretching muscles for long term running to prevent injury,even how you run and how your toes point,if you ar running after riding all summer a specific leg group may be tight,and more prone to damage or cause a secondry ie riders knee or runners knee can be caused by tight quads that then can cause you to run bad and cause your calve to rip

 

[pubrunner]

Barefoot running does not suit every one and you have to gradually start to use them as pub runner has already said
Calve injuries as I learnt can occur as a secondary injury caused by upping mileage on the wrong shoes,
I learnt a lot from a few sessions with a biomechanics expert,right shoes,etc stretching muscles for long term running to prevent injury,even how you run and how your toes point,if you ar running after riding all summer a specific leg group may be tight,and more prone to damage or cause a secondry ie riders knee or runners knee can be caused by tight quads that then can cause you to run bad and cause your calve to rip

I agree with all the above.

The only point of caution that I'd add, is that you must not overdo the stretching; I've known quite a few runners become injured, when after never having done so previously, they've begun long and elaborate stretching exercises. Take care, if you are asking your body to carry out a new range of movements.

 

[Dan B]

The only point of caution that I'd add, is that you must not overdo the stretching;

I never stretch cold muscles. Coupled with a tendency to forget to stretch warm ones that's probably left me with DOMS on a few occasions where I should have stretched more than I did, but I'd rather err in that direction than the other.

Tuesday's outing murdered my calves, which I think is due to having use them quite a lot trying not to land on my heel, which in turn I believe is due to trying to land my foot too far ahead: will be paying much more attention to that next time (which at this rate will be Monday as I have to ride in tomorrow)

Being too tight to spring for expensive running shoes when I don't even know if I'm going to stick at it more than a week, I did a bit of lateral thinking and got myself some snorkelling/diving water shoes, which have nice flexible rubber soles that I can feel the ground through and enough room at the front that I can splay my toes properly. I'm sure they won't last as long as proper running shoes but if I get as far as wearing them out, that'll be the time to think about splashing the cash.

 

[Trevrev]

I run 15 miles every saturday morning in my Minimus barefoot shoes. The mileage doesn't affect me. My Brooks are redundant!

 

[pubrunner]

Being too tight to spring for expensive running shoes when I don't even know if I'm going to stick at it more than a week, I did a bit of lateral thinking and got myself some snorkelling/diving water shoes, which have nice flexible rubber soles that I can feel the ground through and enough room at the front that I can splay my toes properly. I'm sure they won't last as long as proper running shoes but if I get as far as wearing them out, that'll be the time to think about splashing the cash.

I often use water shoes - especially for speedwork. They cost very little and are very light indeed. A bonus, is that they have a tough sole, which is very thorn resistant.

 

[Trevrev]

When i was at school i was in the running squad for 800 and 1500 metres, and i used to do the cross country too. And all that was done in woolworths plimsoles. No flash running shoes then. No injuries either!
Thats what got me thinking about this barefoot thing. I tried plimsoles again, but they were too rigid.
I love the NB minimus, but the wear on the sole bothers me a little. I went for the MT10 trail shoe because the road shoe looked very slippy.
I love the fact it feels like you have nothing on your feet.
The running shops that i went to really didn't want to sell the barefoot shoes. Tried their best to talk me out of it, as i would regret it.
Fortunately i have my own mind.

 

[pubrunner]

When i was at school i was in the running squad for 800 and 1500 metres, and i used to do the cross country too. And all that was done in woolworths plimsoles. No flash running shoes then. No injuries either!
Thats what got me thinking about this barefoot thing. I tried plimsoles again, but they were too rigid.

Perhaps you'd like water shoes; they are similar to plimsolls and very flexible indeed. At under £10 a pair, they are very good value !

I went for the MT10 trail shoe because the road shoe looked very slippy.

The MT10 is a cracking shoe; sadly, they are just too narrow for me . The larger SportsDirect stores, usually have them on special offer.

 

[Berties]

I agree with all the above.

The only point of caution that I'd add, is that you must not overdo the stretching; I've known quite a few runners become injured, when after never having done so previously, they've begun long and elaborate stretching exercises. Take care, if you are asking your body to carry out a new range of movements.

How many runners know how to stretch correctly,and which groups to co concentrate on,
I will stretch post run all groups and every day I load stretch keeping the muscle long,but this is a technique and done correctly gives results ,it hurts but has to done accurately and a slight miss angle could cause injury, can you over do it,getting my flexibility down to zero is close ,and my physio stretches my hams till my knees go numb,I think he over does it but he's the boss !,
I take his prescription of advice and experience and follow it to the word,he is also a expert in this field,

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Got my results for the cross-country: 47 minutes. Not one of my better times but it was under 50 minutes which I'm pleased about. Must do better next weekend.

Well???


I have one next Sunday; the 2nd round of our local PECO series.
We're at Middleton Woods, in south Leeds
http://www.pecoxc.co.uk/pages/race2.html

It looks like roughly the same course as last year, with items of industrial archaeology in view; Bell Pits, colliery tram-ways, industrial railways,etc....

 

[wanda2010]

Er, well I might not have done any xc races since that one . A combination of appliance breakdown and winter blues yer 'onna.

South of Thames this Saturday at Richmond Park. 7.5 miles. Will be interesting as that will be the longest distance I'll have run in recent months.