Little Setback

Jordan S. Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:28 am

Started my taper yesterday and the first step of my run I felt a very uncomfortable feeling in my left calf, just below my knee. I took it really slow and the pain finally went away after about mile 2. I finished my run with no other problems. Last night before bed my calf would hurt pretty good when I would bend my knee up to about 90 degrees. I rested fine last night but this morning the pain is still there. I'm probably not going to try and run again until this weekend to give it plenty of time to rest.
This sucks!!!! I'm 18 days away from my first marathon and now I'm sidelined for a while with a hurt leg!!!!

KBFitz Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:30 am

Don't worry. It's normal. Happens to all of us. It's called Taper Madness. You're just fine. Rest is best.

fostever Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:46 am

foam roller

ounce Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:58 am

Check and see if your shoes are worn out. Hopefully, you have a barely broken-in pair of new shoes for the race. I don't race a marathon in a pair with more than 50 miles on it, unless it takes 60 to break them in.

I would get to a chiropractor or sports med doc to get it evaluated. Explain the whole thing, especially about your first marathon. You may have a bio-mechanical issue that a few trips to physical therapy would help you out. (Once I decide an issue is more than a passing thing, I'm the type that will see somebody to get it evaluated as soon as something happens, so the problem doesn't fester.)

Don't freak. Think. All is not lost. But you should do something.

Nick Morris Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:30 pm

KBFitz wrote:Don't worry. It's normal. Happens to all of us. It's called Taper Madness. You're just fine. Rest is best.

Schuey Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:38 pm

Nick Morris wrote:
KBFitz wrote:Don't worry. It's normal. Happens to all of us. It's called Taper Madness. You're just fine. Rest is best.

Yep sounds like those good old mystery pains/niggles that come up before a race. Hopefully this is the cause and it could just be a good case of a little fatigue and soreness from running your first 20 miler. Take today off and give it a try running again tomorrow, like Steve said try some foam rolling but not to hard if your not use to doing it. Along with some light stretching of the calf.

Oh one more thing you can do Epsom salt bath in hot water!! These have done wonders for me.

Nick Morris Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:48 pm

Yes, it is amazing how well an Epsom salt bath works!!

carleenp Tue Nov 19, 2013 7:47 pm

Be prepared for more of this. As your body heals up from your training all sorts of aches and pains may arise. Then the fact that your mind is on your race just makes you notice it all the more. Soon you will be convinced, likely wrongly so, that you are injured and doomed. It is called taper madness for a reason!

You will be fine. Even if things hurt up until the gun goes off, as soon as you start running all will be forgotten immediately. It happens to me almost every time.

carleenp Tue Nov 19, 2013 7:48 pm

Nick Morris wrote:Yes, it is amazing how well an Epsom salt bath works!!

Agree. I love my epsom salts. I get huge buckets of them at Costco and dump tons in the bath.

mountandog Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:21 pm

carleenp wrote:
Nick Morris wrote:Yes, it is amazing how well an Epsom salt bath works!!
Agree. I love my epsom salts. I get huge buckets of them at Costco and dump tons in the bath.

ok - so what in the heck do epsom salts do for you, other than mentally????

carleenp Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:46 pm

mountandog wrote:
carleenp wrote:
Nick Morris wrote:Yes, it is amazing how well an Epsom salt bath works!!
Agree. I love my epsom salts. I get huge buckets of them at Costco and dump tons in the bath.
ok - so what in the heck do epsom salts do for you, other than mentally????

The theory, which as far as I know isn't scientifically proven, but has lots of anecdotal evidence, is that the epsom salts are very high in magnesium, which is not absorbed well ingested, but is absorbed quite well through the skin. It also happens to have pretty good anti inflammatory properties. So the idea is that soaking in it helps decrease inflammation. It requires a pretty high amount to be most effective, up to one cup per gallon. I don't go that high but, I happily dump 2-3 quarts in the bath water. And I do think it really helps.

mountandog Tue Nov 19, 2013 9:14 pm

ha. wasn't expecting such a scientific answer. sounds like a lot of crud going down your drain. thx Carleen.

Jerry Tue Nov 19, 2013 9:30 pm

Nick Morris wrote:Yes, it is amazing how well an Epsom salt bath works!!

I don't know. Ladies bath,men take shower, drink bear while watching football.

Don't tell me you have candles and listen spa music. affraid

Michele "1L" Keane Wed Nov 20, 2013 10:34 am

They also have Epsom Salt lotion now - so no need to bathe, Jerry. I like Carleen's explanation that and my grandmother recommended it and it works.

Mark B Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:44 am

Jerry wrote:... men take shower, drink bear while watching football.

Wow. Drink bear? They raise 'em tough in your family, Jerry!

Jerry Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:58 am

Mark B wrote:
Jerry wrote:... men take shower, drink bear while watching football.
Wow. Drink bear? They raise 'em tough in your family, Jerry!

Sorry,bear blood.

ounce Wed Nov 20, 2013 2:45 pm

Jerry wrote:
Mark B wrote:
Jerry wrote:... men take shower, drink bear while watching football.
Wow. Drink bear? They raise 'em tough in your family, Jerry!
Sorry,bear blood.

That makes more cents.

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