My training is really hurting
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My training is really hurting
| Mon, 08-23-2004 - 11:47pm |
Any runners out there can give me advice? For over a month I've been walking 4 to 6 miles a day. About 1/2 to 1 miles into my walk I get terrible cramps in my heels up the back of my lower legs. The pain stops me in my tracks. I stop and stretch and am able to walk but it is uncomfortable, it feels like i have terrible knots in my legs. When i'm done and take my shoes off my feet and legs just ache for hours. I stretch about 5 minutes before I start. Tommorrow I'm going to take IBprofen before I walk. AC

A couple of things come to mind but I wonder about the pain in the heels.
I echo Phyllis' advice about good (NEW - if they're older than 6 months, get new ones!) shoes, minerals, and water.
Also - a runner friend of mine taught me - sit with your foot off the ground and draw the alphabet with your toes, moving at the ankle to do so. It's a great way to stretch out the calf muscles and get things more relaxed.
Also, work on doing calf raises at home - stand on the edge of a stair, with your heels off, and press up until you're on the balls of your feet, then relax down so your calves are stretched. Do it slowly *after* you've warmed up a bit. I incorporated calf-raises into my weight-training workout - I do sets of 15-20 single-leg raises whenever I do lowerbody, because I needed to get my calves used to more endurance-type working.
Just some ideas... Good luck!
Cussette
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4-6 miles a day?
Lori
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