Today’s run didn’t go so well
March 15, 2007
Today was my easy day run. Now for me, “easy” and “run” don’t yet co-exist. So what I chose to focus on was running slower, but running the entire 30 minutes.
It started out perfect. I ran at a 10:20 pace, kept my heart rate in the low 150’s, and even had the bonus of watching the beginnings of the NCAA Basketball tournament.
Everything went smoothly for the first mile. Then, in Mile 2 and with no forewarning, my right calf started cramping up. I tried walking but it wouldn’t go away. I tried stretching it, but it didn’t seem to help. I tried ignoring it and running further, and that definitely wasn’t an option.
Finally I gave up and did a slow walk for the rest of the time. It didn’t really hurt to keep walking, but I definitely felt it. Since then I have been hobbling around. It feels like I have a charlie horse in my calf. It is especially bothersome when I walk down steps.
This sucks!!! I am going to be really bummed if this is serious and it interferes with my cycling. I never get injured cycling!!!
Okay, I am going to calm down now. I don’t have to run again until Saturday, so I have a couple of days for it to go away. Tomorrow I have spin class. Even if it’s still sore I’m going to give it a shot. I’ll let you all know how it goes.
Entry Filed under: 2007 Resolutions, Goals, fitness, fitness over forty, health, male over forty, over forty, running. .
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1.
Two Witches | March 15, 2007 at 11:18 am
Don’t beat yourself up – take care of what hurts first, and worry about excerise second. There are excerises you can do sitting down and in bed – so you can always find alternatives if you need to give your leg muscle a bit of a rest. Lady Rose, co-author Incredible Shrinking Ladies blog
2.
Running Kate | March 15, 2007 at 12:20 pm
I’ve gotten cramps like that before and usually it’s a lack of potassium or possibly dehydration. Try eating a banana to help boost your potassium and your calf might feel better. Also, make sure to stretch it out before Saturday.
You’ll know if you’ve got a charlie horse… man o man, those are killer!
3.
waistloss | March 15, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Drink more water. And put some heat on it tonight, It will work it’s way out.
4.
zappoman | March 15, 2007 at 2:32 pm
If it makes you feel any better, I too am feeling a little lame… my knee has been bugging me and I just feel like I’m in a funk the last couple days… I would normally run today, and I planned to run a temp (race pace) run but after about a block I just said… nope, it ain’t gonna happen.
5.
Karl McCracken | March 17, 2007 at 11:12 am
Sounds pretty lame (sorry – dreadful pun). Showing my ignorance here . . . what’s a Charlie Horse?!
6.
Phil Sabin | March 18, 2007 at 8:58 am
Karl – Here is wikipedia’s definition of a Charley Horse. You might know it as a “Corky”:
A charley horse is a North American term for a painful contusion (bruise) of the quadriceps muscle of the anterior thigh, which commonly results in a muscular hematoma and sometimes several weeks of pain and disability.1,2 It often occurs in sports when an athlete is struck by an opponent’s knee, in a manner not unlike the kick of a horse, perhaps the reason for its name. In the UK, such an injury is known as a Dead Leg, corky, or corkie.[citation needed]
In recent decades the term has also been used to describe painful leg cramps, which may occur in the thigh, arch of the foot, toes, calf muscle, or quadriceps. Unlike leg cramps, however, a charley horse can occur when the muscle in question is not being used, such as while lying in bed.
The term may date back to American baseball slang of the 1880s, possibly from the pitcher Charley “Old Hoss” Radbourne who is said to have suffered from cramps.[citation needed](1) Another story mentions a horse named Charley that used to work at Comiskey Park, the Chicago White Sox’ ballpark in Chicago. In those days, an old, perhaps lame, retired horse was often called “Charley.”[citation needed]
7.
charley | May 17, 2008 at 8:38 pm
i have a corky in my upper leg. How do i get rid of it or reduce the pain?
8. SOG knives | July 18, 2008 at 6:34 am
SOG knives…
Interesting ideas… I wonder how the Hollywood media would portray this?…