Calf problem with track spikes

You might need a pair of spikes with a smoother ride. I'm guessing you run almost entirely on your toes?

Pain is usual after the first couple races/workouts... But every single one is a little bizarre..

Try putting some barefoot strides into your workout a couple of times a week.

Once those feel good, run an easy mile or two every couple of days to help build up your legs.

This will simulate running in spikes and help your legs.

I'd have to agree, the barefoot strides do a lot.

Also, you might want to look into getting a more lightweight trainer with a lower heel (if this is possible). I used to have problems pretty similar to this until I switched over. The lower heel and lightness makes it a bit more similar to what I'm racing it and keeps me from being a heel striker (which happens when I'm wearing bulkier shoes). They help me run more on my toes even on training runs, and that's the natural way to run. Gets your calves used to what it's like when racing.

no..no.no.. the guy have some weakness spot all he has to do is to try and gear his trainning towards that weak area. you probably need to stay on spike in all of your track workout and your body will get used to it and the pain will go away. it is not something to worry about it happen to a lot of people especially those who runs 5/10km and try to go for a half marathon they come back with sore calf. the key is dont back off from your training in order to get over this problem.

Find a mssage therapist and get worked on after your hard workouts, especially on your calves.

I agree, massage before and after inf nothing else works. IN high school, I had a major problem with spikes putting me up on my toes more than I was used to one season, and it was a season where I did most of my training in the pool and on the bike. Needless to say, our trainer would put a towel over my calves and then grind them with a baseball, HARD. It hurt like hell, and I screamed at some of the knots he worked out, but hey, it allowed me to run. And it probably showed all the football and lacrosse players how hard core runners can be, haha.

I wouldn't recommend this for a long term thing, but if you are racing and need a quick fix, have someone take a hardball to your calves

nyariki, don't be so dismissive, Andre is giving good advice

The doing workouts in spikes is also a good idea. Obviously that gets your calves used to what it's like wearing spikes in a race. I'd recommend doing at least some of your workouts in spikes, just like nyariki.

I have the same problem, when ever I do a real hard work out or run a race my calfs become hard as rocks and I am in a lot of pain for a few days after till they get better. I have in the last year or so fixed it a little, what I do is every day after practice I go on a slant board for my calfs and I also bought a stick from the stick.com and i use that every day on my legs and so far this season i have not had any problems yet with tight calfs. give it a try.

Used to happen to me too.

I do workouts in flats once or twice a week, it helps a lot. Even if its just strides.

Your calves aren't used to what you're putting them through during a race. Train in your spikes for track workouts. Calf pain and stiffness for a few days is completely normal, it's running, it's not supposed to feel good, you have to tough it out and run through it and the result is that you will get stronger and then it'll hurt less.