Calf pain 2 days before half ironman

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2013-10-25 10:21 AM


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Subject: Calf pain 2 days before half ironman
Hi guys.

I got very scared yesterday while I am registered for the Miami Ironman 70.3 in 2 days.

Yesterday I felt some pain similar to a know in my calf and asked somebody to massage it. When he pressed on the knots I felt some pain, but a lot less than how it feels when rolling the muscle. However, after a couple of minutes after he finished it, I started to feel the pain dissipated into a larger area (without feeling the knot anymore, but the pain was stronger). Yesterday evening was really bad; it was hurting even when I was just trying to walk. Now, in the morning it feels better: doesn't hurt that much to stretch it and I can walk, but it still hurts.

I don't even want to consider not participating at the race. It would be very helpful to get some advice about how to quickly recover from this pain. I spent a lot of time on the web, but the advices are so different and I don't really know whom to believe. (should I rest or should I go for a short relaxing run?; hot water or ice?, what kind of food should I eat?).

Mentions:
- I did have a calf strain at the end of July (when I changed my shoes), but haven't had it ever since the beginning of August when I took a week of. I did roll my muscles to get rid of the knots at that time, but now my friend just pressed with his fingers on the knot and as I said, even though the pain at the time of pressing was smaller, it hurts very badly now.
- I haven't had any very intense training in 3 weeks so I don't understand how that thing appeared in my calf.

Thank you very much in advance

Edited by lpavel 2013-10-25 10:22 AM

2013-10-25 11:19 AM
in reply to: lpavel

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Veteran
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Colorful Colorado
Subject: RE: Calf pain 2 days before half ironman

Honestly, that's how I feel after a fairly deep massage -- point pain/knots are gone but a general soreness/stiffness remains. For me it usually lasts only a day.

If it were me, I'd skip running and riding, and go with compression (compression calf sleeves if you have them. or maybe ace bandages if you dont have sleeves). And *gentle* calf stretching every few hours. No extended sitting -- get up and walk a bit. All these things will get blood moving to promote healing without causing further trauma.

Good luck at your race!
2013-10-25 1:34 PM
in reply to: rockymtnhigh


3

Subject: RE: Calf pain 2 days before half ironman
Thank you very much!
2013-10-25 8:49 PM
in reply to: rockymtnhigh

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Elite
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Alturas, California
Subject: RE: Calf pain 2 days before half ironman
Sounds like a calf pull. Your HIM may well suck. I would plan on going out very lite on the bike and plan on walk or run walk on the run. It usually takes 6 weeks for a calf pull to recover with only walking and liter spinning on the bike, don't push off the wall hard on swim. Then start with walk/jog for the next month then usually good to go 10 weeks later. Ya it sucks. I am there right now at week 5. That said I will walk 20 miles a week with a calf pull if I can walk without pain. If their is pain, that is causing damage and extending the recovery period.
2013-10-28 5:45 AM
in reply to: lpavel

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Colorful Colorado
Subject: RE: Calf pain 2 days before half ironman

How did it go?
2013-10-28 11:51 AM
in reply to: #4884464


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Subject: RE: Calf pain 2 days before half ironman
My calf hurt until the morning of the race when it felt perfectly. What I saw helped a lot was aspirin. I finished the ironman in 6 hours 30 mins (it was my first triathlon of any kind) and I feel very happy.... Even though my body is still in a lot of pain.

2013-10-28 12:18 PM
in reply to: lpavel

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Colorful Colorado
Subject: RE: Calf pain 2 days before half ironman
Originally posted by lpavel

My calf hurt until the morning of the race when it felt perfectly. What I saw helped a lot was aspirin. I finished the ironman in 6 hours 30 mins (it was my first triathlon of any kind) and I feel very happy.... Even though my body is still in a lot of pain.


But its a good pain!

Congrats on a solid race.
2013-10-31 6:14 AM
in reply to: lpavel

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Subject: RE: Calf pain 2 days before half ironman
I'm guessing this is your first long distance tri.

I've come to consider stuff like this "normal" for me. A couple/few days before the race I can barely walk some times, then the day of I feel better than I have in months.

Add that to the taper PMS and it makes for a wonderful week prior to the race

Congrats on your race!

2013-11-04 3:57 PM
in reply to: DanielG

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Grapevine, TX
Subject: RE: Calf pain 2 days before half ironman
If you used aspirin as a pain reliever that's one thing, but if you used it (unknowingly) as a blood thinner you might have a condition that you would want looked at. I've never had 'em, but varicose veins in the calf are not uncommon.
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