muscle ID

Take a gander





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Wow! cool. Thanks a lot!!

You might be able to try some self massage or some foam rolling. You should do it often not just when it hurts. Should help break up some of the tension. Is it only in one leg that it hurts? Has it always done this?

Could be posterior tibialis or flexor digitorium. If ice, NSAIDs and foam rolling don't work, go see a sports med doc or PT.

Not sure if it is the same muscle, but I sometimes cramp in a similar area after running up a hill, for some reason only in the final stages of the run in a longer tri (basically, when there is a hill late on the run in a HIM). I think it's partly due to running up too aggressively and going up on my toes, and maybe riding too hard or in too high a gear uphill or into the wind makes me vulnerable to it. It has also happened mainly in races with cooler weather and colder water. You might want to see if hills are triggering it, and try a more relaxed run or fast walk up steep hills, especially if running when fatigued (in a brick, or late in a long run). If it's happening on runs after biking, could also be related to gearing or cleat position on the bike, then aggravating an already tight muscle when you run. Also, do you tend to run on your toes or the balls of your feet? That could be putting extra strain on that area. If so, you might want to get a coach to look at your run form and give you some feedback. You may need to shift to a more heel-ward strike for longer runs.

I find that stretches where you basically sit on your feet with your ankles flexed are useful for this. Plus doing most runs on soft surfaces until the issue works itself out, and doing easy swims/kick sets with fins.

Thanks everyone for all the great info. I am training for a December HM right now, so mileage has gone up over last several months. But, I am following a training plan. (the F.I.R.S.T.) I run 3 days a week. One fairly hard interval workout, one medium to high temp, and the long, slower run. Weekly mileage is 21-22.
To answer just a few Q's: this just started recently, and literally "moves" back and forth now to both legs, exact spot, never at the same time. Sounds like lunacy, but it does it. 2 days rest buys me another run.
I have trained myself to actually be a ball of the foot striker, as I was coached completely out of the heel strike as a bad habit that actually slows me down. My calf muscles have gotten stronger, but this pain is lower than a running cramp due to a Brick workout. If I do a 12 mile run, it won't typically be an issue until 7-8 miles. At that point it gets pretty sore pretty quick.

A couple suggestions if I may add. Get on your bike and do single leg pedaling drills and also using a resistance band orlaying on the flood do hip abductions. Doing so will strengthen the stabilizing muscles in your leg and may help with the pain. I've been having to do a lot of rehab work on myself to fix a lot of weakness that has been causing me pain