Runnning and tight calves/other problems

I have a similar problem.  It started shortly after I started training.  I hadn't ran in well over a year (if not longer) due to a broken leg (near my knee) and subsequent infection.  When I started training, I pulled out my shoes that were less than two years old and had less than 100 miles.  After my first couple runs, my calves were extremely tight and I couldn't get them to loosen up.  I bought new shoes from a good local running store in the hopes that the problem was my shoes.  Stretching really didn't help much and it eventually developed into shin splints.  Per the advice of my Team in Training coach, I stopped running for four weeks and either ran on the elliptical machine at the gym or in the pool with an aqua jogger. 

After about five weeks, I was signed up to run in a local 5K as part of a team from work.  I was running with a track coach for a while and he came up to me after the race.  He said that when I ran, I was running on my toes and that if I didn't change my gait, I would continually have problems with my calves and shin splints. 

I haven't quite figured out how to correct it, but I bought Chi Running which seems to be helping.

Good luck!!

I have the same problem very flat feet.  Find a good podiatrist, I see a Physiotherapist who is also a podiatrist and mainly treats sports people.  therefore is very qualified to help people get back into running pain free.

I now have orthotics and two pairs of properly fitted shoes.  One for purely running and the others are cross trainers.  That made a bit difference as I needed a different type of support for different activities.

Icing, stretching and massage really help. Find a good sports masseur and that will make a whole lot of difference.

Lastly a physio should be able to help you with your running style and exercises to strengthen different muscles in your legs.  Hope that helps

"Don't push forward with your toes. Calf muscle is very small muscle group, it is to much load for them. Let the quads (much biger muscles) do their work." (Danny Dreyer, ChiRunning)

Important warning: "Never stretch a muscle before it is thoroughly warm. "(Thomas Kurtz, Stretching Scientifically)

I wish you quick & total recovery!

I used to get shin splints so bad that I could hardly walk.  I also have flat feet.  (Flexible flat feet, which means that I have an arch unless I'm standing on them.)

I now weigh a LOT more than I did then, but I have no problems running (or walk/jogging) which is what I was doing before. 

Here's what worked for me:

(1) Good shoes.  Find a pair that works for you.  If you have flat feet, motion control shoes are the recommended ones.  Mine are Asics.  I went through about 3 different brands before I started wearing these exclusively.  Wear what feels the best.

(2) Stretching.  Both the calf and along the front of the shin (pointing then flexing foot, circling feet, drawing alphabet with big toe, all helpful.)

(3)  I changed my running stride.  I was an overstrider, throwing my leg out in front and then landing hard on the heel.  Also, too much pressure to the inside of the foot.  Here's the changes that I made that worked.  I make sure that my foot lands under my body.  I think about my feet pushing behind me.  When my leg comes up, I'm lifting my knee and then placing my foot directly underneath me (at least that is how I visualize it).  I really worked on doing a mid-foot strike, and placing the weight on the OUTSIDE of my foot.  (Most of the weight before was on the inside, due to the flat feet.)  I think all that did was distribute the weight and stress more evenly.  At first, this was very difficult and my feet got very tired and stiff.  I also had to think about it constantly.  Now, though, it's almost automatic and I can run pain free.

Basic advice?  Slow it down, try different stuff until you find something (or a bunch of somethings) that lets you run pain free and then practice, practice, practice until that form/technique becomes second nature.  Then start working on the speed.  We work on bike technique and swim technique, well you can also improve your run technique.