I don't understand my body...Can anyone explain this?

How does it decide which muscles hurt? I have been running for a while now, 3-4 times a week, up to 4.5 miles so far at my longest run. I did a run this weekend (Saturday) while away, on a trail, for 4 miles. Pace was about a 10 min/mile, sometimes a bit faster. Slight slope down for the first 2 miles, slight slope up the last 2. Very gradual and barely noticeable. Yesterday and today, my calves are SO sore. My calves almost never get sore after a run! I've felt runs in my thighs (front, back, side) and my hip flexors a bit, even my abs, but barely ever in my calves. They feel sooooo tight! What is up with this???

ETA: I stretched after, including my calves! I did wear heels later that same night, not sure if that could have anything to do with it? When I say sore I mean super sore, beyond just that great post-workout my body feels well worked sore.

Message edited 9/24/2012 10:12:59 AM.

Re: I don't understand my body...Can anyone explain this?

Great question. Sometimes the weirdest things hurt. Your stride may have been slightly different, and you aren't used to trail running which uses different muscles.

Either way, good job on the run! Pain is good

Re: I don't understand my body...Can anyone explain this?

It was probably all of it, hills and heels will do that.

I did some hills on a run last weekend and had soreness on the back of my leg, below my calf muscle, on both sides of my achilles. It took days for it to go back to normal! My boss is a triathlete and told me it's definitely the hills; and that if it's only one leg, I'm favoring one side when I run.

I used to wait until the soreness went away to run again, and now I just push through it. I'll give myself one day off right after, but then I test it by going half-strength on a jog to make sure I'm alright.

Re: I don't understand my body...Can anyone explain this?

Have you ever run on trail before?
Trail running always leaves me sore as if it was my first time running and I always feel like there are parts of my body that I never knew existed after a trail run.

This past weekend I did 10.8 miles, 8 were on trail and it felt like it was my first time running double digits when I usually run 9-10.5 at least once on the weekends and have been doing so since the spring.

Despite the soreness I jump at the chance to run on a trail! I love the serenity of it and not worrying about cars etc.


Here is a link to some thoughts on trail running:

http://www.active.com/women/Articles/Sport_spotlight__Trail_running.htm

Re: I don't understand my body...Can anyone explain this?

its the trails