Was swimming a workout the other day (at about week 4 of getting back into swimming - exercise of any sort really - in past couple years.. feeling great, already lost about 12Lbs.. Form feeling better and seriously contemplating entering some events for the first time in the 32 years I've been around this planet) and did something to my right calf.
I felt a bit crampy here or there during a kick set and ignored it (mistake #1). Went on to the next freestyle swim I was doing, no problems so continued the workout. Came to a fly set with fins and half way up the 25 (I was going as fast as I could) I stopped instantly and grabbed my right leg. Worst calf cramp I ever had. Muscle was all balled up in one tight ball (i'm not that in shape... don't have cycler's calfs yet ;-) so I knew it wasn't right). Limped to other side of pool, tore the fin off and tried to relax my foot position.
Ended up working it out to the point I could straighten my leg but this was a few days ago now (Thursday night on a day I didn't hydrate enough being on the road with client visits all day)
The pain is still there. Especially in the morning or after driving/sitting for a bit. Pretty pain full stretching my leg out, even more painful if I try and pull my toes straight up or stretch my calf.
I'm assuming I did more than get a calf cramp. I can put full weight on just gingerly. My guess is a pulled or torn muscle but I can put weight on it and after walking around a bit and working it it is functional, just sore.
Happen to you? How long did you stay out of the pool? I really want to get back in this weekend or Monday because I am making such good progress but I don't want to hurt it worse...
I've been drinking water, eating bananas and getting calcium (and mag to help absorption) and a bit of ibuprofen like a mad man since... :-)
:rant3:
Same thing happened to me Wednesday of this week. Cramped up so tight I could hardly get to the side of the pool. Fortunately, I was in the shallow end, so I could at least put my other foot down and not drown, which would have put quite a damper on my state meet swims (both today's and tomorrow's). :D
I ended up pulling the rest of Wednesday's workout, pulled a good part of Thursday's workout, and when I kicked on Friday, it was not all out - and I was pretty ginger with the fins. Wednesday through Friday, when at work, I kept gently stretching throughout the day.
Today, however, it feels much better. Hard cramps are nasty - and they do take a while to resolve. Just take it easy, switch kicks for pulls, and don't necessarily go all out until it resolves. Good luck!
Same thing happened to me Wednesday of this week. Cramped up so tight I could hardly get to the side of the pool. Fortunately, I was in the shallow end, so I could at least put my other foot down and not drown, which would have put quite a damper on my state meet swims (both today's and tomorrow's). :D
I ended up pulling the rest of Wednesday's workout, pulled a good part of Thursday's workout, and when I kicked on Friday, it was not all out - and I was pretty ginger with the fins. Wednesday through Friday, when at work, I kept gently stretching throughout the day.
Today, however, it feels much better. Hard cramps are nasty - and they do take a while to resolve. Just take it easy, switch kicks for pulls, and don't necessarily go all out until it resolves. Good luck!
