It's been awhile since my last post, and alot of things have happened since then. I'd been hampered by persistent calf problems, so much so that I was forced to cut a late February treadmill workout short and put the run training on ice until I could get in to see an orthopedic specialist. Of concern wasn't so much the level of pain as it was the location. The discomfort was most apparent along the sides of my lower legs - specifically near the peroneal tendons and fibula.
So my biggest fear going into the mid March appointment was stress fracture. If xrays came back positive, the required rehab period would derail (again) at least part of the outdoor triathlon season.
Fortunately, my mid March visit to the specialist revealed no stress fractures, but according to the doctor I was well on the way toward that outcome. At one point during the visit he observed my walking gait and told me I was overpronating - particularly on the left side. That was news to me, as several years earlier I was told by a shoe store salesperson that, based on the wear pattern of my old running shoes I was an underpronator.
The doctor suggested custom orthotics and visits to a personal trainer. Not eager to spend hundreds of dollars on either, I asked for his view on perhaps ditching my neutral running shoes and investing first in a pair of motion control trainers. I'd then ramp things up slowly and see what happens. He concurred but wanted me to return if I was experiencing any discomfort along the fibula. He also suggested the name of a local athletic apparrel retailer equipped with a video gait analysis capability.
So off to the store I went. The video revealed what the doctor observed - a serious overpronation problem. That was corrected by purchasing a pair of Brooks Trance 11s - a motion control training shoe. I've been training in these shoes ever since and haven't experienced the kind of calf pain felt during the winter months. Calf stretches, rolling and massage are also part of the process now, and warmup and cooldown runs have helped too.
