Answered By Not an expert  | Jun 22, 2008

Question

In races my arches and calves from my feet always start hurting and I slow down my time preventing me improving, but on regular normal runs it doesn't hurt. What can I do?

Answer

Runners often get tight calves and sore feet during races so you aren't alone! The pain you are describing might be caused by your racing shoes. Your legs might just need more time to adjust to running in them. Try doing part of a workout in your racing flats or run some strides in them before your next race. Also, take extra care to stretch your calves before your races. Racing always puts extra stress on your body so it's good to arrive at the starting line with loose and healthy muscles.