Calves and Running

[lorihart]

HI Cathe,
Let me just start off by saying that I love the new series.And yet at the same time,the intensity series still seems so new! YOu r amazing!
Anyway,my hubby bought me a treadmill for christmas.I normally run outside and I can run for 8-14kms. I can't do that inside,it just gets to boring.What I have been doing is adding 5-10min cardio sessions after each Imax interval or bootcamp segment.Its giving me some great new workouts and I am hoping to kick my workouts up a notch by doing this.I end up working out for twice as long as I normally would.
But I am getting alot of burning in my calve muscles and yesterday I had to stretch them everytime I got off of the treadmill.My biggest fear is that this is going to make my legs bigger.I really don't want that.I was actually hoping to make them a little smaller.I know that is takes alot to make muscles bigger but I also have a BIG genetic role here.My mom and sister have bigger legs then I do and I am wondering, is it just a matter of time? But I don't get that burning when I run outside, or when I do step, but I am now putting the two together.
I have noticed that your legs are smaller in your newer videos more so then your older ones,so it is possible to make the claves smaller.
Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks again for all the you do,
Lori

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Lori! Thanks for the sweet words. Calf muscles are almost purely genetic. Their shape, whether it be longer and more full bellied, or shorter rounder and higher up toward the back of the knee, is all genetics. All you can do to change your calf is get a more or less toned version of that shape. Unfortunately, it is very hard to do much about making it smaller if it is naturally this way simply from walking or doing daily activities. However, if it is bigger as a result of exercise, then you can cut back on things such as calf raises and high impact activities to discourage their size (but personally I would hate to lose the benefits of exercise due to a strong caf muscle). Good Luck!

PS....after going back and reading your post, I think that your calf burning could be due to a sudden change in both intensity and duration of your workouts, not to mention a new piece of exercise equipment. I would suggest easing into these activities and letting your body adjust gradually. Also, you will have to see how your legs respond over time to your workouts, but I can tell you that when I add running to my workout program, my legs get smaller. Take Care

 

[lorihart]

Thanks Cathe.I don't really mind having big calves,I am use to it.And when I look at my legs I am reminded of what they do for me in the run of a day.With that said,I don't think I want them to get bigger
I haven't had the burning in a few days now.I am use to running outside so maybe it was just be getting use to a treadmill.
Thanks for your help.
Lori