If I run for more than 20minutes hard, my calves start getting tight and the tightness goes up to the hamstrings. This happens because I run on my toes, even during the long runs. So when the back of my legs tightens up, it’s harder to push forward and then my coach says that I start “popping up” when I run and waste energy doing that.
Should I try running more on my heels when doing longer runs? But the thing is: that seems impossible…I even walk on my toes. That’s the only way I know how to move 
. My coach says my calves will get used to it, and I’ve been doing contrast showers on them. They’re fine after the workout - it’s the “during” part that causes the problem.
Are long runs just not for me? Luckily we’re slowly moving away from the long run phase,and start to include more intervals and faster runs for workouts, which are lot easier on my calves.
Any thoughts on this problem?
Thanks 
what events/sport are you competing in?
400m. I do the 200 sometimes and I’m in the 4*1 as well and I’ve done the 800 once and might do it a couple more times this year. I long jumped a bit last year, but I’m staying away from that to prevent more stress fractures (I’ve had 4 so far in 4 different metatarsals in the same foot :eek: ).
Sux to hear about your injuries, I dunno what to say about trying to prevent stres fractures besides you may need to turn in a grass runner.
How high are you on ur toes?
Hmm…I’m not sure how to answer this. I certainly don’t run like ballerinas stand on their toes… For example, if you were to do toe raises to strengthen your calfs - that’s how high on my toes I get. Now that I’m thinking about it, I’m not really on my “toes”, but the front 1/3 of my foot. It’s just that the heel never touches the ground.
Does that make any sense?
Another fellow sprinter! Welcome to the board. Not sure how high on your toes but, try to run slightly lower on the balls of the foot. Almost flat footed on the long runs. NEVER run too high on the toes your you will have no power returned to you from the track. If you do more sprint work your calves will build up naturally and maybe the pain will subside. I know this might sound lame but, try to throw in some foot exercises (towel crunches etc…) Try to add some ankle bounces to your training on a soft surface 3x10.
Why would anyone advise you to run on your toes for long runs?
Try running on grass for a bit just now - to ease the pain and just run naturally on your feet.
If you’re doing aerobic work I’d run relaxed and stretch well after training, avoid concentric calf work - in fact any weigthted calf work - but perhaps some eccentric work if you have to.
I had a friend and his calfs started giving him some bother, his achilles was just starting to feeel a little tender also - I got him to use the local green and run nice and relaxed normally - after a week with proper stretching and good recovery runs - he was running again on the hard ground pain free.
No one advised me to run on my toes; it’s just the way I naturally run - can’t help it.
Can you specify what concentric and eccentric calf work is?
By the way - I don’t think I’m having this problem because of weak calves…my calves are probably the strongest thing on my body. They just tighten up after 20min of running on them. And I’ve also found that it’s hard to stretch them. My foot doctor has actually yelled at me for having tight calves because he says that can cause foot and ankle problems more easily.
I’ll see if I can do my longer runs on grass.
The problem sounds as simple as going heel-toe. sprint on your toes, run heel-to-toe.