Ankles/Calves Hurting

**BryanC** · 08-18-2012, 09:19 AM

I'm on the beach all day, every day during the summer and I therefore do a lot of skimming. I usually do 2-4 hours per session. And if I do that for 2 days straight my ankles and calves usually hurt so much on the third day I can't even skim. My beach has a pretty steep slope and I usually skim with one other friend so I get waves very often.

I was wondering if there was anything I could do to lessen these effects, maybe a stretch or something? Or do I just have to go less often? Or maybe it's the way I run? I have no idea...if I take aspirin I can skim fine, the pain goes away, but I only do that for really good conditions, I rather not be taking ibuprofen every day.

**Jim Gordon** · 08-18-2012, 09:33 AM

If it were me......I would NOT skim less often, but just don't skim as long, 4 hours sounds like a long time if you're going for a lot waves. Maybe just go for 2 hrs at a time and see how that works.

**BryanC** · 08-18-2012, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Jim Gordon

If it were me......I would NOT skim less often, but just don't skim as long, 4 hours sounds like a long time if you're going for a lot waves. Maybe just go for 2 hrs at a time and see how that works.

Alright I'll try that...skimming is just too much fun, it's hard to stop once I get going

**Jim Gordon** · 08-18-2012, 09:40 AM

Maybe try going for only the good waves too. In your case, less is better!

**RexSkimmer** · 08-18-2012, 11:41 AM

just stretch more. your ankles and calves get sore if you aren't used to running on the balls of your feet, which you naturally do when you run barefoot and going uphill (like a slope). soft sand makes this worse as well

**BryanC** · 08-18-2012, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by RexSkimmer

just stretch more. your ankles and calves get sore if you aren't used to running on the balls of your feet, which you naturally do when you run barefoot and going uphill (like a slope). soft sand makes this worse as well

What stretches do you recommend, I don't know any for ankles/calves? And yeah the sand is pretty soft for most of the run.

**hellosugaree** · 08-18-2012, 12:12 PM

If it hurts, back off, and cut down the amount of time you spend skimming each session. Oh yeah, and just wait until you get older when everything hurts all the time no matter what you do

**V.Glez93** · 08-18-2012, 02:31 PM

That used to happen to me a lot! I used to ride at least 4 hours per day and that wasn't enough. I fracking love summer<3. But since summer is over and I came back to school I cannot go that often to the beach. fracking hate school's afternoon schedule. Just warm up for 15 min. after that strecth a lot! Also try to go to the gym. It helps you a lot and you don't get injured that easy.

**Jim Gordon** · 08-18-2012, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by BryanC

What stretches do you recommend, I don't know any for ankles/calves? And yeah the sand is pretty soft for most of the run.

I way I stretch my legs is...... when I go to the beach I start out running real slow at first. Then with each wave run I speed up a llittle each time, until I'm running full speed after 6 to 12 waves. I know that's a lot of waves......but I not young anymore.lol

**OG Mike D** · 08-19-2012, 07:13 AM

Lol! I know the feeling Jim! The first half dozen waves I go for I feel incredibly slow until my legs are warmed up!

**BryanC** · 08-20-2012, 09:36 AM

So far so good with the tips. And one more question, is it weird that I sometimes sleep with my board in my bed?

**Rubixcu7** · 08-20-2012, 10:11 AM

^^ no thats totally normal!!!

also, when i skim on a steep slope, sometimes i use my board to do a little excavation and make the spot where im standing flat.. it seems to help a little. also as mentioned above, soft finer sand makes it worse.

**raj** · 08-20-2012, 11:09 AM

do you wear sandals every day? if so start wearing shoes when youre not skimming instead. youll feel a huge difference and alot less soreness on your lower legs muscles and ankles.

**nylnt** · 08-20-2012, 02:30 PM

A good stretch for your calves is this one: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R6SwIJO2u9...lf+Stretch.jpg
Keep your back straight and lean towards the wall. Your back foot should be firmly planted on the floor.

Another important thing you should do is stretch your Achilles tendon. Do tmr same stretch as above but this time bend your knee slightly. If you do it right, you''ll feel the stretch between your ankles and calves.

Ankle stretches: circle your ankles clockwise and counter clockwise a couple of times each side

**BryanC** · 08-20-2012, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by nylnt

A good stretch for your calves is this one: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R6SwIJO2u9...lf+Stretch.jpg
Keep your back straight and lean towards the wall. Your back foot should be firmly planted on the floor.

Another important thing you should do is stretch your Achilles tendon. Do tmr same stretch as above but this time bend your knee slightly. If you do it right, you''ll feel the stretch between your ankles and calves.

Ankle stretches: circle your ankles clockwise and counter clockwise a couple of times each side

Thanks! These stretches look like they will help a lot.

**BryanC** · 08-20-2012, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by raj

do you wear sandals every day? if so start wearing shoes when youre not skimming instead. youll feel a huge difference and alot less soreness on your lower legs muscles and ankles.

I'm usually barefoot all day, my house is basically on the beach, not much reason to go anywhere.

**SDSkim** · 08-20-2012, 08:39 PM

Stop being a pussy

**BryanC** · 08-21-2012, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by SDSkim

Stop being a pussy

Yeah because concern for my body is being a pussy. Online forums are not the place to show your toughness, save it for your local playground.

**Georgia Jeff** · 08-21-2012, 06:31 PM

Usually the more you get used to an exercise (skimming) the less you get sore from it. Therefore, it is possible by the end of summer you will be less sore and not have to change much of anything.

**Georgia Jeff** · 08-21-2012, 06:32 PM

It stinks getting old and living a 1 1/2 hours from the beach. I only get to go about 6 to 10 times a year and when I do I stay sore for about 4 days afterwards.

**SDSkim** · 08-21-2012, 08:10 PM

In no way was my comment aggressive, nor did it express toughness. I was simply answering your OP. You understand that you participate in a mildly dangerous sport correct? That means that injures will happen. Your concern for injures is almost comparable to an extreme table tennis worried about straining your primary battle wrist. Suck it up, go skim, get hurt and come home and frack your girl. Put on your big boy panties

**SDSkim** · 08-21-2012, 08:13 PM

And to add, you have got to be one ignorant individual to not understand that warmup and ample stretching will help strengthen your chicken ankles and prevent costly injury. Ever read a book?

**BryanC** · 08-21-2012, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by SDSkim

In no way was my comment aggressive, nor did it express toughness. I was simply answering your OP. You understand that you participate in a mildly dangerous sport correct? That means that injures will happen. Your concern for injures is almost comparable to an extreme table tennis worried about straining your primary battle wrist. Suck it up, go skim, get hurt and come home and frack your girl. Put on your big boy panties

You called me a pussy which is an insult. Insulting someone is being aggressive. Therefore you were aggressive towards me. Your post wasnt made to help my situation. I realize I can get hurt, which I often do and I do suck it up. But if something is happening all the time and I don't know the precise cause, instead of doing a guess and check method for finding a way to fix it, I chose to ask people with more experience than me which would have given me better solutions. I do stretch and warmup, but it was focused on areas that weren't my ankles. So I decided to ask what stretches people thought were best, instead of just testing out ones that were not as useful.

My ultimate goal is to skim for the longest amount of time at my highest possible level. My ankle hurting made me run slower, so I sought the best way to fix it, which was to ask people who know a lot more than me.

**SDSkim** · 08-21-2012, 09:29 PM

Take opiates

**mikepalinka** · 08-22-2012, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by SDSkim

Take opiates

LOLZZZZZ

**mikepalinka** · 08-22-2012, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Georgia Jeff

It stinks getting old and living a 1 1/2 hours from the beach. I only get to go about 6 to 10 times a year and when I do I stay sore for about 4 days afterwards.

You and me both brotha! I'm trying to find a way to convince my wife to move to Laguna Beach haha.

**blackteeth** · 08-22-2012, 11:13 AM

All of the warmup and stretching options are going to help for sure.

Also, I've noticed how "in-shape" I am in general usually plays into it as well. For instance, if I've been jogging/playing soccer regularly, I don't get as sore as quickly. So maybe light jogging and stretching in between skim days would condition your lower body a bit and prepare for the "abuse" your going to put it through by sprinting over sand for 4 hours at a time. Nothing groundbreaking, I know.

I was up at Vilano for a couple of days recently and my hamstrings were not used to the steep slope, much steeper than what I'm used to over on the west coast of FL. I'm actually still sore from it.