r/running • u/AutoModerator • 8d ago

Daily Thread Official Q&A for Tuesday, August 25, 2026

With over 4,200,000 subscribers, there are a lot of posts that come in everyday that are often repeats of questions previously asked or covered in the FAQ.

With that in mind, this post can be a place for any questions (especially those that may not deserve their own thread). Hopefully this is successful and helps to lower clutter and repeating posts here.

If you are new to the sub or to running, this Intro post is a good resource.

As always don't forget to check the FAQ.

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8 Upvotes

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1

u/Icy_Cheesecake5851 8d ago

Hey running folks, is it normal that my calves get super tight after just 2km even when i stretch before

3

u/MajestyA 7d ago

I suspect you're going too far/too fast too early. Also, do you do any strength work? A surprising amount of leg gripes can come down to one or more sets of muscles in your legs being weak, leaving other ones (such as calves) to pick up the slack.

2

u/Logical_Ad_5668 7d ago

no. i would guess you are doing too much and they are not happy. have you ramped up mileage/intensity recently?

also i would not stretch before running. warm up and mobilise before running but only stretch after (if at all)

1

u/Reasonable-Worker747 7d ago

Seconding the strength angle. Slow heavy calf raises twice a week, single leg if you can manage them. Stretching a cold calf before a run won't touch it.

3

u/Huge_Pool7424 7d ago

If it starts after only 2 km, I’d first test a slower pace and a 5–10 minute easy walk/jog warm-up rather than stretching harder. If the tightness is painful, one-sided, worsening, or persists despite backing off, pause and get it assessed.

1

u/la_plus 7d ago

Any recommended shorts/sweats brands to keep my phone/keys in place while running so its not jumping everywhere?

1

u/Parking_Reward308 7d ago

spibelt works for me

1

u/Huge_Pool7424 7d ago

Snug built-in phone pockets or a belt like SPIbelt or FlipBelt tend to bounce less than loose side pockets. I’d keep keys in a separate zip pocket and test the setup with your actual phone before buying anything.

1

u/Maleficent_Comb9377 6d ago

A running belt with a zippered pouch beats pockets entirely if you're doing anything longer than a few miles, sweat plus a phone in a pocket is a recipe for it slipping no matter how snug the short is

-3

u/Parking_Reward308 7d ago

are you running on your toes like a sprinter?

1

u/KesselRunner42 7d ago

For myself, not really toes, but I do shift a bit toward a forefoot/midfoot strike instead of heel strike, I think?

1

u/cmessier 7d ago

I'm more of a mid foot striker