a few words about cardio and calf pumps while on cycle

a theory I wanted to share with you guys on cardio pumps. I've run many a cycle that causes intense calf pumps and sometimes even lower back pumps while doing cardio, particularly running. As some of you may know I've been a runner and a running coach for years and I've run several Marathons including the New York City Marathon, the Chicago Marathon and countless other races.

I've discovered that while running on the treadmill after a break in training that my calves would get sore first. What I've since figured out is that while you're on the treadmill your muscles particularly your calves are doing the exact repetitive motion at the same exact speed and incline over and over again which is completly unnatural for them. So now that I'm on cycle and easily get pumps I've been alternating not only the speed up and down but the incline as well. Even changing the incline to .5% and adjusting the speed by 1/10 up and down makes a huge difference and also keeps me from getting bored. Anytime I feel my calves getting pumped I just change the speed, the amazing thing is that I can actually speed up slightly for a few minutes and it will go away. Before I figured this out I was slowing down more and more but would then mantain the slower speed until my calves exploded on me and would slow again... a downward spiral so to speak.

Since figuring this out I've been able to run 5 days a week and steadily increasing my speed and distance with decent results considering that I'm about 10 -12lbs heavier than my racing weight.

Just thought I'd share this with you guys and see if it could help anyone else out there.

peace out.
Swift