So I got a new running toy.

Did I ever tell you I'm *incredibly* picky when it comes to running recovery tools / physical therapy gadgets in general?

It's not that they "don't" work...

But there are 100% trends in the physical therapy world just like there are trends everywhere else (RIP the millennial avocado toast addiction).

And I'm usually one of the LAST people to hop onto something because I have to either use it multiple times or see a good thick stack of research papers saying "no really, this stuff works."

So when I started playing around with rock floss, or mobility bands, or muscle-fascial flossing (whatever you want to call it) about a year ago, I thought "what the heck? the worse it does with a runner-patients is nothing."

But it actually helped. Consistently. (no, I'm not selling you a mobility band/rock floss. There is no code for 15% off...)

And lately, I've been seeing A LOT of runners on Instagram trying to fix their poor, tight, relentlessly achy calves, especially as peak week comes for everybody and race day is getting here fast. And the long runs...well. They're long. And sometimes brutal.

Because what I'm seeing marathoners struggle with right now is this consistent calf cramping, showing up during the second half of long runs, and it keeps coming back. And mentally, that can start to wreck you and make you question: "What if this happens on race day?"

So this week, I wanted to put together something I haven't quite done before.

It's a "Smash glass in case of emergency" Calf Reboot ToolKit.

Because in this week's article, I wanted to deep dive into the 3 most common calf cramp spots that I see in marathon runners, tell you what each spot actually means, and exactly how to fix it. All in 10 mins or less.

Does one of them include my new $13 toy? Yes. But I promise you, that's way less than what some massage guns cost.

I also wanted to give you a 3 minute (2 exercise) pre-run warm up that, IN TIME, with consistency, will actually help prevent reoccurring calf cramping and tightness.

You ready to jump in?

And as always, if you've got questions, feel free to hit reply to this email or DM me on Insta.

Until next time, running fit fam...

Dare to Train Differently,

Marie Whitt, PT, DPT //@dr.whitt.fit

P.S. Look, if you're foam rolling or massage gunning your calves until they're black and blue and they're STILL tight, it's time you try something else. That's what this week's article is all about. Go check it out!

Looking for MORE ways to work together?

• ​RUNNING RESCUE CALL: Save your run and your race. Work directly with me 1-on-1 at the first sign of an ache, niggle, or repeat running injury. We'll deep dive into the why behind your injury and create a personalized exercise program that gets you out of pain, keeps you running, and helps prepare you for race day!
• Grab my NEWEST FREE Strength resources for runners: The Calf & Achilles Cure Toolkit, made for marathoners sidelined by stiff, painful achilles and tight, injury-prone calves who want to protect their training cycle and show up to the starting line strong, pain-free, and ready to race.
• ​STRONGER FEET WORKSHOP: Losing the battle to plantar fasciitis, posterior tib pain, or reoccurring Achilles tendonitis? Not with this workshop ;)

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