I have mentioned my calf pain here – and how it has limited my distance. For example I can do 4 miles in conventional running shoes – This will lead to muscle fatigue and soreness the next day -but not major pain. 2.5 miles in the Vibram Five Fingers puts me limping that day, not running the next day, and possibly the following one as well – but only in one leg.
I posted on a Vibram site and someone suggested I try “RockTape” – based on what i have read online this is some
snake oil.. There are alot of claims that it has helped various people with various types of pain. Their website shows how to use it, and explains that you should leave it on for a couple of days as it works during the work out as well as helping you recover (now doesn’t this sound like good ‘ol fashioned Kilmer Swamproot?) Not being one to really believe such claims, but also WANTING to believe such claims – I conintued to see what i could find online. And Woo hoo!! Free sample! On the daily mile – Greg from RockTape said:
“So here comes the spam (i prefer offer)! Send us an email to admin at rocktape dot com and we’ll let you try it for free. No scam, no money, no nothing. Totally free.”
Only it was 11 months ago. So I sent an email off – as if i can try it for free it is definitely worth looking into! Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be sold locally. Their Prime competitor seems to be “KT Tape” Which doesn’t seem to sell itself as the cure-all that RockTape does. That is sold locally at Dicks Sporting Goods – so I may try and pick some of that up to try it as well. Apparently the basis of both is kinesio tape, used by physical therapists and chiropracters to help treat ailments, and athletes to help with recovery by helping to support and stabalize joints and muscles.
Hey, if it lets me run further with less pain – its certainly worth looking into!
I run, because I am a runner. Having realized that I have always "been a runner" - even when I went years with out running, I am learning how it has integrated itself in all aspects of my life. When I started running in highschool, my perspective on life changed. Funny that I didn't realize how much it had affected it until just recently.
Once and Future Runner 
I received a response from Greg van den Dries – my free sample is in the mail! I will let you know what I think!
Email us your mailing address and let’s see if we can get you a sample in less than 11 months:) thx.
Outstanding! I appreciate it Jim!
I emailed him my mailing address, and it was a matter of minutes before he responded letting me know that I would have the sample early next week. I will update you all with what I think of the products!
Rob,
I have two rolls, Black and Orange, I used it to tape my IT band and my Lumbar region. I like it much better than Kinesio.
I wish you had mentioned this on FB 🙂 My physio used to apply kineso-gold to my knee to reduce the surgical scarring. It REALLY helped. I was very skeptical, but couldn’t argue with the results. I picked up some KT brand at the Philly Marathon expo (husband was running the half, I wasn’t even back to a mile yet) to help stabilize my ankle and reduce the fracture site pain. It helped, but the Kinesio gold had far better staying power than the KT – if I applied the KT less than 12 hours before a workout, I would lose it in a day or so. I only ever got it to last about 2 days tops, which, for the price & hype, was disappointing. BUT – it does help. 😀
(also, to help address your calf pain & training in the VFFs – if you don’t already have a foam roller, or The Stick/Tiger Tail – get one. Or both. You’ll need ’em!)
picked up a foam roller today
Sean – two rolls of KT? or two rolls of RockTape?
Chris – Will look into the roller stick/tiger tail.. I’m not sure why my right calf is giving me so much trouble, but it is..