Calf strain/running

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I just started running again about a week ago, and my calves are killing me. I stretch a LOT, before and after each run (30 minutes or so, usually). All my other muscles are loosening up nicely from all the stretching, but the calf muscles are remaining pretty tight and I wake up with them stiff and sore. I realize this is to be expected to some degree, but it seems a little excessive to me, and I'm asking about it here because I wonder if it might have to do with my tendency to walk on the balls of my feet. Anyone?

Your achilles may be a bit shorter if you walk on the balls of your feet often. I would really take it slow to give your tendons time to naturally stretch out. Look up some achilles stretches and do them every day. I hope that helps!

I also get this VERY badly as well. For a while I was running around 3 miles a day with no issues at all, then all of a sudden every time I run since then my calves get really sore. I've been told it's due to having weak calf muscles, and also due to running more on my toes rather than my heels.

Could also mean you haven't given them enough rest to fully heal.

do you warm up before stretching? sorry if this is obvious but stretching before warming up is a very bad idea. I guess the most general advice would be to slowly adjust and also to try to listen to your body and push yourself only when you can

Probably lactic acid buildup. If you haven't been running for awhile and are hitting it every day, you're not really giving your muscles the time they need to recover this early in the game. More rest until you're back in shape combined with sports drinks or anything with electrolytes will help soothe the pain if lactic acid is the cause.

It's also wise to do a cool-down phase at the end of your run. If you run for 30 minutes and then just stop, you are going to be more sore than if you run for 30 minutes and walk it off for 10.

as far as i'm aware lactic acid does build up but also gets broken down very quickly. it feels very different to muscle strain or the small muscle tears after strenuous exercise

Well, there's all sorts of studies out there on lactic acid and how long it stays in the muscles and how fast it drains etc etc etc ... but the feeling the OP is talking about is similar to what I've dealt with in the past. I don't want to say she doesn't have a strain or a tear or any other kind of injury, but what she is describing sounds a lot like lactic acid build-up to me .... of course, I'm no expert, just an on-again, off-again runner for 20-plus years. I've combated this pain with the kinds of things I talk about in my first post.

Soreness and stiffness is nothing to worry about, do a recovery stretch the morning after you do a run, you will probably find that your calf muscles are developing and it's nothing to worry about, I used to run 5 miles a day.

I also suggest you do some uphill sprinting and high intensity sprinting so your lungs and legs can adapt to high intensity training and more pressure.