I walked on dry sand every morning thinking it was gentler than pavement: when my calves started burning after a week, I understood what my Achilles tendon had been enduring
You assumed soft sand was gentler than pavement—but your burning calves know better. Research reveals that dry sand dramatically increases the workload on your Achilles tendon and calf muscles, forcing them to work double-time with every step. Here’s what’s happening inside your body and how to walk smart.