sore calves after 2 week layoff from running

Sorry for the long winded answer.  It's relatively calm here this afternoon and I rode.  This was supposed to be my afternoon off and I'm a little bonked so I'm having trouble getting up from the chair.

I'm going to bet on you lost some strength and range of motion in the layoff and came back a little hard.  Last I checked, it only takes 72hrs of layoff to start losing strength and range of motion.

It takes about 48hrs for inflammation to reach it's peak.  Try to keep them stretched out in the mean time.  A gentle loading force on them while stretching can help.  Most muscles will heal a little faster under a gentle eccentric load (keep tension while getting longer)  than a concentric (tension while getting shorter).  Avoid ballistic motions if at all possible until you are absolutely sure the problem has gone away.

If the muscles are as sore as you say, I will frequently wrap them tightly with ace wraps from the foot up to the knee and then elevate them for 15 minutes or so 3 or 4 times a day.  Try to walk without increasing the pain.  Try getting on an indoor trainer and gently spin but makes sure you're not standing on your toes.  Get in the water and swim.  Running in about high waist level water can be helpful.

I usually use the following rules.  If the pain stops at the stop of running I don't usually have much to worry about.  If it persists then I have 3 days.  If it still persists after 3 days it may be a little more significant and will probably take 3-6 weeks to work it out.  If it persists greater than 6wks and prevents me from running normally, the season for me is pretty much over.

Funny - I just spent an hour walking the floor with my daughter to get her to calm down (extremely fussy tonight), and my calves feel great now!