I Am A 45 Year-old Female Who, In The Last

I am a 45 year-old female who, in the last year, has started exercising. I went on a hike in the Smoky mountains with a friend about a month and a half ago and ever since then I've been having extreme muscle tightness in my calves and shins. It feels as if my tendons are drawing up and I get Charlie horse type cramps in my legs at night. What can I do to gain some relief from this. It's really effecting my life and it's to the point that I just want to stop exercising, which I know isn't an option for me.