Cramps

MCOS

Anyone suffer from cramps? I don't get them with any consistency but when I do its always at the worst time. Last 3 miles of DM07, last 1.5 hours of Conn full 08, both times lower quads, the latter was one of the worst experiences I can remember. More recently in my calves or foot in the middle of group swim sets.

What causes the cramps and what can you do about them?

Thanks

pgibbo

I sometimes leap out of bed with pain in the middle of the night and bounce around the room with leg cramps. It generally only happens if I haven't been training for a while. Touch wood!

I tend to get them in my feet and toes regularly enough when swimming.

My legs tend to get them too when swimming but only if I have been running earlier that day. I put the legs cramps down to dehydration as I recall having busy days each time it happened. I know I did not eat enough or drink enough water between sessions and assumed this was the root cause. Would love to know the scientific reason.

Krusty_Clown

I never had a cramp until the middle of the night recently, on a skiing holiday. thinking about my diet, I realized that I hadn't been getting any calcium (milk) or potassium (bananas), which (along with magnesium deficiency) are associated with leg cramps. Couple of banana milkshakes later - sorted.

bagus

For years I used to get severe cramps in my legs, expecially when surfing. Both legs would spasm fom the toes to the buttock. The calves would feel like they were going to break the leg!

There is a couple of changes I made that have eliminated those severe cramps. Here they are in the order that I think made the most impact:

Calcium supplements ( I don't drink milk)
Hydrate
Train more.

People say Banannas help too, but they didn't work for me.

To add to that, surfing with an externally split-toe boot brings on cramp quicker. It forces you toes apart, and is not a natural comfortable position for your toes (leading to cramp).

Canis Lupus

Never really suffer from cramps. Maybe I'm not working hard enough Only time they bother me is on the end of a long cycle and if I put my leg down at a traffic light they can flare in the calf which is a bit mental looking

TFBubendorfer

Out of 8 marathon, I've experienced cramps in the calves 5 times, including all 3 most recent ones. I don't think I was dehydrated in any instance, or low on either potassium or calcium, but obviously I was always fatigued over the last few miles.

They stopped last year in Dublin when I slowed down (due to being knackered, not primarily because of the cramps), which leads me to believe that it has something to do with the race effort.

nortal

No harm increasing your iron intake, how are your hemoglobin levels, with all that training increasing your iron might help along with the other advice

makker

Use to get them bad when running if i had done leg weights in the gym, in particlar calf presses, and then followed up the next day with a run.

Given up the legs weights now and take a banana, plenty of water, and a dyoralyte before a long run and don't get them near as bad.

Like Bagus the worse cramps i have experienced have been surfing, interrupted many a classic session, seem to be more prone to them this time of year when the water is at its coldest.

MCOS

If you get cramps in a race, how long do they linger? I'm on day 4 after the last race now and although my calf is a bit better (not limping anymore) its still a bit sore. I feel like going for a light jog to test it after work but I'm not sure. I have no opportunity to run tomorrow and my first 10k is on Sunday. I really wanted to give it a lash and I had planned some 1k reps on the track this week, but after a week of basically no running I'm not quite sure how to approach it.

Any ideas?

911sc

Tunney,
Hamstring muscles (only right leg) often cramp after the bike and when i start running. It cramps in a slow motion way, that is the first 300-400m are ok, then muscles tighten slowly up to 1km, then it goes after 1.5km/2km...but issue if that from then on my stride stays very short.
Hamstring issue also occur during my long run, say the last 8km of a marathon.

Now in Athy, i got calf cramp (left only) during the upstream swim..and i kept a very sore calf during cycle and run. Could hardly walk for 2 days!.
Did not get any issue with hamstrings.
I think it could be due to the fact that i overkicked going upstream as i normally almost do not kick (as you know from the thread we were talking about Total Immersion).
I went swimming 2500m in the sea yesterday, I was very relaxed, very light kicking and did not get any cramps.