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How to stop cramping up
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Right, last 3 marathons - bad cramp at 24 miles (Nottingham last year), 25 miles (FLM this year) and 26.1 miles (Nottingham)
How can I stop this? I drank gallons of electrolyte drinks at Nottingham and as much as was available at London.
I've 2 ideas...
1. Stretching - never do enough. If my hamstrings etc. were looser to start with would that make cramp less likely?
2. Energy gels - taste like shampoo but if I can fond one I get on with will that give me the chemicals I need to avoid this annoying and time-costing problem?
How can I stop this? I drank gallons of electrolyte drinks at Nottingham and as much as was available at London.
I've 2 ideas...
1. Stretching - never do enough. If my hamstrings etc. were looser to start with would that make cramp less likely?
2. Energy gels - taste like shampoo but if I can fond one I get on with will that give me the chemicals I need to avoid this annoying and time-costing problem?
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Comments
Do you like bananas ? They are meant to be very good with the potassium and sodium levels. Gonna stuff myself with them next time.
Odd though, my long run, Saturday, I thought I was going to have to switch from run/walk to walk/walk when every muscle south of me knee cramped simultaneously at one point.
Ate a sesame snap (containing a good deal of glucose, not a lot else), two minutes later was able to complete the distance at the usual run/walk. No further cramping problems at all.
Suggests in my case it's a matter of getting fuel to the right place.
I have been told that tonic water is the cure .... I try to avoid sugary drinks on a marathon as they tend to give me a 'high' for about a mile and then instant deflation, so I only use them in the last couple of miles.
But regular doses of tonic water (tragically sans gin)? I might give it a try - at least it tastes better that most of the sports drinks around!
i was coincidentally on call for the week, hence no G and t
Wonder------
I can sympathise with your all.
I went running today at lunch time and by the time I was half way round I had terrible cramp in both calfs. When I got back to the sports centre and stretched I was near to tears with frustration.
I know I can run the distance easy but today I was just terrible and had to keep walking bits. I had one man run past and say to me 'its really too hot to run today' but he looked ok.
I was running with a sports drink which I had diluted after having some a half hour before I started out and took sips frequently. I will certainly try the Tonic water tip and see how it goes.
Fortunately, have never suffered with it, but have seen peeps in terrible pain, and I know one runner that his legs go into spasms and he often has to lie on the road until he can walk again. But he gets up and finishes his race!!
the SIS drinks weren't the electrolyte ones were they....
Hamstring problems
Quoted by Noakes. Backs up the PPonline article.
Cramping appears to be related to incorrect function of Golgi tendon organs causing spinal reflex to contract the muscle. More likely to happen in muscles that are not strecthed close to max length during exercise (hamstrings are a good example). Brought on by muscle fatigue. Not associated with dehydration or heat...
Improved stretching regime and reducing muscle fatigue seem to be the suggested solutions.
I stretch before and after every training run, I stretch before every race, but very rarely stretch after a race. I also stretch all my leg muscles before a long drive.