Hi all
I have been training following the Virgin Marathon intermediate training plan for a Marathon in September. All has been going well, in the meantime I have set new 5k, 10k and half marathon PBs. Last week I did 30k in 2h33m which I was happy with as I was in sunny Spain.
This Saturday I decided to do my local parkrun followed by a half marathon as my long run training. I did not push too hard in the park run, I finished it well over a minute and a half of my 5k PB (sure, not exactly marathon pace) and the half marathon, again, not pushing myself too hard, or no harder than I do in my long runs at just under 5m/Km or 8m/mile. Problem is, in the 18th K my calf cramped, followed by my adductors and hamstrings. My legs feel really sore today and I was cramping a good few hours after I limped over the finishing line.
I am at odds to understand how is it that last week I could do 30k no problem and this week all seems to have gone to pot. I even had a better breakfast this week, was hydrated (no classic post race headache) and did not do anything new or weird.
I have done the reading on the reasons for cramping, muscle fatigue and lack of salt. I am not sure it is due to the first reason, and maybe I could buy the second option. However, a couple of weeks ago I took my camelbak with SiS tablets to avoid the lack of salt, but that made my mouth too dry and pasty and made me even thirstier, so I do not feel that tablets are the solution for me.
After months of training I feel very doubtful that I will be able to finish without cramping and I would positively hate to walk/limp as my goal is to finish this in one piece.
Any advice would be most welcome. Thank you so much.
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Comments
I think there are plenty of sports drinks that have electrolytes but they dont leave your mouth feeling dry and horrid. When i run a marathon or do any endurance event, i do, however, always carry 2 salt tablets wrapped in foil in my bumbag. I have never used them, but i like carrying them.
I used to think that cramp was just about salt but then i found out it can be many things. You might have just been tired from training, or it might have just been one of those days.