Cramp!

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Originally Posted by emmilou

calf raises, lots of stretches and stair reps along with both the stepper and the stair master at the gym and running up as many hills as possible.... not meaning to be flippant there but by that I mean slowing the pace but keeping bouncing up the hills as opposed to being reduced to an ambling walk as per previously....all becomming a bit easier the more i concentrate on that and as I say certainly eased on the cramp as I used to be a big sufferer of it

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I don't have stairs but I guess I could improvise with a box or something. I stopped going to the gym when I moved nearly a year ago - a time problem. I could do hill reps and bounce them - no proper hills close to home, but there are some bumps not too far away! :o

Salt is the cure. Are you a heavy sweater:D!!

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Originally Posted by Eggman

Salt is the cure. Are you a heavy sweater:D!!

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Certainly not. I merely glow! :p

Ah yes! Well lots of glowing;) maybe also needs replacing with extra salt!

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Originally Posted by Eggman

Ah yes! Well lots of glowing;) maybe also needs replacing with extra salt!

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Not lots of glowing - I'm very mean with my sweat! But yes, it needs to be replaced!

what do people use to stop cramp?

Should I just add a bit of salt to my water?

Drinks with salt in them ,potatoes dipped in salt and maybe injury advice can advise on this but i have heard of people who just can't get rid go to their G.P. and receive a prescription for Quinine Sulphate.

Placebo tablets.

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Originally Posted by novice

what do people use to stop cramp?

Should I just add a bit of salt to my water?

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I've suffered very badly from cramp in the past, especially at the top of huge climbs (the top of Whernside carnage on the 3 peaks I'm looking at you :rolleyes:), and because I sweat buckets when its hot I always put it down to my metabolism rather than anything else.

But here's a funny thing; now that I live right smack in the middle of the hills and run in (and up) them a lot, I rarely suffer from cramp (touches wood, throws salt of shoulder, kisses rabbit foot :)). I do try and take the right amount of liquid with me for the conditions and do have a good drink before the off but, more than anything, I think the best way to combat cramp is to get fitter and better at climbing hills.

I reckon alot of it is definetely down to fitness. At Winter Hill on sunday i was cramping up in my calves after only 7 miles of racing and im 100% sure if i was fitter i wouldnt get it.
But, i think there is definetly something more too it...i know joss naylor used to get cramp and he wasnt exactly unfit was he!

I tend to try and drink a shed load of water the day before a race, ive also invested in some skins powersox to see if they make any difference.


I generally cramp up on the flat, track or road sections in a race (apart from langdale horseshoe which just nailed me everywhere)