Cramp – Snowdon Race.

[A-B]

I would welcome any ideas to combat cramp.
I have done Snowdon Race the last 2 years and have suffered very bad cramp.
There is something about the terrain combined with warm days that must bring it out, compared to having done Ben Nevis Race also the last 2 years without any cramp whatsoever (steeper terrain and cooler temperatures?).
I have had cramp at other races like Edale Skyline, Holme Moss……but nothing brings it out like Snowdon.
So I am getting excited about Snowdon Race this year but cramp spoils it and am looking for ideas - quack or otherwise!

[IainR]

Aye the big difference is the heat.. Snowdons almost always a warm day..

I tend to suffer more at the Ben, not cramp, but muscularly..

Which muscles cramp?

I find that loads of banana's have made a change in how often I get cramp.. but I also now salt in advance.. so lots of salt on food which seems to help.. especially when training in hot places, like TX.

[A-B]

Thanks for replies.
It is the calf muscles.
I'll try salt / Hi5 for a few days beforehand, I haven't previously tried electrolyte stuff etc prior to the morning of the race.

[IainR]

So its in the more runnable races? The Ben is basically a hill walk..

Snowdon you actually run a good 75% of it at least.. similar edale?

Do you have tight calfs? a weakness there?

I tend to get it in my groin if ever I do, but its pretty rare.

[A-B]

So its in the more runnable races? The Ben is basically a hill walk..

Snowdon you actually run a good 75% of it at least.. similar edale?

Do you have tight calfs? a weakness there?

I tend to get it in my groin if ever I do, but its pretty rare.

I didn't think I had tight calfs or a weakness, but might be worth stretching specifically beforehand...........

You pointing out the runnability has made me realise that maybe my hill training is too steep, ie too much 'hill walk', better for ben nevis, but not enough running for snowdon.
I do the same hill training for snowdon and ben nevis which can't be right.
Maybe I need to find something not as steep and more runnable for snowdon training.

[Mike T]

You need to practice the same gradient, for the same length of time, and going up it the way you do in the race.

[murph]

I too suffer with cramp when its particularly warm and the session / race is intense, I use Hi5 Zero tabs and drink this inplace of regular drinks (tea coffee juice etc) for a day or 2 before hand as well as on the morning of the race itself, touch wood = no cramp.