Thanks WP. I think I'll give the gels a miss next time. The lucozade energy tablets seem to do the job for me without the stomach pain.
Strange how it seems to be only the men suffering from leg cramps... it's probably just the people who sweat more but don't compensate with enough fluid. Not sure if muscle strength/size/density/exertion has something to do with it also. Which would certainly explain why I did'nt get leg cramps!
BritNick
Can you let me know how I view your pics on Snapfish?
I had a couple of briefish cramp attacks but didn't suffer nearly as badly as before. I don't use gels (too much like swallowing a grolly for me) but did drink enough going round, which is where I've definitely gone wrong previously. I've done lots more steep hill running too though which must make a difference.
Still it really annoyed me when two or three women overtook me running well on that last little grassy plateau before the sheer scramble on Whernside, clearly feeling very light on their feet and not at all worried by cramp. Sweat could be an issue and I sometimes think that women, taken as a whole, are better at the ascents rather than descents when running hills - probably bollocks I know but the logic being that they're less inclined to be stupid going down hill so work much harder at being good going up.
I think it has more to do with the fact that women don't whinge about pain as much as men
Best wishes to the absolutely distraught Aussie competitor hobbling at only 15km in. Her calf had blown and through tears she said how much she had been looking forward to the event esp. given the distance she had travelled just to get here.
Was great to see lots of us stopping to check on her welfare....although any litter louts in the vicinity probably didn't bother!!
May be it has to do with the women having lighter body mass. so expand less energy moving it around.Originally Posted by Stolly
I thought it was only me, but upon reading some of the posts to this thread I see that quite a few of us suffered from stomach cramps and/or leg cramp. Some good advice offered - I like the suggestion about using salt sachets.
In my case (stomach ache) I think I took on too many complex carbs for breakfast - porridge, crumpets with jam and bananas was a bit much. I'll know for next time!
Feel fine today. And the Sat night curry went down a treat!
Anyone done a 'leg loosner yet'
Managed a surprisingly swift 6 miles this morning when I eventually got going, however, I think rigor mortis has now set in!
My "leg loosener" will be the "Washington Wasp" tonight. IanDarkPeak will be in attendance as he's set the route I believe:
http://www.runbg.co.uk/Summer%20Leag...d%20routes.htm
Feel surprisingly chipper today....
Might be a different story after the run mind you....
Wife was telling me about a women that got stuck on top of a stile when cramp struck and had to be lifted off the stile. Reckon cramp comes to all but maybe its more to do with the % of men actually doing the race compared to women therefore more tales of men suffering.
I am lucky enough to hardly suffer from cramp and I put it down to my pre-race meal of bacon butties and drinking Nuun drinks.
I hear it was a mineral imbalance so the more you are sweating the more likely you are to come down with cramp. Water doesn't work as it re-hydrates you but doesn't replace salts and minerals.
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