Cramp!

[Stolly]

Salt's the way to go.....

I'd have thought so too but doing that Wharfedale offroad marathon on a beautifully sunny boiling hot day when I was sweating like a pig on a stick didn't give me cramp. To be fair they had a lot of drinks stations; something not included on many fell runs.

[emmilou]

Boy was it hot!!! Still baring the scars from the sunburn!

[Amex]

I carry a sachet of Dioralyte from boots chemist has all the bits you need in it! its light and can be used in stream water.
i think its for when you have the trots!

[Stolly]

Boy was it hot!!! Still baring the scars from the sunburn!

I ran with a couple of running club buddies one of which (a ging-er) had run the Edinburgh marathon the week before and whose best tan ever is still albino white - the sun hit him hard and eventually we had to leave him slumped against a tree down Mastiles Lane to die an honourable death. He did finish incredibly although he had to crawl some of the way

[Derby Tup]

There's seems to be something "crampy" about Three Peaks-type routes where there's good running mixed up with very steep climbs. Only bad cramp I've had this year (apart from London Marathon where I was crippled with it from mile 17) was at Holme Moss, which has some good running and some very steep ascents and descents. Keeping hydrated seems to be main thing for me and plain water is OK most of the time, including Wharfedale, where I had no problems during race but went a strange shade of green and had to sit down for 20mins afterwards

[lantern rouge]

I know its the winter but surely fellrunners dont compete with crampon(s)!

Might be my joke of the week next week lantern rouge!

Salt's the way to go.....carry a small sachet (like you get free in Mcdonalds or somewhere like that) in your bumbag, and have a suck on it on the way round.

This seems to be the most popular explanation... you get salt depleted.

So, I got myself some nuun tablets and followed the instructions... sensible of me.

Still got bloody cramp, but I must admit, it wasn't as bad as that at Helvellyn... so do I need to do the nuuns, and have some extra salt too?

Probably worth a go for the next longish day out... (BG leg 1 recce with the Crumblies). We'll see how that goes folks. Cheers for the guidance

As for pony joke of the week, Fellmonster, I challenge you to make something more of the 'crampon' play on words!

[lantern rouge]

I carry a sachet of Dioralyte from boots chemist has all the bits you need in it! its light and can be used in stream water.
i think its for when you have the trots!

Don't you need Dioralyte after indulging the stream water Russian roulette? And does it give ponies the trots or the canters?

And well done on your weekend's endeavours mate. Quite a schedule.

[Downhill-master]

The most common reason why you get cramp is muscle fatigue and tightnest, Dehydration (not taking on enough water, especially in hot conditions). Low potassium or sodium (salt) levels and Low carbohydrate levels.

You can't stop cramp its involuntary but if you follow these rules you will reduce the chance of cramp.

[Alf Tupper]

Try a glass of tonic water before race, the quinine in it helps.

[JohnK]

I take care of my Hydration before and during a race and use SIS Gels which i find help to keep my Electrolyte levels in balance and i seldom suffer cramp.