Cramp!

[NotOnUrHelly]

I should really look into hydrating properly for races. John I take it you just start drinking pleanty of water a few days before?

Is cramp directly related, I always thought it was to do with salts.

[JohnK]

Yep hydration for me is not about just water i also drink use an energy drink in the run up to races which also keep the electrolyte balance somewhere near where they should be (read electrolyte as salts) and yes cramp and diminished electrolytes are directly related.

So by balancing out your hydration prior to an event and maintaining it during the event then the equilibrium should be maintained.
Another important factor with hydration is alcohol i.e. best to abstain prior to an event for at least 7-10 days (guess it depends what is most important to you )

Probably a load of Twaddle but it works for me, For example even during an after the WHW race cramp was not a problem.

[Tussockface]

Another important factor with hydration is alcohol i.e. best to abstain prior to an event for at least 7-10 days

A typo, surely? Don't you mean 7-10 hours????
If not, I think I'm beginning to see where I'm going wrong......

[JohnK]

Sorry no Typo but the catching up after the event is good unless you are racing again the next weekend

[Tussockface]

Think I might take up darts.

[NotOnUrHelly]

Thanks for that John, yes beer is a bit of a problem. I do tend to like a pint on a saturday and like you say its good in the evening following a tough race.

Perhaps a big problem for me is not drinking enough water during the week, I'm defo a tea man. Perhaps I'll swap it and get loaded on water.

I do tend to drink well during races, I mix half a lucozade with half a water and a bit of salt, I started doing that after my 1st 3 peaks.

Cramp usually strikes me after about 3 hours running and a definate change in surface ie straight off the hill and onto a longish road run to the finish, Kentmere got me this year but I was only just back running.

I'll bear that in mind cheers
Jamie

[daz h]

Where do you get the cramp??? Has anything happened in a past race??

I only ask because at Winter Hill last year I fell - well more a case of my left leg wanted to stay in a bog as the rest of me carried on running!! My Calf tore slightly as a consequence - nothing too major really carried on running and training etc but ever since I get cramp a lot in the left calf.

Not always but it does happen. Happens on the bike too and running related more usually uphills on long runs - moving it in a certain way given that it was injured in the past must trigger something?? Not sure really

Anyone any ideas?

long runs
if it happens at rotherham im not carrying ya

[swamphog]

for Leeds Rhino.
I've been adding salt to my sports drink for a couple of years and rarely suffer cramps.
I add a 1/4 tea spoon to 1 litre of mix. It's an aquired taste but works.
P.S. I use SIS Orange carbohydrate powder at 15% concentration.

[Tussockface]

Having suffered a fair bit from cramp on longer races, I've started using Maximuscle Viper which seems to be well stocked with electrolytes. Since then I've had no problems at all. As it can be used before, during or after exercise I'm still experimenting with how it works best for me. However, drinking it late on in a race (eg after 18 miles of a 23 miler) really seems to prevent cramp in the last few miles and assists rapid recovery.
On the other hand, it could be that I was previously more susceptible to cramp because of injuries I was carrying - niggling calf tears - and the diappearance of cramp might partly be down to the fact that I'm (temporarily) injury-free, and not be completely down to the effect of the fluid.
Reading this thread, I'm now inclined to think that injury, unfitness, and dehydration/electrolyte loss are all factors, but that the latter has the quickest fix.

[lantern rouge]

I'll give the extra salt a go then.

Cheers