Question about cramps

Ignoramus2513 said:

Yesterday, I ran a modest 4 mile distance and everything was fine. An
hour after that, I went to a store with my son on his bicycle and me
walking. As he tried to ride faster, I had to run after him, I had calf
cramps, so I had to switch back to walking. After a few minutes, I
could run again.

I am curious what could have caused it.

I'd say you were just a little tight from your run. When you finish
your run do you keep moving or do you get off your feet? After running
I almost always stay on my feet for at least 20 minutes, sometimes
while eating and drinking. Then I usually do some light stretching as
well as using "The Stick" for massaging the lower leg.

Quoted message said:

Also, is there some effective
way of stopping cramps if, say, they occur during some important race.

It could be from low sodium, potassium, and/or fluids. I think if
you're prepared for the event, the chances are that this won't happen.
But if it does, replenish fluids and electrolytes. Do some calf
stretches. Walk for a while. Do not sit down. Keep moving forward.

--
Phil M.

Phil M. said:

Ignoramus2513 said:

Yesterday, I ran a modest 4 mile distance and everything was fine. An
hour after that, I went to a store with my son on his bicycle and me
walking. As he tried to ride faster, I had to run after him, I had calf
cramps, so I had to switch back to walking. After a few minutes, I
could run again.

I am curious what could have caused it.

I'd say you were just a little tight from your run. When you finish
your run do you keep moving or do you get off your feet?

I most likely did get off my feet, probably went to my computer to
program algebra.com or some such. That does fit your explanation.

Quoted message said:

After running
I almost always stay on my feet for at least 20 minutes, sometimes
while eating and drinking. Then I usually do some light stretching as
well as using "The Stick" for massaging the lower leg.

That's interesting.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Also, is there some effective
way of stopping cramps if, say, they occur during some important race.

It could be from low sodium, potassium, and/or fluids. I think if
you're prepared for the event, the chances are that this won't happen.
But if it does, replenish fluids and electrolytes. Do some calf
stretches. Walk for a while. Do not sit down. Keep moving forward.

Sounds very sensible. Thanks Phil.

i

"Ignoramus2513" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Yesterday, I ran a modest 4 mile distance and everything was fine. An
hour after that, I went to a store with my son on his bicycle and me
walking. As he tried to ride faster, I had to run after him, I had
calf
cramps, so I had to switch back to walking. After a few minutes, I
could run again.

I am curious what could have caused it. Also, is there some effective
way of stopping cramps if, say, they occur during some important race.

Probably insufficient carbs. 😉

-DF

Calf cramps can be immediately fixed by using a sharp pocket knife to
cut that tendon behind the ankle. Joggers should always carry a cramp
knife.

Doug Freese said:

"Ignoramus2513" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Yesterday, I ran a modest 4 mile distance and everything was fine. An
hour after that, I went to a store with my son on his bicycle and me
walking. As he tried to ride faster, I had to run after him, I had
calf
cramps, so I had to switch back to walking. After a few minutes, I
could run again.

I am curious what could have caused it. Also, is there some effective
way of stopping cramps if, say, they occur during some important race.

Probably insufficient carbs. 😉

Who knows...

Do you ever have cramps? If so, what do you do to relieve them?

i

"Ignoramus2513" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Yesterday, I ran a modest 4 mile distance and everything was fine. An
hour after that, I went to a store with my son on his bicycle and me
walking. As he tried to ride faster, I had to run after him, I had calf
cramps, so I had to switch back to walking. After a few minutes, I
could run again.

I am curious what could have caused it. Also, is there some effective
way of stopping cramps if, say, they occur during some important race.

I've written ad-nauseum about cramps, especially during races.

My experience is that (for me) it is simply dehydration. On more than one
occasion, I have cramped up during a race, and drinking 20+ oz quickly (with
a salt capsule to make the stomach drain) stops them within 3-4 minutes.
Truly amazing. I'll go from stiffly walking to running normally in a couple
of minutes.

There's lots of theories about mineral imbalances, etc, but if you eat
normally, the body has plenty of everything except possibly salt (which is
lost at a rate of about 1 gram / liter sweated).

-- Dan

Dan Stumpus said:

"Ignoramus2513" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Yesterday, I ran a modest 4 mile distance and everything was fine. An
hour after that, I went to a store with my son on his bicycle and me
walking. As he tried to ride faster, I had to run after him, I had calf
cramps, so I had to switch back to walking. After a few minutes, I
could run again.

I am curious what could have caused it. Also, is there some effective
way of stopping cramps if, say, they occur during some important race.

I've written ad-nauseum about cramps, especially during races.

My experience is that (for me) it is simply dehydration. On more than one
occasion, I have cramped up during a race, and drinking 20+ oz quickly (with
a salt capsule to make the stomach drain) stops them within 3-4 minutes.
Truly amazing. I'll go from stiffly walking to running normally in a couple
of minutes.

There's lots of theories about mineral imbalances, etc, but if you eat
normally, the body has plenty of everything except possibly salt (which is
lost at a rate of about 1 gram / liter sweated).

Thanks Dan. That was interesting. I eat relatively little salt (do not
like it much any more), and that could have some bearing also.

i

Dan Stumpus said:

I've written ad-nauseum about cramps, especially during races.

My experience is that (for me) it is simply dehydration. On more than one
occasion, I have cramped up during a race, and drinking 20+ oz quickly (with
a salt capsule to make the stomach drain) stops them within 3-4 minutes.
Truly amazing. I'll go from stiffly walking to running normally in a couple
of minutes.

Right, I understand this for long runs and ultras, but do you think
Ig's issue could be fluids and sodium after a 4-mile run?

--
Phil M.

Phil M. said:

Dan Stumpus said:

I've written ad-nauseum about cramps, especially during races.

My experience is that (for me) it is simply dehydration. On more than one
occasion, I have cramped up during a race, and drinking 20+ oz quickly (with
a salt capsule to make the stomach drain) stops them within 3-4 minutes.
Truly amazing. I'll go from stiffly walking to running normally in a couple
of minutes.

Right, I understand this for long runs and ultras, but do you think
Ig's issue could be fluids and sodium after a 4-mile run?

I am doubtful about fluids, since I usually drink a lot of water, but
I do eat relatively little salt indeed. Anyway, Phil and Dan,
I appreciate your comments.

i

"Ignoramus18245" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Right, I understand this for long runs and ultras, but do you think
Ig's issue could be fluids and sodium after a 4-mile run?

I am doubtful about fluids, since I usually drink a lot of water, but
I do eat relatively little salt indeed. Anyway, Phil and Dan,
I appreciate your comments.

I have to agree with Phil - it's 4 dinky miles. Igor has been hangin'
out here for along time now and even though his mileage is growing
glacial slow, he should be able handle 4 miles in the Mohave without a
problem. While low salt and high water can be a problem, I still think 4
miles is not far enough unless it's 4 miles of balls to the wall speed
work.

No to beat the dead horse but maybe you are not providing your body with
enough carbs to keep your muscles clicking.

-DF

"Phil M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Right, I understand this for long runs and ultras, but do you think
Ig's issue could be fluids and sodium after a 4-mile run?

Doubtful, but he still might have been dehydrated independent of running.

Also, when it's really hot, I've lost 4 lbs (~64 oz) in an hour.

-- Dan

Quoted message said:

No to beat the dead horse

Maybe the horse could have used a little more protein.

Quoted message said:

maybe you are not providing your body with
enough carbs to keep your muscles clicking.

....and the horse is *still* dead. ;-)

--
Phil M.

Just get some RID, it'll get rid of those crabs in no time!

TBR

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and
more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day
the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the
White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
"Anyone with degrees from Yale and Harvard is presumed to be intelligent,
but George W. Bush has managed to overcome that presumption."

"Dan Stumpus" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"Phil M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Right, I understand this for long runs and ultras, but do you think
Ig's issue could be fluids and sodium after a 4-mile run?

Doubtful, but he still might have been dehydrated independent of
running.

he said he was drinking water before he ran and 4 miles is not far
enough for salt to be an issue - he plods.

Quoted message said:

Also, when it's really hot, I've lost 4 lbs (~64 oz) in an hour.

Cuz your fast, 🙂

-DF

"Doug Freese" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Also, when it's really hot, I've lost 4 lbs (~64 oz) in an hour.

Cuz your fast, 🙂

Not! If I were fast, the wind-chill would keep me cool...