Cramp?? What cramp??

[Davo123]

I'm in my first week of consolidating my runs after graduating last Friday. Already ran 2 x 5Ks this week and went to bed last night looking forward to my 3rd in the morning. However, I woke up a few times with terrible cramp in my calves thinking maybe I've been overdoing it a bit. Thought to myself 'maybe give tomorrow's run a miss and have a few more rest days'. Anyway got up at 6a.m. and thought 'might as well just run and see how it goes'. Ended up doing a full 5K and not feeling any pain at all!! This running lark is so addictive... I don't think anything can stop me!!!

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Can I just ask how much water you are drinking per day as cramp sometimes is a sign of not drinking enough . 😊

[Davo123 60minGraduate in reply to Buddy34]

Hi Buddy, probably not enough....I would say not much more than 1 litre. Maybe 2 (at a push) if you count tea and squash. What's the recommended quota?

I have also heard that not enough salt in your diet can cause cramp.

[Buddy34 Graduate10 in reply to Davo123]

If I'm correct 2-3 litres per day and more if it's warm and yes I don't take salt and sweat really heavily when running so I got Electrolyte plus tablets for after my runs from website My Protein 😊😊

[Davo123 60minGraduate in reply to Buddy34]

I think i'd be living in the loo if I drank 3 litres lol!! I'll up my intake and see if that helps.

As I'm running on a treadmill I tend to sweat buckets so maybe I'll try them tablets too. I take it there's no side effects with them?

[Buddy34 Graduate10 in reply to Davo123]

No side effect at all

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10 in reply to Davo123]

The key with water is not to “drink” it... I have a bottle with me all the time apart from when I’m running... it’s 800ml and I get through 3-4 of them a day, but I only ever sip from it (except for post run in the heat). Sipping all day every day is easier, and it being at room temperature helps... plus if you sip it more of it stays in the system... when I down the bottle I need the loo shortly after, so I’m only getting 300ml or so of the 800 in.

[Tulipcat in reply to Buddy34]

Bananas are high in potassium lack of which can bring on cramp...

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Another sad case of getting the running bug, yes you are getting addicted to running and sadly there is no at the moment known cure, congratulations on running three 5K's in one week, you love your running now, thinking of running a parkrun? onwards and upwards for you.

[Davo123 60minGraduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al...Yep, I've certainly got the bug. I'd love to do a PR and there is one local to me on a Saturday. Problem is, I'm a keen golfer as well and play golf on a Saturday morning. Might give golf a miss one week and do the PR instead. Shhhh...don't tell my golf buddies I said that!!!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Davo123]

No I won't tell them, I like watching golf ⛳ on TV although I don't play it, I was cycling 🚲 past my local golf ⛳ club the other day, good excersise golf but there were several players not walking but using those buggies to get around the course, I don't see much excersise using them, I hope you walk round the course when playing golf ⛳ not riding between each 18 hole on one of the buggies.

[Davo123 60minGraduate in reply to AlMorr]

I do walk but it can get a bit tiring. They reckon you can walk up to 7 miles in one round. What is good though is since doing C25K I've found i'm not so tired halfway through a round, so the running is also helping my golf.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Davo123]

🏃 ⛳ 👍

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

Great run. As well as hydration you may want to invest in a foam roller to give those calves a deep muscle massage... there’s plenty of videos online to show you how to use one properly too.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

And welcome to club! I think we’re all victims of the running bug Dave! If I don’t have a running plan for the week ahead, I get all jittery. Same applies to having a race entered to look forward to. And as for PR, well that’s compulsory Saturday morning activity for me (except not this week as we’re going to a wedding - I know, it’s hard. 😩😅)

Happy running to you. Yep, drink more water btw! 🏃🏃🏃

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

I find my legs/feet tend to cramp when I’m overtired. I chalk it up to dehydration and poor eating since usually it occurs after i’ve been on-call and super busy at work. Glad to hear the calf cramps didn’t slow you up at all today though!