I’m a real, real runner now … (first ever (!) hamstring cramp!)

[CBDB]

Ok, so yesterday evening I experienced my first ever upper leg, hamstring (?) cramp, moving from inner leg to the back of the upper leg.

Huh! Painful, uncomfortable but after surviving this (it wasn’t really that bad, and much less painful than the calf cramp I have experienced a few times ), I felt actually quite chuffed that my muscles are so tight that I get cramps in the upper legs!

Of course I was a runner before, but somehow this makes me feel like a grown-up runner! If I have hamstring cramps, my muscles must be very tight from all that running training, right?

(Of course, it could be also lack of magnesium? )

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Cramp up in your hamstring is awful. I take magnesium every day adcal for osteoporosis and supplement of magnesium vitamin d as well but still get it but not as bad. I get it mostly in bed inner upper leg get it so bad that usually faint with it can’t het the spasm out of it. Maybe my legs are tight as well with the walking 😊 would like to think so. You’re still a runner . Well done . I don’t know how u manage all the work you do and hobbies. 👏👏

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Doris8]

LOL, I do a lot, yes, but only little bits in each. My walks are mini compared to yours, present and past!! Your are continuing to be my walking inspiration 😊☺️👞🥾👟🦶👣

Your cramps sound painful. Hope the magnesium helps.

I need to get some more.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Oh no! I’ve never had cramp running…maybe need to hand my medals back! 🤣

You’ve been a proper runner for years! You don’t need to pass some sort of masochistic test to qualify. Do you think getting your massage gun might help? Perhaps you’ve done less of your usual strength and stretch compared with usual and everything’s got a bit tight? I hope you can get everything relaxed for your next run.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Yes, and luckily I do have a massage gun. Xmas presi last year.

It is strange to reflect back how our bodies evolve on our running journey. For me:

1st year: knee niggles, but doing some knee strengthening exercises, I never had any knee niggles anymore!

2nd year: metatarsals. Changed shoes. No problem since then.

3rd year: tight calves. I’m working on this at the moment still. But no issues since 6 month or so.

4th year now: will this become my new niggle? Upper leg cramps?

In a way, it is intriguing.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

Let’s hope it’s just a one off! Crossing fingers for you!

[nowster Graduate10]

I've had leg and foot cramps many times, sometimes extremely painful ones, but never during a run.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

It wasn’t actually in a run. It’s rare for me. Fingers crossed (with hydration, magnesium, potassium)

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

Hamstring cramp is very unpleasant! Being a natural pessimist, I always see it as a sign that I haven’t hydrated properly and/or I haven’t stretched off properly post run. These days I take tailwind with me on long runs and often have some energy gums too. I like my hamstrings to feel nice and slack; if they really tighten up, it is time for a physio trip. Her steely hands sort out the problem, and the attendant pain is a lasting reminder to try to avoid it in future 😬!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

Hydration… got it. I’m now also coming down with a sniffly cold and raspy voice, so all this may be connected.

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

🤞 it soon departs!

[RunBrianRun Graduate10]

I suffer terribly from cramps in my legs and feet. I nearly drowned on a holiday because of it. I need electrolytes when I exercise no matter how short the duration and I take magnesium twice a day. I rarely suffer these days thankfully.

I hope you find a solution soon.

[Trevdp in reply to RunBrianRun]

yep I’m the same, mainly in the middle of the night ! Calf’s , feet and big top bizzarly. It’s been a lot less since I started Magnesium ( 3 in 1 ) and Potassium from Lo salt in no sugar squash.

[Trevdp in reply to Trevdp]

Haha toe not top 🎪

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to Trevdp]

That’s interesting. I hadn’t considered potassium. I’ll look into that. 👍

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

Bananas!

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

Yes i I know I am 😂😂😂

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

You and me both 🤪

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

LOL

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Trevdp]

Will look into both. Magnesium I do take, potassium not so much.

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

I had hamstring cramps when we were at a dinner party with friends. I had run a HM during the afternoon, and all was going well until my right hamstring really cramped up; I almost knocked the table over and couldn’t avoid yelling out; we had a former ward sister with us who went on full heart attack alert! Once the pain cleared I explained that I was fine, which my left hamstring took as its prompt to join in! I think that is the last time I suffered with hamstring cramp; lesson learned!

[RunBrianRun Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

That sounds really painful! You reminded me of another cramp that I often get which is the left adductor when I use that particular adductor machine at the gym. I have yelped in pain a few times as I’ve hopped off the thing. 😂

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

Adductors are easy to overstretch; fortunately they seem to fix quite quickly too 🤞👍

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

O ouch! What an eventful dinner! Sounds very painful AND awkward! The joys of running!

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

Very awkward; I gave everyone a fright!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

Thanks. I seldom have cramps, so it was surprising (as well as somewhat painful)

[Runnin-g Graduate10]

Ouch! I hate cramp & thankfully rarely get it. Hope you manage to sort it soon. p.s. you're definitely a real runner, with or without cramp 😄

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Runnin-g]

😁👍🏽🙏

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Facebook was showing me this article this morning…I thought of you! There’s a nice selection of strength and stretch exercises at the end.

runnersworld.com/uk/health/...

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Huh… interesting. I have a feeling that as I added walking on my 3% incline treadmill, this might be the additional load. It’s not much of an incline and I don’t notice it really when walking, but as it’s a constant 3% incline so I did wonder if this is an extra load on hamstrings. The article refers to hill runs only once, so not sure but it’s a possibility.

Thank you for the pointer.

[Tessie66 Graduate10]

First half today and I felt my calves I'm taking it as part of the training

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Tessie66]

👏👏👏👏

[Tessie66 Graduate10]

Saying you're a real runner I always say to son in law when I'm running in the half marathon next month I'll be running with proper runners 🏃‍♂️ he always says you are a proper runner 😆 🤣

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Tessie66]

☺️😃🙏

[Katnap Graduate10]

Ouch! I can run-off most muscular cramps but not hamstrings! 🥺