Suffering with cramp

[Yellowcat6]

Started this week.with.my son in the mornings before work . I am a mother of 4 grandmother of 6 and care for my husband . I'm doing couch to 5k just to get fitter .First day went OK but struggled today I love the runs clears your mind but had awful cramp .what am I doing wrong doing stretches etc

[nowster Graduate]

Static stretches are for after the run, not before. Don't skip the warm up and cool down walks either.

nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/h...

What I have personally found is that the foot/leg cramps I used to get in bed at night, resulting in me doing a war dance round the bedroom, have all but stopped since I started running.

Another possibility is you might be trying to run rather than doing a gentle slow jog.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

Enjoy your journey.

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Are you drinking enough the day before your run?

[NanaPlum Graduate]

m.youtube.com/watch?time_co... Plus deep belly breathing and making sure you are properly hydrated. Good luck on your journey

[newbie-nick Graduate]

Stretches AFTER. Hydration before, but not too near running. Keep hydrated during the day - water is best - and make sure you are not drinking too much. Look up what colour your wee should be. Google what it should be like.

Running too fast may well cause cramp or stitch as your body isn't yet used to your muscles having strain put on them. Do you get enough, but not too much, salt in your diet? That too can cause a problem.

Try reducing your speed. Even if you think you are slow, it doesn't matter. Repeat weeks if needed, and above all remember, this is not a race. There was a lady posting on here a few weeks ago who took 29 weeks. It really doesn't matter. What is important is staying healthy and well, and getting to the end without, a) injury, and b) giving up.

You CAN do this, and to show at can be achieved I posted a link to Youtube of an amazingly inspirational chap from the jolly old US of A.

youtu.be/btzJUYd1BVA(Not working as expected?)

[Chris--B Graduate]

Hydration and stretching helped me with cramp. I found drinking a glass of water with a rehydrate tablet helped rather than just water. These tablets have the correct types of salt and minerals and I understand are far better than adding table salt to your diet. I found one of the discount shops sold a brand that had almost identical ingredients to a brand 5 times the cost which made them affordable.

I have often suffered from cramp but it seemed worse after running particularly in warmer weather.