I’m hoping that someone may be able to help me solve a problem. My wife is a talented triathlete, winning her age group (55-59) in several major triathlons over the past two years. She has signed up to do a full ironman distance (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) in Wisconsin but she can't seem to swim past 1200-1400 meters before she gets leg cramps. She has consulted local swim coaches, tried all their suggestions and nothing works. It's a real problem and she is thinking of giving up on the race. Since she is 57 this may be her last shot at doing something she’s wanted to do for years. She has tried hydrating (with water and tonic water), stretching, had her technique evaluated for mechanics, etc. has anyone else had this problem and if so, what the solution? I’m desperate to help her but don’t know where else to turn. If you know of anyone who might be able to help, please let me know. Thank you.
Bruce
Hi all,
I've been busy with work and keeping up my swimming - so forums and the like have taken the hit.
I will come back and take a look at your links and look forward to reading the stuff on calcium deficiency. Thank you SwimmerLady. It'll be interesting to see what it says and about amounts.
I have been put on mineral supplements by my Dr. to try to help me with my calve cramping. It has helped, I don't know how much more calcium I can or should eat. I'm currently taking 1260mg of citracal. I also drink 10oz of milk after work out w/ a Carnation instant breakfast thrown in and usually a cheese stick during the day. I also eat 2 bowls of cereal before leaving for the pool in the morning, so I think I get a lot of calcium. I've recently read a report in a nutrition magazine about other health issues with too much calcium...damned if you do and damned if you don't! If I find it I'll post the study it referenced. They want me back in to draw blood and do chemistry, again - the prescription potassium ran out and I called in to have the prescription renewed.
I tried the pickle juice. Man - what a way to make sure you're awake - pound 2 oz of Clauson's pickle juice somewhere around 2500 yards! I don't know if it helped or would have helped. I found that it caused acid reflux and that wasn't worth it.
I was using creatine monohydrate as a suppliment. I did end up deciding that that was exacerbating the cramping issue. When I looked into it again I found a siting by a chiropractor that was using creatine. He noticed that he was having leg cramps on his 2 mile running sprints. He'd never had leg cramping problems before. He cut out the creatine and the cramping went away. He went back on the creatine and they came back.
I've been off of the creatine for about a month. I still have cramping, especially when I put on the fins and do a big kicking set. So, I don't do much kicking now!
I haven't found a cure, but I can't or won't stop swimming. I want to break into the 52 seconds for my 100 free short course, yards. My goals are 52 seconds at 52 and my daughter's challenged me to swim to Seattle from Medford...425 miles for the calendar year. So I will keep stretching, swimming and looking for something to help - it really is all leg for me. Still calf mostly and sometimes a hamstring or quad. Weird since I'm a very upper body biased sprinter that I don't get any arm or other muscle group cramps.
Past my bedtime now.
Cheers,
Tom
Hi all,
I've been busy with work and keeping up my swimming - so forums and the like have taken the hit.
I will come back and take a look at your links and look forward to reading the stuff on calcium deficiency. Thank you SwimmerLady. It'll be interesting to see what it says and about amounts.
I have been put on mineral supplements by my Dr. to try to help me with my calve cramping. It has helped, I don't know how much more calcium I can or should eat. I'm currently taking 1260mg of citracal. I also drink 10oz of milk after work out w/ a Carnation instant breakfast thrown in and usually a cheese stick during the day. I also eat 2 bowls of cereal before leaving for the pool in the morning, so I think I get a lot of calcium. I've recently read a report in a nutrition magazine about other health issues with too much calcium...damned if you do and damned if you don't! If I find it I'll post the study it referenced. They want me back in to draw blood and do chemistry, again - the prescription potassium ran out and I called in to have the prescription renewed.
I tried the pickle juice. Man - what a way to make sure you're awake - pound 2 oz of Clauson's pickle juice somewhere around 2500 yards! I don't know if it helped or would have helped. I found that it caused acid reflux and that wasn't worth it.
I was using creatine monohydrate as a suppliment. I did end up deciding that that was exacerbating the cramping issue. When I looked into it again I found a siting by a chiropractor that was using creatine. He noticed that he was having leg cramps on his 2 mile running sprints. He'd never had leg cramping problems before. He cut out the creatine and the cramping went away. He went back on the creatine and they came back.
I've been off of the creatine for about a month. I still have cramping, especially when I put on the fins and do a big kicking set. So, I don't do much kicking now!
I haven't found a cure, but I can't or won't stop swimming. I want to break into the 52 seconds for my 100 free short course, yards. My goals are 52 seconds at 52 and my daughter's challenged me to swim to Seattle from Medford...425 miles for the calendar year. So I will keep stretching, swimming and looking for something to help - it really is all leg for me. Still calf mostly and sometimes a hamstring or quad. Weird since I'm a very upper body biased sprinter that I don't get any arm or other muscle group cramps.
Past my bedtime now.
Cheers,
Tom
