Think I've managed to get back in the water once again this summer, open water only. I've run into the same problem again this year that I had a couple years back. Cramping, only when I kick.
Normally for me most of the time my feet are 'flailing' in the water. Not doing anything real useful unless I think about it and really try to keep them spread apart so I can kick. Once I do this and start kicking about 10 seconds later my calves start cramping up. I stop kicking and get the cramping to go away and I can continue on swimming like normal, flailing. If I try to kick again, the cramping comes right back once again.
I normally eat 2 bananas each day for lunch and drink a gallon or more of water a day so I know dehydration shouldn't be an issue and lack of potassuim(sp?) shouldn't really be much of an issue either.
I can get the cramping at the beginning of a swim or after doing a couple of miles. The only trigger that always seems to hold consistent is I will start cramping once I start kicking.
Any suggestions on how I might get rid of the cramping but still be able to kick?
Parents
Former Member
Sorry, just remembered I hadn't updated my email address with the website, hence why I hadn't gotten an email message saying there were any replies back to my question.
Back in 2009 when I first noticed it I wasn't doing any biking or running. I was always driving the short hop, skip and jump to the lake to swim. This year I am biking, exclusively, since I haven't driven since the end of April 2010.
I can get the cramps at the beginning, middle or end of short(.25 mile) or long(4-5 mile) swim. The amount of swimming I've did makes no difference.
I'm going to try Knelson's idea today and see if that makes any difference.
The only other possible idea I've seen looking back at old messages, that I'm not sure if I've tried or not, is the cold water factor. The water isn't that cold. I don't mind swimming in cutoff jeans(bad I know) at all. In fact, on Sunday I only found one cold spot, at the turn around point, on the whole .5 mile long swim. Actually I was surprised I only found one. I figured this early in the summer I would find quite a few more. It doesn't seem like it has been THAT warm this year. It was about 2/3rd of the way back to the beach when I started kicking/cramping.
Sorry, just remembered I hadn't updated my email address with the website, hence why I hadn't gotten an email message saying there were any replies back to my question.
Back in 2009 when I first noticed it I wasn't doing any biking or running. I was always driving the short hop, skip and jump to the lake to swim. This year I am biking, exclusively, since I haven't driven since the end of April 2010.
I can get the cramps at the beginning, middle or end of short(.25 mile) or long(4-5 mile) swim. The amount of swimming I've did makes no difference.
I'm going to try Knelson's idea today and see if that makes any difference.
The only other possible idea I've seen looking back at old messages, that I'm not sure if I've tried or not, is the cold water factor. The water isn't that cold. I don't mind swimming in cutoff jeans(bad I know) at all. In fact, on Sunday I only found one cold spot, at the turn around point, on the whole .5 mile long swim. Actually I was surprised I only found one. I figured this early in the summer I would find quite a few more. It doesn't seem like it has been THAT warm this year. It was about 2/3rd of the way back to the beach when I started kicking/cramping.
