In the last year I have been getting incredible calf cramps or spasms about 1000 - 1500 m into my workouts. My typical workout is 2500m, 3x per week. Usually the cramps are instantaneous, for example when I push off the wall. I also notice i get them with fly more than any other stroke. Sometimes they are so bad I have to get out of the pool, and I can't walk. To help the situation, I have been stretching, both during the day and after my swim warmup; drinking water during practice; and eating a banana before practice.
I am a pretty fit person; I have been swimming most of my life
Anyone else had this issue? Any advice you could give would be really appreciated.
I started to have problems with calf cramps late in workouts last year after making some dietary changes and increasing my training load. Based on the recommendation in a book I read about athletic nutrition, I tried taking three Slow-Mag tablets a day for 20 days and I stopped having the problem. They recommend that brand specifically because it is a different magnesium salt from what is in most magnesium supplements, and they believe its absorption rate is better. I make sure not to get over-hydrated, or under-electrolyted, before workouts, too.
I started to have problems with calf cramps late in workouts last year after making some dietary changes and increasing my training load. Based on the recommendation in a book I read about athletic nutrition, I tried taking three Slow-Mag tablets a day for 20 days and I stopped having the problem. They recommend that brand specifically because it is a different magnesium salt from what is in most magnesium supplements, and they believe its absorption rate is better. I make sure not to get over-hydrated, or under-electrolyted, before workouts, too.
