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Hot Shot or similar anti-cramping products--thoughts?
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 2017-07-14 6:40 PM |
Master  8247      Eugene, Oregon Bronze member |  Subject: Hot Shot or similar anti-cramping products--thoughts?Just curious if anyone has had experience using this product or similar, particularly in a longer tri event. I've had two races significantly impacted by cramping, mainly in the latter stages (last 4 miles) of a HIM run, less significant cramping in a couple of others. I've worked with my coach to eliminate various potential causes (sodium, hydration, pacing, etc.) but can't quite get to the bottom of what causes it. Basically-- *Cramping is on both sides, whatever muscle is at the front of my calves (anterior tibialis??) *Sudden onset, usually just after a steep or long hill late in the run course, does not resolve with stretching, walking, etc., only with finishing (and sometimes not even then) *Has only happened in (relatively) cool conditions in my races in the US, not while training or racing in the tropics (so guessing this is NOT hydration or electrolyte related) *Only at HIM distance on hilly bike/run courses Quite possibly a bike/run fitness or biomechanics issue, but curious if anyone has had positive/negative experiences with Hotshots. My coach claims it is a placebo with no evidence to back it up; curious about other athletes' experiences, though. I have a sample of it but not sure what to do with it! |
| 2017-07-15 9:58 AM in reply to: Hot Runner |
Regular 694 Tucson, AZ | Subject: RE: Hot Shot or similar anti-cramping products--thoughts? Cramping is more often than not putting a little too much stress on your body. I would dial it back first to avoid the cramps. Regardless I have heard good things about pickle juice shots and it has been around since around 2000, well before hot shot. It is also about 25% the price of hot shot Pickle Juice Shots => http://amzn.to/2ulc5XP |
| 2017-07-15 10:11 AM in reply to: #5224346 |
| New user 175 | Subject: RE: Hot Shot or similar anti-cramping products--thoughts? I second the pickle juice. Thomas, do you think cramping is as prevalent with pros as with age groupers? |
| 2017-07-15 4:51 PM in reply to: Hot Runner |
Master 2485 Atlanta, Georgia | Subject: RE: Hot Shot or similar anti-cramping products--thoughts? I'm using HotShot preemptively before most bike training when I'm in the hills and/or it's hot. I haven't needed it in a race but I carry with me. It seems effective if I swig half a bottle before the ride starts(much less likely to cramp) BUT no help clearing up cramps once they start. I've had on/off cramping problems for some time; no consistency to the stimuli - hot/cool, sunny/overcast, hills/flat. It's the sort of problem you'll try anything to hold off and I have tried all the same solutions the OP mentioned. Again, it's a frustrating problem. The guy who created HotShot has an impressive academic CV but I don't understand much about the science he's hawking. On the basis of some encouraging but not totally reliable results, my n=1 is give it a try. The stuff isn't cheap but so worth it if it works.. |
| 2017-07-15 7:56 PM in reply to: 0 |
Master 8247 Eugene, Oregon Bronze member | Subject: RE: Hot Shot or similar anti-cramping products--thoughts? This is my thought--in all cases I have been pushing a hilly bike course quite aggressively but within the range of power I had targeted and can hold for a flatter course in training or racing. The bike isn't my strongest leg, so I have been trying to make up time and AG placing on the run. I think it's probably a muscle fatigue issue; maybe also related to the fact that over 90% of my bike training is on the trainer and I have almost no access to hills for run or bike for over ten months a year. I know in theory that a watt is a watt, but it still seems like there's something different about the muscle demands of a biking and running a hilly course that probably trigger these cramps. Willing to try Hot Shots if it would work--my concern is that at the place where the cramps hit (after 9 miles of a HIM run), the GI effects of a bunch of chili juice might outweigh any possible improvement it might effect on my legs! The cramping has never really happened in training so not sure why I would use it then, other than maybe to try it to make sure it doesn't make me puke! Maybe pickle juice would be safer--I like pickles and it probably would go down well. Maybe will give the Pickle Juice shots a try. Edited by Hot Runner 2017-07-15 7:58 PM |
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