Gray Guys/Girls Masters Focus Triathlete Forum--OPEN! (Page 23)

I have very little experience with calf cramps in the pool, but I do sometimes get the cramping at night.  One trick you can try is to stand up.  The cramping sensation will stop immediately.    Granted, this is easier said than done when you are only half awake and/or the cramp has already started.   There have been a couple cases where I have felt it coming on and jumped up - my calf immediately relaxed.    

I got some nice weather today for my long ride - 90 degrees and 60% humidity with a little wind to help keep me cool.   I did 4.5 hours, 112 km with 945 meters of climbing.  I'm bushed.

Originally posted by lutzman

Originally posted by krings82 As I mentioned in my first post, I am full of questions! Here's the first. I have been having some difficulty with cramping in my legs - mostly my calves. I get them mostly at night - not when I am exercising, But I got a really bad "charlie horse" in my right leg after my last swim. It took a couple of minutes to work it out. Now that calf muscle is still sore - not when I walk, but going up and down stairs. I did run the next day, and then today is my rest day. So hopefully able to bike/swim tomorrow. But I am looking for suggestions on how to keep from getting these cramps. I do drink tons of water. I do warm up before I start and do some stretching after exercise (maybe not enough). I appreciate any ideas

Katherine-- I've had similar issues with cramping in my calves, most particularly during swim training. Several coaches and friends have suggested that it might be a hydration issue, but I really don't think that is it for me. From what you wrote, that doesn't seem to be your issue either. I think the issue for me--perhaps you as well--has to do with the flexed foot position during the swim kick. I'm not that flexible anyway from a lifetime of running and I found that after swimming for about 20 minutes I would start getting very nasty cramping in my calves. I would often have to shut down the workout because I simply couldn't swim through it. Hard swimming made it worse and it always would kick in after a bit of swim training when I was getting close to the last of a workout. For me, the symptoms lessened (or at least were delayed) as my swim fitness improved. The cramps that used to hit at 20 minutes moved out to 25 minutes, then 30, then 40. I still get them, but the training effect seems to have pushed them out a bit. So, perhaps just swimming more will help. The other thing that helped me was to just keep a pull buoy handy. When the cramps set in, I would grab the buoy and just swim for a while with arms only, letting my legs relax and float behind me. Good luck. Steve

My experience has been similar to Steve's.  When I first started swimming, I'd get cramps in my calves and feet after only about 20-25 min.  I still get them sometimes, but it's usually towards the end of a 45-50 min workout.  I can usually hold them off some by not pushing off too hard on the wall when I start my laps.  Don't know if that's related but it seems to work some for me.

Here's something you might want to try for those sore calves:  

http://www.kinetic-revolution.com/self-massage-for-tight-calf-muscles-after-running/

Great news Steve!  Glad to hear that you're healing well.

I finished my race report from Sunday's race.  It's posted in the Race Reports forum if anyone wants all the details.  Here's the main points: 1) I did better than I had hoped.  My goal was to finish under 1:45:00 - I came in at 1:38:07.  2) The swim went really well considering my lack of swimming lately and worries about the OWS.  The water was very pleasant at 82* so being cold was not a concern.  It wasn't a pretty swim or a fast one, but I did it without trouble.  3) The bike leg went great.  I was hoping for around an hour for the 15 miles, I finished in 56:36 with an average speed of 15.9 mph - a couple mph over my normal average.  Very pleased with this.  4) I had planned to walk most of the run leg because of the issues with my ankle/calf lately but was able to run quite a bit of this.  It still wasn't fast (I'm not fast to begin with ) but I was able to do it pretty easily.  5) I missed 3rd place in my AG by 13 seconds!  If I had known I was that close I would have pushed a little harder at the end.  

Overall, it was a great race and I hope to do it again next year. 
Janet

Congrats Janet!!  What's next?

Steve: great to hear that the doc gave you the go ahead to start some training.

That's the best news I have heard in a long time -  that you are aging up out of my age group - I mean that you are feeling better!

In all seriousness, glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. 

Congrats Janet! 

Hi Deb,

In general I don't recommend long training swims except for a time trial and there are alternatives to long time trials.  That said, a long swim with a specific goal in mind, such as the knowledge that you can complete the distance, or an OWS clinic, are probably OK once in awhile.  In your case specifically, you just did a 1.2 mile swim in the lake.  Your getting ready to do a sprint, which is slightly less than half of the distance you already have done.  You have already swam in the lake in question.  I see no reason to do another long swim there.  You will be much better served doing intervals before the race.  The morning of the race, I strongly encourage you to get in the water to warm-up.  That will allow you to familiarize yourself with conditions.

Just my humble two cents.

Enjoy the race!