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Cramped Feet

zcowgirl3's picture
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134
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1185 days
started by zcowgirl3 on March 19, 2008

Quick question here folks, hope i'm not the only one.

This usually happens when I run and mostly when I swim, my feet cramp!
I down water, take my vitamens and when it's time to workout in the mid of it my feet/foot cramp up. Swimming is the worst and I try to go through it but it just gets to the point of,"geez stop already!" I ran a 5 miler this weekend and haven't workout on hills at all yet since I started up with working out on hills and my foot was so cramped...it sucked.

Anyone out there have the same issue or hear of this?
Just a quick question...thank ya'll! =)

RV's picture
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1326 days
RV posted 24 weeks ago.

Often when cramping is involved - you are in need of some electrolytes - sodium etc.
Usually not an issue for short sessions, but may want to consider using something like Enduralytes or a sports drink (i.e. Gatorade Endurance etc.) before your workouts.

RV

It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss

Socket's picture
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Socket posted 24 weeks ago.

There have been a few threads on cramping, lets see if my search-foo is strong today... One, two, three. They all seem to suggest some potassium or sodium issues may be the culprit.

But, who knows. Knowing this forum you've probably got some strange malady like you're bones taking on water and your muscles exploding. ;-) j/k

PrinceofClydes's picture
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PrinceofClydes posted 24 weeks ago.

It has happened to me that my feet cramp at the end of the 2.4 mile swim leg of the ironman.

Just as I begin to push harder to finish strongly entering T1, my foot cramps.

I think it has something to do with swimming for an hour in cool water just dragging my feet along doing not much, then suddenly kicking harder to finish strongly.

I often have foot cramps after 3 or 4 hours of cycling. I will stop and rub the cramp out of the foot.

I have found salt to be a benefit. I down three or four of those salt packets from KFC halfway into an ironman. I try to stretch my feet daily but other than these two things I can offer no solutin for you.

cheers,

PoC

"Pain doesn't last, chicks dig scars, glory is forever!"
- Shane Falco.

gfd's picture
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952 days
gfd posted 24 weeks ago.

I get the foot cramping only when I swim and sometimes with relatively short (40 minute) swim sessions. I was guessing it was from the pointed foot postion required to kick. My toes have even cramped when climbing out of the pool. Strange feeling and not a big deal, just annoying. Only thing I have done is stop and massage the cramp out.

tri-ac's picture
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tri-ac posted 24 weeks ago.

i had a foot cramp when swimming that was due to a muscle weakness in my calf. this was in my first season of tri-ing. it went away with time...i think it was me subconciously clenching up the muscles and eventually i just learned to relax....

psychosyd's picture
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360 days
psychosyd posted 24 weeks ago.

This can be due to a muscle imbalance as tri-ac said. As well cleat position in your bike shoes can affect foot cramping in the pool and running. I would probably go with the muscle imbalance in your calves for you since it seems as though this occurs when you are using your calf muscles (pushing off wall in swim, running)

Now that I reread your post, it could also be tight calf muscles. A good massage might help a lot!
Stretch your calves, and do some calf raises to warm up your muscles, then do a deep tissue massage on your calves (or get someone to do it for you!)

hope this helps

M's picture
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238 days
M posted 24 weeks ago.

My boyfriend also got foot cramps, mostly when he was first working on swimming. They seem to have abated. He started to consciously avoid really pushing off the wall, since that leads you to flex your calf muscle which can unleash the cramping. Also, try (somehow) to really relax your lower legs--maybe think about fluttering your legs from higher up. Also, you might try kicking less. I see people at the pool exhausting themselves with these amazing motorboat kicks but not moving very fast.

If you want to just get through your workout, and you can stand the idea, bring a bit of vinegar with you. My boyfriend heard that from someone at the pool and tried it (balsamic seemed to be most palatable). Get a cramp, swallow some vinegar, and the cramp goes away. We were skeptical, but it worked! Good luck.