running cramp

akj_25

recently i trained and completed a half marathon. i followed a 20week training program, although i did miss a couple runs during the last few weeks. during the half marathon i felt good, getting mildly tired but not exhausted at mile 7 when i got a severe muscle cramp in my left calf. i was able to get it to release, slowed down a bit, continued to get cramps whenever i tried to speed up. then at mile 9 both calf muscles completely cramped up and spasmed, it took a while to get them to release, ended up having to walk backwards to get the muscle to release. for the remaining 4 miles i could walk, or speed walk and felt good, but anytime i tried to run/jog i would cramp back up. i otherwise felt great, not winded not exhausted, i actually wanted to keep running

anybody have similar experience? tips to preventing it

because it only cramped when running it doesn't sound like electrolyte cause to me. but i did take extra potassium and magnesium for the week prior to the race. did drink 24 ounces fluid before race and about 12 ounces water/gatroaid during the race.

7lenny7

Was this your first half marathon? What was the distance of your longest run in training? How many miles per week did you peak out at?

It sounds to me like it was simply muscle fatigue. You're calves just weren't used to that intensity for that long. More miles in training, with some at HM pace when your legs are tired, will help.

Read this article for a good explanation and more workouts to help prevent it in the future.
https://runnersconnect.net/running-nutrition-articles/muscle-cramps-while-running/