r/Ultramarathon • u/Suitable-Falcon3616 • 3d ago

Cramping

I’ve ran 3 ultra marathons now and every I get over 50k I seem to cramp up in my calf’s and groin area. Ive not DNF yet. I’m a big sweater so I take plenty of stronger electrolytes and have salted nuts as snacks while I ran but nothing stops the cramps. Any advice on how to prevent would be great. Thanks

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

2

u/Dick_Assman69 3d ago

Do more speedywork to train your muscles for high-intensity effort when your legs are tired

2

u/skeevnn 3d ago

Do you do any strength training and or longgg runs in training?

1

u/Suitable-Falcon3616 3d ago

Plenty of long run training and a little strength training when I can fit it in

1

u/Cascadialiving 3d ago

If you aren’t doing some faster pushes in your long runs I’d do that. In the last 30 minutes I like to alternate 5 minutes at RPE 7 with 5 at RPE 4.

Both ‘mountain legs’ and ‘ultra legs’ videos on YouTube from David Roche provide some quick and easy leg workouts that should be done several times a week.

1

u/EnduroIrl 2d ago

Pace yourself better. Slow to the pace you can actually sustain.

If you can improve your training, then do so!

It's quite well established that there is no proof to show that lack of salt/ excess sweating causes cramps.

1

u/Conscious_Safe2369 1d ago

What’s your carb intake, water intake, and sodium intake (mg)