That sounds terrible, Michael.
@michaelnkat I am on Tamoxifen - and I have occasionally had intense calf cramping, usually during the night. With moderate exercise, they seem to come less often. However after missing even moderate exercise, I had the worst episode recently.
The intensity of your exercise did trigger something. Maybe an exercise physiologist will have an answer for you.
That sounds very painful, Michael. Sounds like a pretty intense workout though!
Do you supplement magnesium?
I take 250 mg magnesium daily - haven’t been troubled with muscle cramps, but I’m also not doing workouts like Michael’s. Is that actually supposed to help in a situation like Michael has described?
Mg supplements have greatly reduced nighttime leg cramping for me.
Mg plays a role in muscle contraction and relaxation (along with hundred of other processes in the body), and although the hard evidence is weak, anecdotally it can help.
Most people are deficient anyway because it is hard to get enough in a normal diet. If other causes like PVD have been ruled out (which given MnK’s crazy workout load vascular problems seem pretty unlikely) so there is little downside to trying it.
I periodically get some weird cramps down my lower legs. They seem to go away when I resume Mg2+ supplements.
Oh joys. We had a major windstorm last night, and the power is out. Branches, leaves, garbage cans all over the road! What a mess. PSE says they have no idea when the power will be restored, but if we are without for more than 5 days, we get a $50 bill credit. Lovely.
It really is a puzzle. I’m trying to methodically analyze a number of variables to try to figure out what’s happening: workload, recovery, sleep, hydration, micronutrients, metabolic factors. The metabolic factors and micronutrients, I’m pretty sure can be ruled out. The blood work I had, the supplements I take and my over all diet has that covered to the best that I can determine. The workload was very intense (2 sets of 3x 3minute intervals in a ladder from 110-130 FTP with ramp ups and down before and after) but I’ve been progressively building towards that. I’m doing these work outs no more than 2-3x a week with 1 day of relaxed riding outside on weekends so recovery shouldn’t be an issue. My sleep cycles are no different than before so I’m tending to rule that out. I don’t think I’m hydrating enough so that’s my next variable to control. Plus, after the ride, I immediately eat dinner sitting in bed and then remain seated in bed watching some TV. I’m kind of thinking that maybe I need some dynamic stretching after the ride. It’s just puzzling though. The cramps start like a switch is thrown while I’m sitting in bed and end for no apparent reason after which I’m fine (other than the humiliation of having whimpered uncontrollably during the episode lol). If this continues, my next step will be to find an exercise physiologist at one of the major teaching/research hospitals in Philadelphia.
Does anyone have any words of wisdom on “runner’s toe”? My second and third toe are getting bruised on my long runs now that I’m higher up in mileage. Strangely enough, it’s my smaller foot that is affected, so I know my shoes aren’t too small.
Gertrude, I found that Lanacaine worked much better than Bodyglide for my toes. Also, Injinji toe socks might help.
But she’s saying her toes are bruised. Sounds like they are sliding around too much or something.
That happened to my same two toes when I started running more hills. I had to lace my shoe differently to keep my heel from sliding - that seemed to do the trick. I think it’s called a lace lock or something like that.
I know, I had some weird bruising on the same toes as Gertrude, and these two things helped. Also, the shoe can be too lose, so try lacing it tighter and/or using a thicker sock.
I bought these gel-like toe-caps after I ran the 15K & wore them for the 10-miler this past weekend. I think they helped a little, but didn’t do the whole trick. One toenail is turning colors - lovely! I do know about the lace lock thing & have been tying them pretty tight. @bunsen - I am thinking that I actually have too much room in the toe, so yes, a thicker sock might help! I’ll give that a try.
Hope you get your power back on soon BB - I’m sure you’d rather NOT have the $50 and just have your power!!!
@MichaelNKat I bet your variables changing will correct your situation - you have a good plan to reasonably change the situation.
I usually avoid fluids before bed, but I may hydrate a little better before bed too - have avoided so I don’t have the bladder waking me up, but again a balancing act.
Hoping your power gets turned on ASAP, BB.
Fingers crossed for good news on the job front, SOSConcern.
No advice for you, Michael, other than to say that I hate cramps and mine abated when I started eating a banana a day.
Yesterday was a swim day – swam for an hour. Today I ran 4 miles. I thought I was very slow, felt like I was struggling, but when I got home and looked at my time and distance I realized I was actually speedy (for me). Clearly I have no sense of my own speed. Yoga this afternoon.
I looked a bit at that NYTimes article on tracking food. It’s interesting how so much of it is psychological. He reaches his goal weight, and then stops weighing and starts eating again because he feels like he’s “done.” I was also fascinated at the fact that he measured his bananas to get the right calories!
I heard about your weather on our news, BB. Good luck with the power!
I think we are looking at 2-4 days without power. 370k household and business accounts are affected. Two people dead.
OK, caught up again. Geez, can’t leave this thread for a minute … 
I ran 5 miles both Monday and today. I felt a little stiffer today, but still got it done. Yesterday was cardio + weights.
Sending all good mojo for those in need – job interviews, power, leg cramps, etc.
My efforts to lose a few pounds before the holidays arrive is, so far, not really working. I lost 2 very easily, but could really stand to lose a few more. Food tracking is a pain, but maybe that’s what I need to do.