Runners..

I got a question for ya,
I jog quite a bit, not long distances…just like 2-4 miles at a time…I usually mix in some full out sprints too. I don’t know why but about 25% of the time I get some wicked cramps right below my rib cage…
Any solution to this?

Cramps are good…

My old track coach used to say time your breaths to exhale on the opposite foot of the side that its cramping. It usually works for me, but it could just be taking my mind off of it and concentrating on my feet.

ugh, those are the worst…but yea its all about how your breathing while your running like fightinmike said

Do you stretch before you go?

stretching has been proven to not reduce injury by any scientifically measurable amount…

i hear from my x-country coach to rub it a little then push on it

my back disagrees with that report… if I don’t stretch well before running or lifting weights I end up back at my chiropractor’s office.

Cramps really suck. Watch your meals before running and try to drink more water. I couldn’t eat 4-6hrs before an intense run for fear of cramping up badly.

i get the same thing… my mouth gets dry, i get a cramp, then im like ef it… normally at about the 5 min mark… i slow down for about 2 min, then back at it again…

im ready for summer to come back

You’re not hydrating well enough, you need to stretch well before you go on a run, and you need to do a slow cool down jog to rest your muscles.

I’ve ran varsity xc and track since 7th grade…

Pound a beer before you start.

Seriously though, if I eat anything likely to give me indigestion or drink anything carbonated within like 6 hours of going for a run I get a side cramp.

Plus I’m way the fuck out of shape. That might have something to do with it.

Muscle cramps and injuries are two completely different things and I highly doubt your little article is going to have any effect on every athlete that stretches before any strenuous activity.

You can usually take care of the cramps by changing your breathing techniques… Increase your Deep breaths when you have cramps they should go away quicker

Proper hydration would be where I would start. Breathing is also important the more strenuous your workout becomes to make sure you are getting enough oxygen where it is needed.

eat banannas, or anything with Potasium< SP

You might be running too much, did you train to get to 2-4 miles? I get cramps basically when I run long distances without training for it.

This works well for me i almost always cramp up aroung 10-12 miles and like this one.

I have tried this and it made it worse but i have heard it works well for others.

More water and try taking in more salt as well. Someone ealse mentioned potassium(sp) and i forgot to quote it but that is a very good tip as well.

Well some people just suck i guess. I drank two diet coke’s before the start of my last half marathon. But im just baller likt that. BTW i DO NOT think this is good practice but i like to drink a soda about 30min before i run.

My tip i would like to add is how you are holding your gut while you are running. I see alot of people run and they keep their mid-sections tightened and i strongly disagree with this practice. When you are starting to feel a cramp forming let the gut just hang like you know when you just relax everything and let it hang. This works great for me but be warned some people claim this makes them sick i have no clue why but hey its what i read.
Remember also not the same thing works for everyone so just try out different methods. But if you are getting cramps that early i think its one of the obvious things like water or breathing.

Hey man we can’t all be superman. Somebody’s gotta be the desk jockey.

Oh I’m searching google images for “desk jockey”. I bet I’ll find something hilarious…

FAIL. What the hell? Nobody’s ever p-chopped a jockey onto a desk? Where’s boxxa?

:uhh:

Completely agree. Quick warm up, stretch, then activity allows me to sleep the night pain free.