Subject: Tight wetsuit cause calf cramps? Did an Oly tri today & had some BAD calf cramps at T1. They were so bad I fell to my back & couldn't get my wetsuit off the legs for ~2min. This has happened to me only one other time and it was while wearing the same wetsuit during an Oly. This has never happened to me without a wetsuit, and never during a sprint WITH this suit. Today conditions were perfect (air temp low 60's, water temp 75 ), I did a brief warm-up swim, my swim effort was moderate, & my kick effort (2bt kick ) was very low. Once I got myself on my bloody bike I was fine. Posted solid bike leg & the run was an Oly PR.
I'm particularly PO'ed 'cause today's painfully long T1 contributed to missing AG podium (placed 4th ). This sleeveless suit seems to fit me fine in chest, torso length, & thighs, but I've always felt the calfs were tight. Could that suit really be so tight it limits blood flow to the gastroc muscles enough to cause calf cramps during med-length swims? If so, is there a way to safely stretch the calfs of the suit for more personalized fit? (BTW-I'm 6ft/170#- so hardly the body-builder physique ) |