General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Calf cramp in wetsuit only? Rss Feed  
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2014-09-01 11:18 AM

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Subject: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?
Hey! I just completed my 4th or so Olympic yesterday and got a new PR. Not by much, but still was pretty happy about it. My swim went really well (time-wise) and wanted to ask a question of folks here. During my training swims I never wore a wetsuit at all. I never had any cramps while doing sessions up to 2500 yds. Yet, during the race, I did wear a wetsuit and I got a bad calf cramp very close to the end. In fact, just 50 yds or so to the exit. I wonder if wearing the wetsuit, the tightness of it around my body, legs, might have contributed. I can't think of anything other variable except maybe the environment being different (ie. race conditions). The water was not cold at all and felt like the pool as far as temp is concerned.

Any thoughts about that? Does this happen to any of you?

EP


2014-09-01 1:42 PM
in reply to: ecpasos

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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?
I would expect it more in hamstrings than calves, but it's pretty common to cramp up in open water if you only practice in a pool. Sighting is a different stress on muscles that you don't exercise when there is a big black line below you.
2014-09-01 4:01 PM
in reply to: ecpasos

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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?
This happened to me at mu last triathlon. 11 miles biking to the race + warm lake + full wetsuit = massive cramps, even though I was swimming easy and relaxed.
2014-09-01 4:54 PM
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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?
yes I get calf cramps when I swim in a wetsuit. My guess is that I train very little IN the wetsuit, and my legs aren't used to the compression.

the cramps are fairly minor, and have not caused a problem in completing a race however.

Edited by metafizx 2014-09-01 4:55 PM
2014-09-01 4:57 PM
in reply to: ecpasos


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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?
If you trained without a wetsuit I could see the potential for cramping with one. Basically, when you wear a wetsuit your entire body position is changed, and this can lead to numerous negative consequences.

I'm just speculating here, but if you kick from the knee you are exerting a lot more force than you are used to with your lower legs. Consider that most wetsuits are designed with more buoyancy in the lower legs to save the legs for the bike and run (and to compensate for the "poor" body position of most triathletes who are late onset swimmers) and you will see why kicking in your wetsuit causes extra strain on your legs. With the wetsuit you are pushing down against the resistance the added buoyancy of the suit creates. Going at race pace against previously unencountered resistance is a recipe for fatigue, cramps, and worse.

The bottom line is that the adage "nothing new on race day" applies to equipment such as wetsuits. Swimming in a wetsuit can be a great, but only if you have trained to use one properly and given your body time to adapt.

Good luck in your next event and congrats on the new PR!
2014-09-02 2:30 PM
in reply to: rss_joey

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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?
Thanks for the replies. I can see how adding the wetsuit to some training swims will potentially eliminate the problem. Thanks again!


2014-09-02 3:00 PM
in reply to: ecpasos

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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?
Cramps in the calf are common in swimming, when swimming hard. Chances are you were pushing harder in the race then you usually do in practice which caused the cramp.

I don't think the compression of the wet suit was the problem.
2014-09-02 6:41 PM
in reply to: mike761

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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?
Originally posted by mike761

Cramps in the calf are common in swimming, when swimming hard. Chances are you were pushing harder in the race then you usually do in practice which caused the cramp.

I don't think the compression of the wet suit was the problem.

That very well could be the cause too.
2014-09-02 10:26 PM
in reply to: ecpasos

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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?

happens to me as well.  I've always figured that it was because I didn't kick as much in the wetsuit (since you don't have to?).  

2014-09-03 8:43 AM
in reply to: ecpasos

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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?
Same here. I only used a wetsuit a couple of times when I raced outside South Florida and I also got cramps in my calf/calves. Closer to 1.2 miles, I start cramping a lot, it wasn't that bad for the HIM distance, but it was terrible for the IM!

I had no idea why I cramped though...
2014-09-03 11:05 AM
in reply to: davidfedez

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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?

 

I had the same issue at my IM this year. I attributed it to the cold water and very rough water conditions. Who knows, could have been the suit too although I did train in it 8-10 times before the race. 



2014-09-04 11:43 AM
in reply to: Aarondb4

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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?
I posted this a few years ago in a similar discussion......

Dave Scott gave part of the athlete briefing at the 2010 Silverman race and talked about "charlie-horse" style calf cramps, which is what I've gotten in the past. Dave recommended "dorsi-flexing" your feet several times throughout the swim portion of the race to prevent calf cramping. This is stretching your foot by bringing your toes upward, toward your shin.....kind of the opposite of what most of us do with our toes while we're swimming. The extra drag does slow you down, but only for the few seconds it takes to do the stretch.

I've gotten leg cramps before on both IM and HIM distance swims and at the pool. Since I heard Dave give this advice, I've done these stretches during all my longer OWS's and been cramp free. I do the stretch in both feet at the same time, about once every 15 minutes. Don't know for sure if it's a cause and effect relationship or just coincidence, but I tend to belive almost anything Dave Scott says, after all, he is THE MAN. When I do the stretchs, I try and hold them for 10-20 seconds.

2014-09-04 5:01 PM
in reply to: #5045664

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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?
Hmm. Thanks for that bit of advice!
2014-09-05 8:18 AM
in reply to: g_shotts

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Subject: RE: Calf cramp in wetsuit only?
Originally posted by g_shotts

I posted this a few years ago in a similar discussion......

Dave Scott gave part of the athlete briefing at the 2010 Silverman race and talked about "charlie-horse" style calf cramps, which is what I've gotten in the past. Dave recommended "dorsi-flexing" your feet several times throughout the swim portion of the race to prevent calf cramping. This is stretching your foot by bringing your toes upward, toward your shin.....kind of the opposite of what most of us do with our toes while we're swimming. The extra drag does slow you down, but only for the few seconds it takes to do the stretch.

I've gotten leg cramps before on both IM and HIM distance swims and at the pool. Since I heard Dave give this advice, I've done these stretches during all my longer OWS's and been cramp free. I do the stretch in both feet at the same time, about once every 15 minutes. Don't know for sure if it's a cause and effect relationship or just coincidence, but I tend to belive almost anything Dave Scott says, after all, he is THE MAN. When I do the stretchs, I try and hold them for 10-20 seconds.




This will work, or you can do more kick sets during practice.

The calf cramps will happen to anyone when they push hard in the swim. If you develop a strong kick, you can back off your kick in a wetsuit legal swim and not worry about these cramps.
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