Calf cramps after long run

[noisemaker2]

After my last few long runs my calves have gone crazy.  They cramp up after I stop running--either while I'm walking home, or after I've stopped altogether.  The only thing that helps is sitting down and taking all weight off them.  Even then it takes a bit for them to recover.  I tried compression sleeves last time and it honestly felt a little worse. 

Thoughts on cause or cure? This is a new one for me.  Thanks for any help!

[shorewife]

I get calf cramps when I'm dehydrated if that helps?

[noisemaker2]

Thanks. It's been cold here, so maybe I'm not drinking enough? I'll make an effort to drink more on my 20 next week and see if that helps.

[runaways]

Sounds like an electrolyte thing to me. Getting enough potassium and sodium?

[enfuego23]

I get calf cramps when my electrolytes are low. This happened a bunch during training for my first marathon. Get thee some Gatorade or something with some sodium/electrolytes in it. FWIW - I ate a banana everyday and it didn't help with my cramps, good old fashioned gatorade did the trick - I think I got the G2 kind

[noisemaker2]

Thanks all--more Gatorade next week too. Hopefully that'll do the trick.

[noisemaker2]

Thanks all--more Gatorade next week too. Hopefully that'll do the trick.

[Deleted]

Late to this but another vote on electrolytes. Good luck, let us know how you get on.