It started during the 18th mile. I could feel it in the quads, just above the knee. It wasn't debilitating yet; just worrisome.
During the run up to the mile 22 water station/checkpoint, I seized. Nothing between the knees and hips would work. Total lock up. Both left and right legs. I've had minor, temporary cramps in the calves, in the hands, a back spasm...but nothing like this. Both sides of the legs -- quads and hams -- wanted to contract. I had no control of it all.
That shouldn't be the memory I take away from this first marathon, but it will be. It turned a 3:45 marathon into a 4:20. I basically camped out at the mile 22 aid station for 25 minutes, almost deciding to pull out of the race. I eventually walked/hobbled/shuffled the final 4.2 miles and claimed a finisher's medal, but it wasn't pretty.
So, what caused the cramping? I felt like I was staying hydrated. I didn't skip a single aid station and drank 1-2 cups of Cytomax each time. I had dutifully managed my hydration and fueling during the weeks, days and hours leading up to the race.
When I felt those quads start to go back around 18, I immediately started trying to fix it with salt, drink and GU. (Mixing the GU and Cytomax might not be good...I wonder if I shouldn't drink water if I'm going to eat those rich carb things?) But it didn't work and I seized up.
New experience for me and one that I'm going to have to figure out if I intend on doing this again.
I had a goal of a sub-4 hour marathon this year, but I'm not planning on running another marathon in 2010. My next target would be the Carlsbad marathon in January, assuming I want to put the work in again. I think I do. I don't want to have this be my one and only marathon experience.
Bookmarks:
Active.com
1 comment:
Congrats on finishing! I had a similar experience in the very first Rock and Roll Marathon. Around mile 22 it was like there were weasels in my legs. I had to stop and pound on them, and it was all I could do to finish. Coincidentally, I talked with a cyclist Saturday night who claimed that coconut juice (rich in potassium) has totally stopped his cramping problem... I'll be 50 next month and I've been doing something different and fun this year -- mud runs. The Camp Pendleton run on Saturday was grueling. It was only a 10K, but enough of a challenge for me. Again, congrats on toughing it out, finishing under those conditions is an achievement.
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