I’ve noticed another thread on swimming, but it was about kicking.
I don’t actually kick that much (read: if at all). I’m not doing kick turns when I swim as I almost always end up with my Seal XP mask leaking and I figure, Heck, I ain’t going to be doing kick turns in OW.
At any rate, I get these cramps when I push off the wall every so often. The cramps are in the arches of my feet. Do any of you ever get this? Do you know how to make them go away while swimming. I’m scared of getting out 1/2 mile in OW and then a cramp setting in on my feet.
For me, the arch cramp is almost always a sign of dehydration. Solution - keep the fluid levels topped up. What could be easier than to grab a mouthful of tasty pool or lake water? Added bonus in salt water is the sodium content!
I used to get them when 1) dehydrated and 2) calcium levels were low. Being female, I knew I had to fix #2 in particular. I also STOPPED POINTING MY FRICKIN TOES ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK WALL like some loony 14yr old Romanian gymnast. It’s just not necessary. Instead I worked on developing a relaxed, almost floppy ankle and foot. Look at how otters & seals swim. They’re not gymnasts. They loose, floppy, almost sloppy.
Now I’m happy to report that because I’ve learned to relax my ankles and feet while swimming, if I now get a foot cramp (still happens occasionally) I can get rid of it within 50m, simply by … relaxing!
Remember that if you cramp out in the middle of an open water race, while not pleasant, it is not the end of the world. If you stay calm your wetsuit will bob you up and down like a cork. You can float and breath just fine and you can stretch out your cramp and then resume swimming.
Trusting that your wetsuit will float you is a big confidence builder in open water. I cramped horribly in my second triathlon b/c it was a two lap swim course and I was getting swam over and kind of being frantic. I was able to get out of the stream of people, relax and bob a bit, then resume. OW is all about being relaxed IMO.
i get cramps in my feet, it’s usually after some biking or running. when i swim first its not a problem. what i usually do is try not to push off of the wall so hard, trying to keep up with the person in front of me at master’s. after several session like this i gradually increase the efforts and it seems to be alright.
I’ve been experiencing TONS of cramping in my arches while I “attempt” yoga. (Just recently joined a class for the first time) I can’t hold some postures like Pigeon cuz my arches just scream bloody murder. I drink water constantly all day (~ 3 liters a day). Maybe there is something to that electrolyte thing???
I get these all the time when pushing off the wall, but I’ve learned to tell when it is approaching. I’ve never had a problem in a race…since there aren’t any walls. One key (already mentioned) is to relax your foot. Point it backwards with your ankle and calf muscles, and let your foot be loose. Fooootloose, kick off your…er…nevermind. Anyway, I find that taking a 2 minute break every once in a while to stretch the calves and arches helps in pool swims, especially in the 25m lengths during the week at my local pool. Fortunately the 50m direction on the weekends is a lot easier to deal with.
i get them when i kick with fins, it hurts like hell. anyway, it probably has to do with some general fatigue issue.
as for flip turns i used to have a similar attitude. i reformed, here is why:
open turns: you get an extra breath, and get a split second of rest, they are also slower
flip turns: once you get to a certain level of swimming, the flip turn can make a difference if you’re swimming (working out) with the chumps, or with the real swimmers. the only way to get better is to keep raising the bar on yourself, making yourself swim with faster people, and to do that, at a point, flip turns becomes necessary. it is with the same logic that i’m trying to become a faster descender on the bike, so i can train with more elite partners.
If you get this when you use fins, you need to relax your ankle/foot, make sure the kick is from your hips not your knees. You’re likely pointing your toes too much. RELAX, chill out, get loosey-goosey, I bet it’ll go away.
I’m with Andypants on this (also female) and think it is an hydration/supplement thing–potassium and magnesium are what has helped me in the past with this. (Back in my competitive swimming days I used to get them a lot in butterfly sets.) The problem with arch cramps is that once you get them in a swim workout, you might as well call it quits for the day. You can get out of the pool and stretch them out but they seem to come right back.
Never had them pushing off the wall… Are you using the muscles in your butt and bending your knees when you push off? Your feet should be flat against the wall as you push and you can just avoid streamlining (flexing the feet) as you leave the wall.
I used to get them when 1) dehydrated and 2) calcium levels were low.
I’ll second AP’s calcium comment. In my case, add calf cramps. Those will stop you RIGHT NOW. I take 3x daily Calcium+Magnesium+Zinc supplements. Cramps are gone until I start forgetting to take the supplements…YMMV
Some of the natural food stores sell a CA, Mg, K, Phos tabs.
I try pushing off gently with my heel. If it happens when swimming I just drag my feet hanging straight down, instead of back. It’s more common if I haven’t been swimming much.
el-docfu wrote: It’s more common if I haven’t been swimming much.
Same with me. I wonder if that means we’re struggling a bit more, or kicking differently, or pushing off the wall with our toes more trying to make up for lack of speed? Oh, well, it’s better than trying to make up for lack-o-nookie, that will give me arch cramps, too!
