I routinely get Charlie horses in the right calf when sleeping after training earlier in the day (usually running but also get them on cycling-only days) I’ve tried bananas, salt pills, foam rollers, and sacrificing a goat during a full moon to no avail. I get them when sleeping and usually wake up with just enough time to leap out of bed and walk on it before the muscle implodes.
Anyone experience this and find a “cure” or at least a mitigation? Is it “normal” to only get them on one side?
I get these when I’m not getting enough potassium.
I’ll gladly send my son over and let him charlie horse you in the other leg. It will even you out and get him out of my house where he constantly wants to try it on me. 
I used to get these. I have not since I added 250mg of magnesium daily. Oh and some foam rolling when sore.
Good luck!
I routinely get Charlie horses in the right calf when sleeping after training earlier in the day (usually running but also get them on cycling-only days) I’ve tried bananas, salt pills, foam rollers, and sacrificing a goat during a full moon to no avail. I get them when sleeping and usually wake up with just enough time to leap out of bed and walk on it before the muscle implodes.
Anyone experience this and find a “cure” or at least a mitigation? Is it “normal” to only get them on one side?
Bananas don’t have that much potassium despite their reputation. You’d be better off eating potatoes or beans.
Most high potassium foods seem to be very bulky. I sometimes add about 0.5 - 1 tsp of potassium salt to a 24 bottle of standard sports drink if I feel that I’ll be out for about 2 hours or more - it actually makes orange Gatorade taste more like real oranges I think. This salt is available at any grocery store as salt substitute for people that can’t or don’t want to use NaCl, and it packs about 630 mg per 1/4 tsp.
HA! I used to get those something like once a week before getting into triathlon. It’d wake me up and yea you gotta be quick and sometimes lucky to get up and put your weight on that leg before all hell breaks loose.
They stopped since I started running regularly.
Hello slappymcgee and All,
Used to happen to me too … cure … 1. getting in better condition … 2. Compression tights to sleep in … I use 2XU but any brand should work … It is like magic!! NO cramps … (most of the time) … 3. Magnesium supplement when needed. I bought some Cramps Away drink to try but have not used it yet.
Additional benefit to me from sleeping in compression tights is a faster recovery and legs feel much better the next day … downside is … that putting the tights on is like getting into a wetsuit … getting them off is a bit easier. YMMV …
http://www.orthosleeve.com/compression-sleeves-benefits/leg-cramps-treatment/
http://www.crampsaway.com/#!CrampsAWAY-samples-available-on-Amazon/c1k76/55e622da0cf2de902a7b24f1
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