It’s not unusual for me to cramp when running hard, but what I had yesterday was different. I ran a 10k after work at flat out race pace. I was steadily picking it up at the end, and with a third mile to go my hrm read 194. It flew off as I was sprinting to the finish, and I spent some time afterwards trying to put it back on while doubled over in pain. When I got it back, it still read 199. I run this 10k route all the time, but I probably haven’t pushed this hard in at least a year.
Anyway, the cramps in my lower abdomen didn’t subside. They actually increased through the evening, and I spent the night in a fetal position on the couch. This kept me up through most of the night, and this morning it is down to sort of a dull ache.
My wife thinks I should go to the emergency room, but I’m not sure what they’re going to tell me. Is this kind of thing common? I’m trying to take in water, but it’s hard still to eat or drink. I was down two pounds from lunch to post-run yesterday, which isn’t all that bad I thought.