Calf Cramping

Question
I have run a couple of marathons and I have had significant calf cramping issues:

I trained for a about 4 months for my first real marathon. I ran/walked a "practice" marathon and ran a couple of runs of about 20 miles.  I was averaging about 40 miles/week in the 2 months leading this marathon. During the marathon, I drank plenty of fluids in miles 2-10 then did a bit of an uphill on mile 18 and started cramping immediately after coming off the hill. I cramped the rest of the way in, but did run through them a bit.

I ran another marathon yesterday. I did more 6-13 mile runs leading up to it, but had not run a long distance (>15 miles) since my last marathon in October.  I went out at 8 minute miles which I thought was slow (I run a 6:45 minute 5k).  I was hydrating like crazy from the get-go and was feeling very strong. Then all the sudden on mile 13 I got the dreaded calf cramps again. I ran the last 10 with very painful cramps.

What do you think might be causing the calf cramps?  Does running long runs (over 20 miles) help avoid them?

Is calf cramping simply unavoidable for some runners?

What do you suggest I do to overcome them?

Note that I am almost 50 years old. I never cramp on races that are a half marathon or shorter.

I would appreciate any help/insight you can give me.


Thank you,

Brian

Answer
Hi Brian,
I am not a marathon training expert, moreso a shorter-distance kind of guy for 5K & less.  However, with what you are describing, I do not fully know the reasoning behind your cramping.  Experts say cramps are mainly due to lack of fluids, and with long distances that the marathon requires one to be ready for, fluid intake is hard to manage for each run, because each training run can be different in affecting the body (outside temperature changes, for one, can affect fluid loss greatly, from run to run).  

That being said, I am also a believer in thinking that some people can handle marathon distances better than others can, and we are all not built equally to run or complete marathon distances.  Perhaps you might be in this category of people who are not 'built' by design to handle the rigors of a marathon.  I look at it in this light as well: Not all of us can be the greatest baseball players, football players, or basketball players, even if we play game after game of our sport of choice.  Running to me, is no different, since it has its faster athletes (sprints, such as 100m, 200m, and 400m specialists), middle distance (1 mile to 5/10K), and long distance athletes (1/2, full, ultra's). A runner is NOT an equal runner who can perform well at any distance.  A baseball player may not be a great football player.  Runners are the same from shorter distances to greater distances. Even baseball players alone can't be the best pitchers or infielders or outfielders or catchers at all levels.  Each one has their specialty that makes them fit into the team better.  Runners simply need to find their best 'spot' on the 'team' of positions (short, medium, long).

I know this doesn't specifically give any reasons as to why you are cramping, but this answer is mostly an observation from my end of the coaching perspective with runners and other athletes through my career as a trainer. Perhaps 1/2 marathon's & shorter are your best 'cup of tea' to sip on as a runner. For me, it is 5K or less which I can manage the best.  My body doesn't like doing 10K's or greater in distance.  I can handle 5K's or less a lot better.

Rick Karboviak