Quote Originally Posted by OakLeaf View Post
I'm starting to have the opposite problem of you all though I've been slacking off Yoga and Pilates this summer and have been having bladder control problems on the longer runs. Time to crack the whip on the core/pelvic strength.

I know hydration and electrolyte balance are part of that equation too, though, and I wish I knew how to get that sorted. It's something I've struggled with for decades - constantly seesawing between mild hyponatremia and dehydration, and in the meantime worrying about too much salt with my slightly high blood pressure and strong family history of heart disease, and also learning this summer that I have to supplement with fairly large amounts of magnesium. Does anyone know if there's a way to figure that out? At this point I'd be willing to pay for testing if I even knew of an exercise physiology lab that could do it.
I'll let you in on a little trick I learned when I first started running...if you wear a tampon during every run your bladder leakage issues can be greatly minimized. Works for me!

With your hydration issues do you run into cramping? This has been my biggest challenge during marathons and the factor that has really negatively impacted me most. Training and hydration don't seem to make much difference...I hit the 16 mile mark and my calves start to tighten. By 21 or so I have to start walking at intervals to keep full-on cramps at bay. Doesn't seem to matter how easy I take the first half of the race or how many electrolyte pills I pop or sports drink I ingest, the cramps are coming.

As a result I am sticking to nothing longer than a 25k next year. Not marathon training leaves me more time for the bike and maybe a century ride or two, anyhow.

As for the cramping issues, my mom and brother are both really prone to toe/foot/leg cramps, so it makes me wonder if there is some weird genetic thing at play, here.