re: Runners- need help with a pain

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4444, do you use salt sticks? How do you use yours? I seem to have calf cramps only during the race itself and not during training. SO I'm hesitant to experiment with them during training when there are no issues BUT I surely don't want to try them for the first time on race day.

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I do. Once I start training for more than 2 hours at a time as temps increase, I will take one before and one an hour during. They've got a lot more sodium than endurilytes so you don't need to take as many per hour (and it ends up being cheaper in the long run).

You could do a sweat rate test and all but I think it's probably a bit of overkill.

I battled hydration issues for my last half and full ironman, added some salt and DOUBLED my water intake on the bike and had a great half iron back in May.

It's a lot of trial and error, but I would say increase your water intake then add in salt stick. I was taking 3 bottles over a 2:30 bike....I went to 5.5 bottles and rode 3 minutes faster and ran a half iron PR by a ton.