Calf cramps sabotaged yet another marathon. Anyone tried HOTSHOT?

I was doing a trail race yesterday and started having calf cramps - until the beer station. Drank a cup of beer and it totally helped. Finished strong.

Interesting. How long did you hang around in the party tent? Joke aside, beer is never served in the road races I've run.

I use vinegar and salt. The closer it gets to a gagging-reflex concentration, the faster it works.

The mechanism isn't clear to me, other than it stimulates the vagus nerve, which governs the parasympathetic system which in turn relaxes the muscles and reduces inflammation.

You might also look into Wim Hof breathing (basically hyperventilation) to achieve an additional effect.

Happy cramper wrote:

Interesting. How long did you hang around in the party tent? Joke aside, beer is never served in the road races I've run.

Downed it and kept moving. It really worked. Although I agree, would never see it normally in any race. I’ve run that race before and they didn’t have it. I also have a serious calf cramping problem in marathons/long races. I’m just saying it worked, no idea why.

They don’t have Hotshot tables in any race I’ve been in either.

I think the “theory” for all these things (pickle juice, hotshots etc.) is that cramps are “in the nerves”. Somehow beer worked this one time on one person who has calf cramping problems. I don’t think it will ever be studied.

What amounts are we talking about with regards to the salt/vinegar mix? And what proportions? How do you carry it and when do you take it? On first twitches or when full-blown cramps have set in? Does the effect typically last or is the procedure repeated several times during a race?

About 1:1 water and vinegar, with a dash or two of salt. I don't race anymore, but keep an 8-ounce bottle in the car or at home, mainly for side stitches during track sessions. I had a calf injury in spring and it seemed to help, and definitely shuts off calf twitches in the middle of the night. I use it immediately now when I feel an onset. Also works for nausea/stomach issues too!

I think Hotshots use capsicum as well, but have never tried it. In a road race I would likely rig into a gel pack and carry.

If you are above ideal racing weight then simply losing weight often helps with cramps.

Salt tablets or little packets of salt often help when you get the first twinge. Pickle juice is offered at some marathons and has been shown to stop cramps within 30 seconds.

As a personal anectdote Hotshot 100% works for me and has saved my ass in a handful of ultras. Whether or not a placebo I dunno but I have spent 2 races cramped up like crazy, and now would never run a longer race without it. I use pickle juice too which will work. Use it ASAP when you get the twinge.

As an aside it tastes like total Shi* so make sure you can stomach it before you race.

The tricky thing about products like this is that it is hard to replicate the cramping, and therefore difficult to test the product, in training. You probably don't want to try something you haven't tried before during a marathon unless you're pretty sure the cramps are going to blow your race anyway.

Regardless I would take vinegar in a marathon or ultra just to counter the inflammation and brain fog. I use it throughout the day instead of caffeine.

I agree that it's really difficult to try these things out since reproducing the cramping pretty much involves a race like effort.

I'm actually thinking of doing that (as soon as my legs are able to carry me again...). I.e. head out and run at MP until I cramp up (or set a marathon PR, whichever comes first) with a battery of snakeoil with me.

On a tangent.. Often after long runs, while completely still, I can observe small involuntary micro spasms in my calfs (they appear to live a life of their own, not that it bothers me but still). Does that happen to you other crampers out there or is it perhaps even more common?

@RastaMon: How severe was the cramping? How much did you take and did all symptoms go away?

Happy cramper wrote:

On a tangent.. Often after long runs, while completely still, I can observe small involuntary micro spasms in my calfs (they appear to live a life of their own, not that it bothers me but still). Does that happen to you other crampers out there or is it perhaps even more common?

Yes. There are days after a LR or hard tempo effort where my calfs look like they're having their own little dance party and I'm just sitting there. I'll also occasionally wake up in the middle of the night with a wicked calf cramp.

I've found a product called Leg Cramps PM made by Hylands to be helpful. The cramps don't disappear entirely, but whereas I've felt a strain the next day, that's gone. I try not to take it too often though, as the sleep is like melatonin light.

For those talking vinegar, does apple cider vinegar apply? I have about a shot of that several days a week intended for gut health, but if it could help the cramps that's another reason to stay consistent with it and bear the God awful taste. On a side note, my wife has a pretty good ACV concoction w/ hot water, table spoon of honey, table spoon of turmeric, and a shooter of ACV.

ACV works fine, as does anything with vinegar, like pickle juice.

Taking it as a supplement in advance is unlikely to be effective however, the mechanism is neuromuscular, not nutritive. ACV is good for you in other ways of course, and I take it as well.

Pickle juice will work. Been there done that.

Vinegar works .drink it the night before . Don’t now why it works, purchase the yellow English vinegar ,not the white vinegar.

I have had 3 races where I have been severely cramped. A 66k and 2 50ks. The cramps were so severe in one race involving all leg compartments as well as arms and even intercostal muscles that I had to drop. The other races I had severely cramped quads and calves that I ran through for 19 and 12 miles respectively. It fu*king sucked.

Anyhow Hotshot works pretty much instantaneously and I have run 50 to 100 milers where I have felt them coming on and was able to stop it before they got out of control. Just slam one as needed... Should not need more than 1 or 2 for a marathon

Was a beta tester. Didn't work for me. When I need to drink it, it made me nauseous.