Cramp
20 01 2007I ran the unofficial Tokyo marathon back in 2004. It was going really well. I made good progress dodging the obasans, people walking their dogs, navigating the pedestrian crossings. However at around 27km a hodokiyou (pedestrian foot bridge) bit me. I was climbing the stairs when the first twangs of cramp hit me in the leg.
I have had cramp before and remember the cure is to rub the area to warm it up and, i assume, to get the blood circulating. After the foot bridge we ran up a hill and it was here that the mother monster of all cramp land bit me and never let go. Not matter how much rubbing the cramp didnt go away. at least for a while.
With signs like this you realise you have to take it easy. For the next 14 km I walked. It was only the last 1km did I start running.
The thing is. I only found out later that the wardens of the race carry a can of coolant spray. You can use it to cool the leg and remove cramp. I wonder if the Tokyo marathon wardens will have the same spray ? I may even thing about carrying my own.
