What can I do if my feet cramp while swimming?

Many swimmers, tri athletes mostly, complain of painful foot cramps. These are not only uncomfortable, they can be downright dangerous when you are swimming from one end of the pool to the other and are overcome with debilitating pain. I highly advise my athletes to bring sport drinks with them on to the pool deck and to pay close attention to hydration, even while swimming. Believe it or not, it is possible to get dehydrated over the course of a swim workout, because even though you are moving through a liquid medium, you are still sweating. Your body is still producing excess heat as a by-product of the increased blood flow that is necessary to power your muscles through your swim workout. Additionally avoid pushing off too hard from the wall. This can cause calf and food cramping when an athlete is already prone to cramping. Use the wall as a gentle push off, or don’t use it at all. Avoiding the powerful push can help to decrease the incidence for cramping. Staying hydrated throughout the day also helps to prevent cramping in future training sessions.