Cramping and Injuries

Do you experience muscle cramps, excessive muscle soreness, long recovery times, muscle pulls and strains?

There are several potential causes of these problems, and many of them can be addressed through your nutrition. Remaining properly hydrated is at the top of the list as dehydration will significantly increase your risk of muscle pulls and strains. Electrolytes play a critical role in remaining hydrated as well as potentially reducing cramps. Amino Acids help reduce lactic acid build up and aid in recovery. And Antioxidant Vitamins C and E help protect against tissue damage, reduce soreness and aid in recovery.

Watch this video (right) for a more complete discussion on avoiding cramping and injuries. Here’s some of our customers that have had success with cramping problems using e-Gel and e-Fuel:

Customers that have solved cramping with e-Gel and e-Fuel

Keith Castleton

"Figuring out how to stay hydrated, not get upset stomach and prevent muscle cramps during long runs and races has been one of my biggest challenges. In the past my muscles would ache and twitch and cause me a lot of pain after long runs. I came across e-Gel energy gels this summer used them during the Top Of Utah Marathon, took 17 minutes off my previous marathon PR and easily qualified for Boston." ...
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Maricopa, Arizona
Sport: Running

Jeff Rommel

"I broke the golden rule and tried e-Gel for the first time on race day. I ran the Houston Marathon and it was a great experience - no stomach issues and no muscle cramping. Water in my bottle and an e-Gel every hour got me through the race. I'm not the fastest runner, but I set a PR!" ...
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Houston, Texas
Sport: Running

Bruce English

"I recently completed a half-iron distance triathlon with a brutal bike course. At the end of the ride my quads started to cramp. I nursed an e-Gel over the first mile of the run and the cramps abated. I thought it may have been coincidence, but when the cramps resurfaced at mile 7 only to resolve with another e-Gel I was sold. I only drank water on the run and took e-Gel, so I feel confident that this product made the difference. " ...
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Waynesboro, Virginia
Sport: Triathlon

Sam Albrecht

"40 miles into a 56 mile ride in the desert with two big hills I started cramping, and had to stop several times. The next week I did the same ride with e-Gel and had no cramping despite it being over 100 degrees. My hydration was the same, so I have little doubt the e-Gel played a big part in keeping me going that day." ...
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Big Bear City, California
Sport: Triathlon

Mary Rogers

"I used e-Gels exclusively and exactly as directed in training for the Lakefront Marathon. This was my fourth marathon and I did not expect to PR, but just to complete it well. With the help of e-Gels taken at miles 2, 7, 13, 18, and 23, I took 10 minutes off of my marathon time and never hit the 'wall' or cramped as I had done in previous events. Some guy laughed at me at the start asking why I had so many energy gels. I told him I had a plan and I was sticking to it. I'm pretty sure I passed him somewhere around mile 22." ...
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Springfield, Illinois
Sport: Running

Gregory Allen

"I have always had a problem with leg cramps in the 2nd to 3rd hour of an event depending on intensity. I've been using e-Gel and e-Fuel since January of this year. It is the only thing that I have changed in my training and racing protocol. I did Lavaman olympic distance in Hawaii and never cramped (2nd). I did Wildflower olympic distance in California and never cramped (4th). I've done both of these races a number of times in the past and cramped every time. I haven't cramped on any long runs or rides this year. I know it is a short sample period. The combination and concentration of electrolytes in the Crank products seems to have solved my problem. I've never written a testimonial before, nor do I take much stock in them. None of this may work for you. It seems to work for me." ...
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Mill Valley, California
Sport: Triathlon

John Ballew

"When I did cramp I took on an extra e-Gel and hydrated with the e-Fuel and within 10 minutes or so the cramping went away. This product does what it says it does and I would recommend it to anyone that rides a bike or exerts themselves with endurance exercise's. " ...
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Union Grove, Alabama
Sport: Cycling

Karen

"e-Gel and e-Fuel kept me strong on my first Adventure Race! I gave this product a try and was a little skeptical of how it could really work. Well, after the 5 hour bike ride up a mountain and a 1.7 mile run to the top of a mountain in between... I had no doubts. e-Gel also helped my teammates get through dehydration, exhaustion and cramps. Awesome!! We will have e-Gel with us on all of our races. " ...
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Atlanta, Georgia
Sport: Adventure Racing

Shaun Gallagher

"After having difficulty in races where my gastric system would 'lock up', I found that I simply couldn't handle gels and electrolyte pills frequently enough to support my needs. The calorie content and large amount of electrolytes in e-Fuel were a perfect balance for my training and racing needs. Because e-Fuel mixes fast and easy, it was easier for me to increase the concentration without worrying about trying to swallow a thick, clumpy drink. At Ironman Wisconsin I raced with 2 bottles of 4x concentrated e-Fuel (800+ calories per bottle) on the bike as my primary nutrition. Using eFuel helped me surpass my goal and register a 13 hour finish time with no cramping or stomach problems. " ...
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Tampa, Florida
Sport: Triathlon

David Tucker

"I'm training for Ironman Florida and during the summer months here in Florida, long bike rides take me into some really hot and humid weather. I've been struggling for 6 weeks with cramping every time my ride hit 60-65 miles in length. I read about e-Fuel and after two rides of 80+ miles with no cramping, I'm a believer!" ...
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Brandon, Florida
Sport: Triathlon

Laurie Loon

"The first time I used e-Gel instead of my usual energy gels was in a 50 km race and I finished 2nd in my age group. I'm prone to cramping but I had NONE, as well as not even the slightest twinge. I'm impressed with e-Gel and will switch exclusively to it in all future races as well as training. This is really a product that delivers what it promises. " ...
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Palmdale, California
Sport: Ultrarunning

Jerry Sanders

"Been using your products for sometime now. Took a bit of a break from them, and decided to try some other brands. Using the competitors products, I was continually having leg cramps after 60 miles of riding. I switched back to e-Fuel, and no more cramps! Just finished a 110 mile 11000 feet climb this weekend! Couldn't have done it with out e-Fuel!" ...
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Glendale, California
Sport: Cycling

Eric Coppock

"I tried all sorts of hydration and electrolyte-oriented solutions over the years, and none of them made any difference. I finally did enough research to figure out that cramping is a fuel issue ... the muscles need hydration, electrolytes, and *fuel* and if you don't provide all 3 you're asking for trouble. e-Gel and a bottle of water is the complete solution for me..." ...
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Longmont, Colorado
Sport: Triathlon

Brett Daniels

"Crank Sports ROCKS!!! I am a triathlete and I have always had a problem with cramping on the run after consuming copious amounts of sports drink on the bike. With e-Gel and e-Fuel I don't cramp, I stay hydrated, and get more out of my training. e-Gel allows me to drink water and eliminate the cramps that come with the sugars in sports drink. I also love the fact that I can put a few pouches of e-Fuel in my bike jersey and I have instant support for those long bike rides. Your product is great and I am recommending it to all of my friends." ...
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Woodstock, Georgia
Sport: Triathlon

Lisa Kaspin

"The Los Angeles Marathon was a death march! The temperature at the start was in the lower 80s and climbed to 90 by the time I finished the race. Many people suffered from heat cramps and vomiting, and had to be pulled off the course. But I did NOT suffer from any of those problems, which was probably due to the high sodium content of the e-Gels I ate during the race; I ate 5 of them!" ...
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Los Angeles, California
Sport: Running

Mac Brown

"I have been using your products now for the past year and have really noticed the added sodium content on long training rides and in longer races. I have not been experiencing any cramps, and the texture of the gels is great. The gels are easy to swallow and wash down with water while I am running or cycling." ...
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La Jolla, California
Sport: Triathlon

Michelle Kuhnen

"I have used e-Gel and e-Fuel for many years now and nothing compares to it! I initially tried the e-Gel as a mid-distance runner, and for the first time didn't experience stomach cramping. During my collegiate soccer career, I found e-Fuel to be the best drink to prevent heat exhaustion - which playing in the humid Florida heat was hard to escape!" ...
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Asheville, North Carolina
Sport: Soccer

Rick

"I just completed my first across the state of Florida (coast to coast) bike ride - a one day event 170 miles, Sunrise to Sunset. I finished my 170 miles using 7 e-Gel packs, my ride took 10 hours to complete, averaging 17 mpg, facing a 10-15 mph head wind the entire day." ...
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Lithia, Florida
Sport: Cycling

Jab Buckley

"I recently ran my first half-marathon and was having trouble during my long-run training with quad cramping. I tried various products without much improvement. I came across e-Gels late in training and only got to try them once before the race, but during the race (and since) they worked great. I took them 45 minutes in (5 miles) just as i started to feel the cramping, and immediately felt relief. Took a second at 97 minutes (11 miles-lesson learned: find out where water stops are before the race) when my legs were really tight; took a little bit but they once again relaxed and i was able to pick back up to my normal pace." ...
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Lincroft, New Jersey
Sport: Running

Mike Villierme

"Great product for an old duffer with cramp issues. I've about conquered cramps with better training and good shoes but have to give most props to e-Gel. No other product I've used has allowed me to train for and run in events harder and for longer than the E-Gel. Several of my running amigos agree. You da bomb! Da Cherry Bomb!" ...
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Sacramento, California
Sport: Running

Don Mrla

"I used to get leg cramps at about the 9-11 mile mark, but I believe since switching to e-Fuel, the electrolytes have eliminated that problem." ...
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Whittier, California
Sport: Running

Michael Voelker

"I was introduced to e-Gel by a fellow marathoner after I ran the Madison marathon in May. During the Madison race, as in others, I had problems with dehydration. I know I lose a lot of salt in a long race, but sports drinks don't agree with my stomach. Only being able to drink water, it was simply impossible to get enough electrolytes with other gels. This past weekend I ran a 50-mile ultramarathon, the second year I ran the race. Last year, I also had problems with dehydration and muscle cramping. This year, having used e-Gel in training over the summer, I used e-Gel, and ONLY e-Gel, during the race--13 packets of it--with water. Despite the day being about 15 degrees warmer than last year, I managed my hydration well AND cut over an hour off my time by being able to run 'harder, faster, longer.' I attribute the better hydration to e-Gel. Also, the larger pack size, and greater calorie count, were both assets during a long race." ...
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Pulaski, Wisconsin
Sport: Running, Ultra Running

Joe Crouch

"I had been experimenting with assorted gels for the Vision Quest Mountain Bike Endurance race. I started with Crank E-Gels, then Cliff shots(yuck), power gels( sugar/sryup fest) and all the others. Finally I went back to the Cranky-gels and was happy again! Crank really works, I started to cramp after ripping up the first set of climbs. Then about a 1 hour in and every hour after, I tore off, one by one the 6 packs of gel I taped to my frame. With every Crank-E Gel I consumed my leg cramps magically disappeared. Crank E-Gel saved my race!" ...
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Irvine, California
Sport: Triathlon, Mountain Biking

Kirk Young

"My buddies and I race in off road enduros which is a race through the forest covering around 90 to 100 miles of off road terrain. I used to cramp up and have no energy. Now with e-Fuel I'm feeling great, no cramps and don't get that feeling like I just got hit by a truck." ...
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Half Moon Bay, California
Sport: Dirt Bike

Jeremy Collins

"GET CRANKED! I have tried every gel, and as far as I am concerned, all of e-Gels competitors are just day old gravy. I recently entered a 24 hour climbing competition where keeping from cramps, and maintaining energy and psych levels were the key. I brought home the gold, climbing 4200 feet, and e-Gels were a big part of the reason why." ...
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Kansas City, Missouri
Sport: Climbing/Hiking

Leslie Campbell

"On July 8th I rode the Prouty 100 mile fundraiser for cancer at Dartmouth in NH with Debbie Chase and Carrie Nourjian. We finished in 6 hrs and 40 minutes and felt great the whole way thanks to e-Gel and e-Fuel. kept a consistent energy level during the ride by switching from e-gel one hour to fuel the next. Not bad for 3 women around 50 working fulltime trying to make time for rides in-bewteen busy schedules. There were 2000 riders that day who raised over a million dollars for cancer research;great effort everyone. The most important thing for me to mention about the use of the e-products is that I never have stomach problems or cramps anymore, can feel the energy instantly after ingesting either the liquid or the gel and always feel like I can keep going even when I am tired from a long ride. e-Fuel is great to drink while spinning inside during the winter also. Love the products and keep coming back for more." ...
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Stowe, Vermont
Sport: Cycling

Rich Sims

"Whenever I would do long rides in the heat I would suffer from cramping during the rides and headaches afterwards. Since I've been using the e-Gel and e-Fuel I haven't had any of these issues. These products taste great and they really work. I was skeptical thinking that all the gels were the same, but there's definitely a difference. I won't ride without them. " ...
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Hayward, California
Sport: Cycling

David Greenblatt

"I have been using e-Gels for my marathons (and long-run training) for over 2 years. I am convinced that e-Gel is the best -- for sodium and potassium replacement and for the 150-calorie energy boost. The taste is pretty good, and they digest easily with water just after gulping down an e-Gel pack. Bonking (or cramping) at the 20-mile mark of a marathon due to insufficient energy/electrlyte replacement happens; but, with e-Gel, no bonking or cramping for me. " ...
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Dallas, Texas
Sport: Running

Nicki Riddle

"I am a very active 60 year old women that bikes, kayaks, skis and distance walks, AND has been a diabetic for 40 years. I decided to enter my first marthon this summer. I was fortunate in discovering this absolutely wonderful product. I take a E-Gel packet to begin and then every hour and check my blood sugar. With the use of E-Gel I can keep my blood sugars up and not bonk. A very important thing to a diabetic! I feel so good the whole time I am walking and finish my walks with so much energy to spare, I manage to clean my house etc. I LOVE IT!. I should mention that I no longer have leg cramps because of the potassium levels in this product. I have been spreading the word to all my friends," ...
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Lewiston, Idaho
Sport: Walking

Chris Perry

"After cramping bad in my first two marathons (Chicago, Twin Cities) I decided to try your product. I have been pleasantly surprised. Along with good hydration I have not cramped in any of my training runs and completed the Houston Marathon in my best time and with no cramps ! I am now ready to train for the Marine Corp and will have e-Gel in my belt for all my long runs. A great product !!" ...
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little rock, Arkansas
Sport: Running

Curtis Jones

"Being a runner (and an older runner at that), I have had leg problems for quite sometime. I have tried everything - strengthing my inner core (pilates, physical therapy, etc.) and even though these things helped, consuming e-gel made the biggest difference. I don't understand why - maybe some of the medications I take screw up my electrolyte balance or maybe I simply am not getting enough electrolytes - but e-gel (along with motrin!) seems to be one of the important pieces to the puzzle!" ...
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Niwot, Colorado
Sport: Running, Cycling

David Hawkins

"I love to ride hard, but was cramping alot in my legs. Since adding the new product into my work out; I now ride harder and longer with no cramps yet!" ...
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Winchester, Virginia
Sport: Mountain Biking

Yishay Yovel

"e-Gel is doing a perfect job in keeping me re-fuled and highly energized through long endurance events. I just completed Half-Ironman distance event, where I consumed 12 packs of e-Gel. I felt energized throughout the event, and had no side effects whatsoever (cramps, stomach issues, etc.). " ...
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Sunnyvale, California
Sport: Running, Triathlon

John R

"I just had a PR in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon and I attribute it to e-Fuel and e-Gel. This was the first race since I suffered severe leg cramps over the final 12 miles in last year's NYC marathon, finishing in 4:49. Following the recommended usage of both products I cruised to a relatively easy 4:03" ...
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Tampa, Florida
Sport: Running