For many athletes, competition is a sort of calling. They enjoy being in the zone, the rush and excitement of race day, and the discipline and reward of training and competing. They could never walk way, no matter the obstacles. This is certainly true of Daniel Cipriani. An amateur athlete for more than 30 years, Daniel has competed in over 100 races, ranging from sprints to half Ironman events. Daniel is a professor of Kinesiology and Biomechanics, so his love of sports and his interest in pushing the body seem a natural fit.
Daniel, however, didn’t stop at the 70.3 Ironman distance as his longest race by pure choice. It turns out, for his entire amateur sporting career, Daniel has been fighting muscle cramps. His cramps often caught him as early as the swim, almost always during the last part of the bike ride, and, without fail, during the run. Of the six marathons Daniel has completed, he has had to settle for a walk/jog/run combo for the last eight or ten miles of the race because he cramps so badly.
With his background in sports medicine academia, Daniel has worked with his personal physician on dosages of Salt Sticks and tried various electrolyte heavy sports drinks. Nothing was stronger than his cramps. Even a change of climate—moving his family from Ohio to southern California ten years ago—and an increased focus on cycling as his primary sport did nothing to combat the cramps. They were as strong as ever, causing him to go so far as to drop out of races with only a few miles left to go. Outside of injury, not finishing a race or competition is among the most devastating moments for athletes at this level.
Then, last fall, Daniel heard about #ITSTHENERVE. He got a sample pack to satisfy his curiosity more than anything. At this point, Daniel was convinced that cramping was just part of his body’s wiring.. From his first shot of #ITSTHENERVE, he knew he had something different this time. It was a hot day, riding in the beating sun up some pretty intense climbs when, after four hours of riding, Daniel’s thighs began to seize—a cramp was starting to hit. He stopped his bike, gulped #ITSTHENERVE, and began pedaling again. Immediately, he began to feel relief. Within five minutes, Daniel was not only cramp free and keeping pace with this group, he reports that “my legs were working just fine, as if I was only into the first hour of my ride.” He doesn’t hold back anymore. He doesn’t soft-pedal up hills or take it easy on long stretches. Daniel is full-throttle, knowing he has the bike under control, and #ITSTHENERVE has his cramps under control.
Do you limit yourself in training or in the races you choose to compete in because you know cramps will slow you down, or even sideline you completely? If cramps weren’t an issue for you, what race would you sign up for? Tell us your story and join the conversation below. We look forward to hearing from you and keeping you up to date on the latest in neuromuscular performance.
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