when i run before a bag /pads /sparring session i tend to get cramps in my calves towards the end of my session , not really anywhere else just my calves . The last mile of my run is one constant hill so i can see why its my calves because im usin them (obviously) but i stretch before i run and again before i train ....... any ideas ....

come on MarkL where are ya lol

i dont think stretching the muscle before exercise (while its cold)is supposed to be any good? just range of movement exercises/walking etc, then do your deep stretching afterwards.

sorry , just to clarify ... i warm up the legs before i stretch to run , i never stretch cold ... good point though hands up , i should have explained better lol

Stretching cold is fine in my understanding and in my exp[erience has helped me lots.

If you are performance training then you generally don't want to stretch out certain 'performance' type muscles. Stretching makes the muscle longer and more relaxed-thats a great thing at the right time but if you can stretch at other times then when you do performance traiing you can leave the muscle sharp and prime and ready to explode.

Other than that stretching cold is harder and hurts more and you get less out of it but its all good still-as I understand it.

I would look at mineral intake and hydration... Is it one of those? I don't know but I htink thats a good direction to investigate.

.5oz per lbs body weight daily (minimum-this isn't taking into acount exercise or hot days and hard work etc)
Add a pinch of unrefined, unprocessed sea salt per liter

Do that for a couple weeks and see if you still get the cramps would a test I would be interested in hearing the results on.

Cheers Mark .. Im currently dieting (although this happens whether im dieting or not) so my water intake is good , however the pinch of salt is a good idea , ive heard it somewhere before and i must admit my salt intake is probably very low .

without adding salt myself what foods can keep my salt intake up

just looking at foods with a high salt content and it pretty much makes up my diet lol

unprocessed SEA salt :)

with water is key

Cheers "again" Mark lol