{"id":719,"date":"2012-09-25T08:00:14","date_gmt":"2012-09-25T12:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/elbowglitter.com\/blog\/?p=719"},"modified":"2016-04-04T10:45:15","modified_gmt":"2016-04-04T14:45:15","slug":"weird-running-tip-post-run-headache-cure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/elbowglitter.com\/blog\/2012\/09\/25\/weird-running-tip-post-run-headache-cure\/","title":{"rendered":"Weird Running Tip – Post Run Headache Cure"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Headache<\/a>You know, there are a lot of weird running tips out there.\u00a0 Tips that work.<\/p>\n

Like if you’re having trouble getting your KT Tape to stick (though this is less of an issue with the new, awesome KT Tape Pro), you can use a hair dryer to heat up the tape after applying.\u00a0 It definitely enhances the staying power.<\/p>\n

But this tip isn’t about tape.\u00a0 It’s about headaches.<\/p>\n

A few years ago, I was getting crushing headaches after running.\u00a0 Not immediately, but later in the afternoon on the days of a long run.\u00a0 I thought it might be dehydration, but no matter how much water I consumed, nothing helped.\u00a0 My blood pressure was fine, so no concerns there.\u00a0 Advil didn’t really kick it either.<\/p>\n

Then one day, after my run, I chowed down on some salty pretzels.\u00a0 I don’t typically keep pretzels in the house because they are one of those things where in my brain, every bag is a single serving, even the giant party-size bags.\u00a0 I can’t keep my hands off of them.\u00a0 But for whatever reason, this day I had pretzels and they seemed like an awesome post run snack.<\/p>\n

And guess what?\u00a0 No headache!<\/p>\n

So I started doing some research.\u00a0 Could it be sodium, or in broader terms, electrolytes?\u00a0 I do sweat a ton, and I’m a salty sweater, so it wouldn’t be a surprise.<\/p>\n

(Interesting fact – discounting the pretzels, I eat a relatively low sodium diet, so salty sweating doesn’t only happen to people who pound down the salt.)<\/p>\n

Ultimately, I picked up some SaltStick Caps<\/a> in the running store.\u00a0 Contrary to their name, they have potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium in them.\u00a0 Two caps after a run? No more headache!\u00a0 (No sponsorship here, just a product I use.)\u00a0\u00a0 And no additional calories, unlike those tasty pretzels.<\/p>\n

I’ve discovered that I can also thwart the headache by adding salt to my post-run meal, something I never do.\u00a0 Only while eating a delicious post-run breakfast will you find me reaching for the salt shaker.\u00a0 But it helps.<\/p>\n

Now, I’m not a scientist, I’m not a dietitian, and I’m certainly not a doctor.\u00a0 But if, like me, you find yourself with post-run headaches, maybe reach for the salt shaker just this once and see if it helps.<\/p>\n

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