No More Mid-Run Leg Tantrums

The Science (and Sorcery) Behind Cramp Spray That Actually Works

By Joan van Wyngaard
Brought to you by Vitadurance - Smart Recovery for Real Athletes

Let’s face it - long-distance running hurts. Not because you’re doing it wrong, but because you're doing it right. Unless you're one of the freakishly gifted elites gliding through 150 km weeks, chances are you've experienced that burning ache, that muscle twitch, or the dreaded mid-race lock-up. It’s not a weakness. It’s biology.

But what if there was a way to outsmart the pain - without reaching for prescription painkillers or NSAIDs that come with a long list of side effects? What if the solution lay in harnessing your body’s own healing powers?

Enter PEA: Your Secret Weapon Against Pain and Inflammation

PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) is not some new-age extract or banned stimulant. It’s a fatty acid amide your body already produces in response to stress, inflammation, or pain. That’s right - your body wants you to have this. Supplementing with PEA is like giving your internal pain modulating system a little backup team.

What makes PEA unique is its safety. Unlike NSAIDs or muscle relaxants, which are increasingly banned in endurance events around the world due to risks to your kidneys, liver, and gut, PEA has no negative impact on your organs, doesn't affect your heart rate, and isn’t on any banned substance lists. It works by increasing levels of anandamide - the “bliss molecule” - which helps dampen pain and inflammation, all while calming an overactive immune system.

Let’s be honest: some coaches still recommend painkillers before races. But ask any sports physician - that’s a dangerous path. NSAIDs mask the pain but don’t treat the cause, and worse, they reduce blood flow to the kidneys during times when your body is already stressed and dehydrated. That’s a recipe for renal damage.

PEA offers a smarter, endogenous approach. You’re not fighting your body - you’re helping it.

Your Vitadurance Race-Day Recovery Stack

Here’s how to structure your supplements for maximum performance and protection:

Daily: Joint Active

Protects your joints, tendons, and cartilage. Ideal for consistent long-term use to build resilience in the tissues most impacted by training load.

Nighttime: Alkaline Capsules OR Base powder

Hard training = lactic acid, low pH, and a stressed system. Your body fights acidity by leaching minerals from bones or depositing acid into joints - a silent contributor to overuse injuries. Our alkaline formula provides buffering minerals to neutralize acid buildup, protect bone density, and reduce nighttime cramping.

Race Day Protocol: The Winning Combo

Morning of the Race

• Take 1 x PEA capsule with breakfast to prime your pain defense system and support your immune response.

Every 2.5 - 3 Hours During the Race

• Take 1 x PEA capsule to stay ahead of inflammation, pain, and immune stress.

 Post-Race Recovery

• Final PEA dose in the evening to improve sleep quality, ease inflammation, and speed up recovery.

Cramp Spray: The Under-the-Tongue Magic

Every endurance athlete has felt it - that telltale twitch in your calf or quad. One wrong step and boom - you’re cramping, hobbling, and questioning your life choices.

That’s where Cramp Spray comes in. It’s sublingual (under the tongue), fast-acting, and scientifically formulated to stop cramping in its tracks and give you an extra energy boost when you need it most.

What’s Inside?

• Magnesium Glycerophosphate – helps prevent spasms and supports ATP (energy) production.
• Fulvic Acid – enhances nutrient absorption and cellular hydration.
• Sodium – replenishes electrolytes lost through sweat and maintains muscle function.
• Dextrose - some quick energy and helps with absorption.

When to Use: Spray 6 -10 times under the tongue when approaching steep climbs, high heat, or during signs of early fatigue. Bonus: it doesn’t upset your stomach like some salt tabs or drinks.

Why Athletes are Moving Beyond NSAIDs

More and more event organizers - especially internationally - are banning the use of NSAIDs on race day. The reason? These drugs don’t belong in endurance events. They increase the risk of kidney damage, ulcers, and even cardiac events when used under physical stress.

Pain is your body’s way of communicating. Muting it with medication can be dangerous - especially when you're pushing your limits.

Smarter Supplementation, Better Performance

With PEA, Joint Active, Alkaline Capsules, and Cramp Spray, you’re not guessing - you’re using science-backed solutions built around how the human body actually responds to pain, stress, and fatigue.

Whether you’re chasing a PB or just trying to finish strong, Vitadurance gives you the edge - safely, naturally, and effectively.