I'd only ridden about 3 times this year, and hadn't been able to ride for nearly 3 weeks due to work, so I was a bit worried, but
I started the Naejangsan Gran Fondo with the mindset of taking it easy.
But of course, as I rode I got swept up in the atmosphere and started going too hard.
After the 60km mark, I got emergency treatment here and there with a marshal's pain-relief patch for cramping in the front of my thighs, but
after the 3rd aid station, maybe around the 90km mark? Both fronts of my thighs were burning and I could actually see the muscles knotting up and rippling,
I couldn't even bend my knee, and I was going through pain I'd never experienced in my life. This was the first time I couldn't breathe properly from cramping,
it was a first. About 5-6 minutes went by, I think? A passing angel gave me a Crampfix (first time hearing of it), and the moment I took it,
the cramp released. I had no idea something like this even existed lol. I was so amazed I kept the wrapper after eating it.
After that the muscle cramps recurred a few more times and I sat down on the roadside 3-4 times, but I rode very carefully after that, so I didn't have
any major pain like at the 90km mark, and I was able to finish the ride safely.
You must have been struggling too, so with my limited writing skills, I wanted to write a few words to thank the angel who shared their Crampfix with me.
Thank you so much~!! Thanks to you I was able to finish. Starting from the next race, I'm going to carry some myself and
share it with anyone else who's struggling. haha
