I had serious cramping a mile and a half into a frigid marathon, making it the only one I had to quit. Hours later after warming up, I was fine. Many people don't remember that muscles are the best heat source for the body, and to generate heat, they contract. Shivering is an example of repeated contractions, but increased tone alone can achieve the same effect. Neither bode well for the relaxed muscles you need to plow into sub-optimal temperatures in an athletic contest. Add nerves to that, and you had a perfect storm for cramping. You may never get your money back on the day of a race for bad weather, but you'll always get another chance to run more comfortably. Better luck next time!
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