RUNNERS~ cramps question!

I started really seriously running about a month ago ( i try to run three times a week for 30 minutes each time). Generally i do this at the gym (workout as follows)

1 minute low- 3.5 mph 1 minute high- 5.0 mph 1 minute low- 3.5 mph 1 minute high- 5.0 mph 1 minute low- 3.7 mph 1 minute high- 5.5 mph 1 minute low- 4.0 mph 1 minute high- 5.5 mph 1 minute low- 4.0 mph 1 minute high- 5.5 mph 1 minute low- 4.0 mph 1 minute high- 6.0 mph 1 minute low- 4.0 mph 1 minute high- 6.0 mph 1 minute low- 4.0 mph 1 minute high- 6.0 mph 1 minute low- 4.0 mph 1 minute high- 6.0 mph 1 minute low- 4.0 mph 1 minute high- 6.0 mph 30 seconds low- 4.0 mph 1 minute, 30 seconds high- 6.0 mph 30 seconds low- 4.0 mph 1 minute, 30 seconds high- 6.0 mph 30 seconds low- 4.0 mph 1 minute, 30 seconds high- 6.0 mph 30 seconds low- 4.0 mph 1 minute, 30 seconds high- 6.5 mph 30 seconds low- 3.7 mph 1 minute, 30 seconds high- 7 mph

yeah its kind of complicated o.o

but the last few times i've gone, i keep getting this awful cramp in my left calf (kinda... but more to the side/front of the left leg.. so calf/shin?). It's only in my LEFT leg. I know that my left leg has always been weaker (it always starts getting tired faster when I run) but I've never gotten cramps this bad before. This morning when I was running, I was only able to run for 12 minutes before it hurt so bad I had to give up.

I'm thinking maybe it's because I generally don't stretch before I run? Although I do stretch afterwards : downward dog, lunges, etc. or maybe I dont drink enough water?

any suggestions? ><;

It sounds like you're not replenishing enough potassium during and after you work out. Try eating a banana as part of your pre-workout snack. Other good sources of dietary potassium are potatoes, tomatoes, avocados, apricots, soybeans and broccoli, though you can find it in a lot of things.

Stretching is also vital, so do make sure you stretch both pre and post-workout not only to prevent cramps but injury in general.

It's very common with new runners to have shin splints - sounds like that's what you've got. It's a result of an inbalance between the strenght of the muscles in the back of your calf vs. the front (yes there are muscles on the front of your calf!) Ice the shin a few times a day, especially after exercising and consider taking a few days off running and use the bike instead.

You can strengthen the muscles by putting a small weight on your toe and doing toe lifts. Also, stand on a bosu ball on only one leg for about 3-4 minutes per leg (you'll fall over a few times).

That used to happen to me when I first started running.  It was typically during the middle of the night when I would stretch my body as I was turning to a new position to sleep, I would get a Charlie Horse!  OMG, it hurt so bad. Then, I started eating a banana a day, and sure enough, no more Charlie Horses to this day. I also stretched first too before each work out. Good luck to you!

I am a big time runner and I eat a ton of fruit and I drink a ton of water. I don't get cramps anymore like I used to! I only stretch after the workout because if you do beforehand it doesn't do anything because you're not warm. Atleast that is what I was taught.