Problem for athletes affected covering run (5)
I believe the answer is:
cramp
'problem for athletes' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'affected covering run' is the wordplay.
'affected' becomes 'camp' (camp can mean exaggerated or affected).
'covering' indicates putting letters inside.
'run' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'camp' enclosing 'r' is 'CRAMP'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cramp that I've seen before include "Muscular spasm, very painful" , "Form of muscular pain" , "To restrict; a muscle pain" , "Sudden painful tightening of a muscle" , "Contract" .)