Forced bathroom breaks while running

[Hmmm]

about 1/5 of my long (10mi +) runs involve an 'emergency' bathroom break. I get warning signs of
cramps, etc. and then I have about 5-10 minutes to find a suitable spot to explode. My diet is
healthy, and I do not eat large meals prior to running. I am curious how to handle this during an
upcoming marathon; no solid food for a couple of days, Imodium AD the night before....some of my
running partners in the past with this issue have sworn by the anti-squirt medicines prior to a race
or long run.

[jobin]

Hmmm <rfa007@excite.com> wrote:
> about 1/5 of my long (10mi +) runs involve an 'emergency' bathroom break. I get warning signs of
> cramps, etc. and then I have about 5-10 minutes to find a suitable spot to explode. My diet is
> healthy, and I

has this got to do with the time of the day when you go for your long runs?

isn't it possible to force yourself to go to the bathroom (using tea/coffee/etc) before you head out
for the long run?

> do not eat large meals prior to running. I am curious how to handle this during an upcoming
> marathon; no solid food for a couple of days,

two days - seems like a long time. but if you're comfortable, go for it.

food takes about 36 hours (for an average person) IIRC, to leave the system entirely. so, you could
still eat up until 36 hours before the race.

jobs

[Rivermist]

I don't know the answer to your problem. However, one thing is for sure, it is best not to try
anything new on race day. Any remedy you think might work should be tested on your training runs.

"Hmmm" <rfa007@excite.com> wrote in message news:558cedb3.0311060856.3336c108@posting.google.com...
> about 1/5 of my long (10mi +) runs involve an 'emergency' bathroom break. I get warning signs of
> cramps, etc. and then I have about 5-10 minutes to find a suitable spot to explode. My diet is
> healthy, and I do not eat large meals prior to running. I am curious how to handle this during an
> upcoming marathon; no solid food for a couple of days, Imodium AD the night before....some of my
> running partners in the past with this issue have sworn by the anti-squirt medicines prior to a
> race or long run.

[Lewis Campbell]

Since this only happens on about 1/5th of your runs, have you tried monitoring what you eat on that
and the preceeding day.

I remember, many years ago, having some of these problems and it was ONLY on the days that I had
eaten oatmeal, prior to running. Nowadays I normally run on an empty stomach.

--
Lewis.

http://tinyurl.com/r3r6 .........................

*******************************

"Hmmm" <rfa007@excite.com> wrote in message news:558cedb3.0311060856.3336c108@posting.google.com...
> about 1/5 of my long (10mi +) runs involve an 'emergency' bathroom break. I get warning signs of
> cramps, etc. and then I have about 5-10 minutes to find a suitable spot to explode. My diet is
> healthy, and I do not eat large meals prior to running. I am curious how to handle this during an
> upcoming marathon; no solid food for a couple of days, Imodium AD the night before....some of my
> running partners in the past with this issue have sworn by the anti-squirt medicines prior to a
> race or long run.

[Mick]

Got the same problem myself. It's a pain.... in the ass.

Here's a few things I've found - they work for me but hey, everyone's different.

I've never tried the medicines... I know I should but I always leave it too late before a race
before thinking about trying then on a long run and, like others say, you should never do anything
on race day that you haven't done before. Also, I guess it's important to try the medicines in the
same conditions - if they dehydrate you or have other side effects it may not be a problem on a cold
20m training run but it will certainly be a problem on an 80 degree marathon with 80% humidity.

I get round it by trying to get in the habit of crapping in the morning for a few weeks before the
race. Certainly don't go the evening before the race as come the morning you'll be empty, but half
way through the race that pounding motion will have got you.

Also remember it's the quality, not quantity of food. You don't need to fill your face with pasta
the night before until you are about to burst. Carb load properly and you'll only need a normal
sized portion the evening before.

Generally I've found what I eat the morning of the run doesn't affect me going to the bathroom. But
like I said, that's just me.

"Hmmm" <rfa007@excite.com> wrote in message news:558cedb3.0311060856.3336c108@posting.google.com...
> about 1/5 of my long (10mi +) runs involve an 'emergency' bathroom break. I get warning signs of
> cramps, etc. and then I have about 5-10 minutes to find a suitable spot to explode. My diet is
> healthy, and I do not eat large meals prior to running. I am curious how to handle this during an
> upcoming marathon; no solid food for a couple of days, Imodium AD the night before....some of my
> running partners in the past with this issue have sworn by the anti-squirt medicines prior to a
> race or long run.

[Doug Freese]

Hmmm wrote:
> about 1/5 of my long (10mi +) runs involve an 'emergency' bathroom break. I get warning signs of
> cramps, etc. and then I have about 5-10 minutes to find a suitable spot to explode. My diet is
> healthy, and I do not eat large meals prior to running.

You do not have to eat unhealthy or too much to get the *****. Some foods while healthy may not
agree with you. For instance some people do not do well with milk products on race day yet not be
labeled milk intolerant.

--
Doug Freese "Caveat Lector" dfreeseS@NOBShvc.rr.com

[Mjuric]

On 6 Nov 2003 08:56:49 -0800, rfa007@excite.com (Hmmm) wrote:

>about 1/5 of my long (10mi +) runs involve an 'emergency' bathroom break. I get warning signs of
>cramps, etc. and then I have about 5-10 minutes to find a suitable spot to explode. My diet is
>healthy, and I do not eat large meals prior to running. I am curious how to handle this during an
>upcoming marathon; no solid food for a couple of days, Imodium AD the night before....some of my
>running partners in the past with this issue have sworn by the anti-squirt medicines prior to a
>race or long run.

This is just for informational purposes as I doubt this is your problem. I recently read an
article, somewhere can't remember, stating that occasionally in situations were consitant
intestinal fortitude is a problem that it may be caused by the intestine slapping against
the diaphram or something like that. The intestine eventual becomes irritated and thsu the
problem. According to the article the problem can be cured simply by changing when you
breath. Apparently the intestine is closer to the diaphram on one side of the body than the
other. If you breath in when the close side foot hits the ground the intestine hits, if you
switch to the side that has more room, problem solved. Of course I've never tried this or
for that matter other than an oatmeal incident had much of a problem at all. But something
to keep in mind if all else fails.

~Matt

[Mjuric]

On Thu, 6 Nov 2003 14:56:25 -0600, "Lewis Campbell" <limeylew@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Since this only happens on about 1/5th of your runs, have you tried monitoring what you eat on that
>and the preceeding day.
>
>I remember, many years ago, having some of these problems and it was ONLY on the days that I had
>eaten oatmeal, prior to running. Nowadays I normally run on an empty stomach.
>
>--
>Lewis.

Ditto on the oatmeal.

~Matt
>
>http://tinyurl.com/r3r6 .........................
>
>*******************************
>
>"Hmmm" <rfa007@excite.com> wrote in message news:558cedb3.0311060856.3336c108@posting.google.com...
>> about 1/5 of my long (10mi +) runs involve an 'emergency' bathroom break. I get warning signs of
>> cramps, etc. and then I have about 5-10 minutes to find a suitable spot to explode. My diet is
>> healthy, and I do not eat large meals prior to running. I am curious how to handle this during an
>> upcoming marathon; no solid food for a couple of days, Imodium AD the night before....some of my
>> running partners in the past with this issue have sworn by the anti-squirt medicines prior to a
>> race or long run.

[Rick++]

Having run for 26 years, digestive system problems is one of the long term improvements. It will
probably get better after a 2,5,10 years or so.