OT a rather indelicate question for the joggers - YouLookFab Forum

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OT a rather indelicate question for the joggers

anne

Veteran

Angie show no compunction about deleting this if nec...

I know many of you like me, enjoy jogging (or at least do it!)

The only time I get to jog regularly is in the morning, before breakfast, for both family and over the summer, weather reasons.

Towards the end of my run I am often troubled by the need to, er, empty my bowels, something that doesn't usually happen until after breakfast. And I have to stop and walk for a bit, pretty often.

I did a 5km race last month and the same thing happened (it had never happened in a rave before). Just as I was hoping to speed into the finish line, I had to walk quite a bit of the last km. It is frustrating to have this happen when my fitness and legs are quite capable of running.

Any one brave enough to suggest a solution?

General

17 replies

Latest reply was from yublocka

Sihaya

Veteran

hi Anne - i can see why that might happen. Doesn't happen to me because I go ahead of the run. Sometimes I delay the start of my run because if at all possible, I will work extra hard to be done before starting. So the things I might try: sit there extra long, drink some warm tea (this often really helps to move things along so to speak). This can mean that my run is 10 mins shorter but at least I'm doing it in comfort. Sorry I don't have any more concrete suggestions.

christie

Anne,

I think they're called "runners trots." :-p I used to race and do triathlons, I know exactly this problem. Unless you are running a long race, you probably don't need to eat much before the race. That will help. Drink some coffee early (coffee also helps performance) and try to clear your stomach before the race.

My mom does several marathons a year, and she sometimes still suffers from this and the need to stop halfway through. I don't know that there is a good solution other than not eating or not running.

Christie

anne

Veteran

Thanks Sihaya
Hi Christie, I have heard of that expression!

I don't usually eat anything before I jog! i get out of bed and am out the door in 10 minutes

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Yep, I get this a LOT. I don't eat prior to a run (anything from a 10K or shorter distance), I just drink water and coffee, and hello, nature takes over.
It's very common, so don't worry. If these tips don't help, check out some running forums (coolrunning.com and nikeplus.com) for other suggestions.

Ele

(website)

Ha, I have had this problem. Not so much these days as I tend to run later in the day, but in the past. I guess there is a reason why exercise is a recommended treatment for constipation!

Anne, why don't you try starting your day with a tall glass of hot (from the kettle) water, maybe with some lemon? Have it first thing, and it will help hydrate you and get things moving before your run. Also it tastes yummy and is less jarring than cold water in the morning

Lee Hovey

I would also suggest adding some extra fiber to your diet, and maybe trying some Metamucil at night. This might help get your bowls moving more overnight so that you can do your business first thing in the morning before your run.

Rose

Anne- I have been a long distance runner for all my adult life (5k to marathon + distance races)-- trust me this is common. In fact many running magazines, web sites, blogs, etc have info on this so try searching and you will find you are not alone. It always comes up in discussion with running groups too just because it is so common. Through extensive personal experience and also from tons of discussion with many runners over the past 15 years I argue that the bottom line is that you have to figure out what works for you and stick to it. Everyone is different and so what works for one person may not work for you. Before I ran the Boston Marathon I pretty much pursued this like a science, keeping track of what I ate/drank the night before and recording the "response" on the next day's run. I figured out a system that works for me to avoid this problem through this kind of investigation, and I'd say most of my serious runner friends have done the same, and all of our "systems" differ slightly. Hope this helps!!

stringy

Veteran

Oh gee - I jog a bit during winter and always had this issue after a run. But I wasn't running very far or fast (I'm an absolute noob at exercise). So I guess if I get better I've got this to look forward to? Oh well. Forewarned is forearmed, I suppose

anne

Veteran

Stringy - this is not universal - I have a jogging friend who has run for years and trained for a half marathon and this has never happened to her! But it does seem from everyone's responses that it is common!

I was going to try Ele and Sihaya's suggestion this morning (but DD2 woke up early, when I did, so just had a walk with her instead of a run) and also follow Rosemerin's example and start tracking it.

I will check out some runners forums on this topic (have done so in the past, but not for few years)
Thanks for all the response!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I don't run so I can't add any value to this thread, but it made for a good read :0)

stringy

Veteran

It's certainly been educational

chellebrate

Running is great to get things moving isn't it?! If I run in the morning, I don't eat first. When I run in the afternoon, I've already gone to avoid that happening. I hope you find a solution.

Rosie

Veteran

I am going to try this, too! I recently saw a tutorial on this that was terrific - thanks for sharing your fabulous results. What a way to save money and update style at the same time, and have fun while doing it!

Rosie

Veteran

OOPS - I totally posted in the wrong thread window...sorry! That was about homemade skinny jeans! A "tutorial" on this topic would indeed be enlightening, though.

Do you have enough time to have a shot of espresso and see if you can go before your run as people have mentioned? Are you able to plan your route so that there might be a bathroom facility (or coffee shop) open on the way? Or, can you do a loop that passes your house once or twice?

Figuring out how to get enough nutrition/hydration when you don't want to have to use the facilities is hard.

Amy

(website)

Running always makes me have to go to the bathroom too! lol Sometimes walking fast or for a long time (longer than 30 minutes) does it too. No other workout does it besides running or walking.

For those who mentioned drinking coffee beforehand, I recently read an article that advised AGAINST drinking coffee or caffeine in general before running because it is believed that's what has contributed to the deaths of marathon runners (those who have just dropped dead in the middle of a marathon).

Rosie

Veteran

Amy, that happened to a couple people running the half in San Jose recently. SO terrible.

I think of course the key is to make sure to hydrate really well in addition! I haven't read the studies, so maybe there is something else to it, though, but I'm guessing that the amount of caffeine it would take to be deadly would be much more than that in a large shot of espresso or small cup of coffee. Also, I think a lot of people drink all those crap energy drinks with who knows what in them!

When it comes to nutrition, we are always getting conflicting information. It's frustrating! Drink caffeine before a workout, don't drink caffeine!

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

It's all about hydration - the hotter it is and the longer you run, the more you need!

For example, every year in the Sydney city2surf a number of people collapse and go to hospital with rhabdomylosis due to overexertion and poor hydration. Not good!