ummm, I have this problem....
2334
Member
2427 days
Tribro posted 3 years ago.
no problem with post, i'm sure many of us have experienced something like you've descibed. I don't have any personal advice I can share but here are a few things I found around the web (whether they all relate to your situation I'm not sure):
Runner's Trot
http://www.time-to-run.com/doctor/runnerstrots.htm
Intestinal concerns: certain foods and exercise patterns can be causing unwanted pit stops - Nutrition
(seems more common than you may have thought)
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0675/is_3_20/ai_86230654
This seems to be the most common issue. Both articles describe it and some preventitive steps you can take.
39
Member
1496 days
pace_john posted 3 years ago.
I can completely sympathesize. I have the same problem. I pretty much always run at night so I have the added bonus of having eaten 3 times during the day which only compounds the problem. Here is what I have done. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. After dinner, I wait usually about an hour before I run. Often, I will drink a cup of coffee with dinner to get things purposely moving. After going #2, I will go run. This usually works, but not always. Another thing I have found that contributes to making me have to go #2 is drinking too much water before a run. I will stop drinking at least 1 hour before a run, giving my body time to process the fluid I have taken in. This seems to help. When all else fails (can't go before running), I will run a loop that has several restrooms along the way. I've just sort of assumed it is part of the deal.
John
“A man who says it can’t be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it.”
478
Member
1475 days
kona_expat posted 3 years ago.
This is what it boils down to.
I find it helpful if I can work out at the same time of the day each day.
Generally speaking, if you are going to eat before running, it should be 2+ hours before you begin your run. If you are going to eat something that close to running, it should not have a high fiber content.
If you are running in the evening, you'd be better off downing 16 oz. or so of Gatorade about 1 hour before you go, or eat 2 hours prior (even a snack is OK if you're hungry), and then eating your dinner AFTER you run.
If you can't schedule things like this, well then your body gets confused and moves along whenever it feels like it.
But I have found that if I stop eating within 2 hours of a run that I'm usually fine. I may still need to pee, but that's usually no big deal wherever I am.
If you're within an hour of beginning a run and you feel famished but are worried about eating so close to beginning, then you are better off ingesting liquid or semi-solid calories (like gels). I personally can down 12 oz. of Mountain Dew right before a run (15 min.) without problem. But I will tell you that if I've eaten pizza even 3 hours before a run, it is not a good thing. Regardless of bathroom issues, you just won't feel and run as well if you haven't processed your last meal.
Some people's guts are so sensitive that they stop eating within 3 hours of a run. Or they run first thing in the morning prior to eating. Even if you do this, it's best to have some calories in you, so that's where the liquid/semi-solid comes in.
Just as you train yourself to run longer and longer, you can "train" your gut to get used to eating closer to a run. Some people I know can slam a cheeseburger and then go running in 1/2 hour, but that ain't me!
Right now I run in the middle of the day, and it's always better if I do the liquid calories thing and then eat lunch AFTER I run, even if it's 2-3PM already (don't worry I'm still hungry for dinner by 6PM).
Note that for race situations, most people go 3 hours before as their last meal. Why? Nerves. No matter how much of an iron gut you think you have, on a race day it will be a little more nervous, so you don't want to risk eating too close to the race start, plus you want to get that food moved through and into your muscles (or out the door as the case may be) so you are racing nice and light.
Experiment on yourself, take notes and good luck!
103
Member
1565 days
TIM G posted 3 years ago.
Great advice and info from all. I'm so glad I am not the only one and not considered a freak. I will experiment around with what was posted. I have a 10 mile run race this Sunday and I'm worried about this problem. I didn't use to have this problem, I can't figure it out. I will add that I feel bloated in my stomach when I run too, I guess this is normal for some runners too?
but don't want to be crude.
For some reason the past couple of months I have to go to the bathroon in the middle of my run, sorry but, #2. I am being serious, it's a real problem because we all know bathrooms are not always there during training runs and races.
I have paid attention to my diet, when I eat, what I eat, and it's getting real frustrating thinking about it everytime I run. It's sooo not cool to hit the bushes for #2....#1, that's OK.
Any suggestions?
Sorry if this seems weird, but I bet others can relate. It seems like running has become a laxative for me????????