dont start cutting back on fluids if the goal is to prevent a mid-course potty break. the pee thing is something that your body does eventually get used to.

if I can use my wife as an example, she's going to kill me...

this woman has the world's smallest bladder, and while most of the time she's making frequent stops. she's been able to train herself either to hold it during long runs, or to get it all out before she starts running.

she did say that she had some embarassing moments when she first started training. but since she and I have been running together, I'm usually the one that will have the problem first(which has happened twice). but that's usually because I tried some new power shake or something that was really just "colon-blow" disguised as something tasty.

number two is what you really have to watch out for. that is something that I believe can sneak up on anybody, but can be prevented by listening to your body and waiting for nature to get things moving before running. I've found that if my body is inclined to make a stop, it's going to happen in that first mile.

hope that helps.

Whatever you do, don't drink *less...* if your urine is more concentrated, you'll feel the urge much more strongly! Not to mention it increases the risk of fun things like UTI's from all the contact with wet Lycra. Usually it helps if you try to start out with balanced hydration - which means you're not catching up from overnight, so you need to be up and drinking early on race morning until your body sort of settles into whatever is your normal daytime rhythm. Then hit the potty before the race starts and you should be fine. Also, I'd stay away from stuff like orange juice - acidity won't help.

Oh and the Imodium idea works brilliantly - very popular at the Boston Marathon this past year. And of course there's the triathlete's #1 rule - never eat, use or wear anything on race day that you haven't eaten / used / worn in training.