Was on track for near 10k attempt but toilet need stopped play - frustrated.

[Tati]

Ok. Looking on the positive side, I ran further tonight than I ever had before. So that's clearly good. I did a total of 8k, with a short walk close to the very end because of the above mentioned reason. I was inspired by a post by somebody who said a sports science bod told them if you could run 6k you could run a half marathon, and by Malcy and other people doing distances much longer than they had attempted before, so I vaguely had the idea I was going to take it easy and see if I could get in the region of 10k. My previous longest distance is 6.8k or something.

The very, very annoying and extremely frustrating part was, as my title indicates, I knew I could have just carried on going and would have done about 9k or possibly more if I varied the route by the time I got close to home to do my warm down walk. I'll give a too much information alert now for the squeamish but the reason I had to stop was I had a very pressing need for a poo, which could only be held in check by stopping to walk and clenching like crazy..... (we need an embarrassed emoticon here, or maybe not, as it's something we've all gotta do!).

I was really stupid, because this sensation did not arrive out of nowhere. It had been building up for a few km and I did actually run past a pub not long before I had to stop, but at that time it wasn't quite so desperate. My thinking was a) if I stop now I'll break the rhythm and b) I'm not in the best part of town, it's getting dark and I'm not feeling confident about going into an unknown place as a woman on my own in shorts and top and chancing the toilet facilities. Bad decision in retrospect, but there we go.

In all seriousness, I remember reading a blog by someone who made it to graduation but said she would have to stop running because every time she went out she had peristalsis gone mad and needed to poo. This is the first time this has happened to me in quite such an extreme way but it does make me wonder how people cope on longer runs. As I said it was late (I left the house at 9pm and this must have been about 9.45-50) and so I'd had dinner a few hours earlier. How do other people manage their food and bodily functions balance? I don't know if I've ever got it entirely right. As I often run quite late at night, I have to have eaten, and try to have at least two hours or more between dinner and going out, and don't eat too much. Tonight there was about nearly a three-hour gap.

Hey ho. The good thing is I know that 10k is within my grasp, because my legs were absolutely fine and would have seen me through that distance. And it was a lovely night.

[TryingSoHard Graduate]

I remember the post you're talking about - as I was so completely terrified that something like that might happen to me. To make it worse, I was speaking to a friend who runs a lot and does very long distances, and she said it is a regular and normal occurence with her - she blames gravity!

She copes with it by making sure she always has tissues with her (and a plastic bag to put them in afterwards) and runs out of town along lanes with plenty of bushes. Just the very thought is almost enough to make me stop running.

[OldNed Graduate]

It is indeed a regular issue; in fact it happened to me this very morning. Running in the park had to be cut short before I was caught short. I do make sure I always go out with tissues/paper in case I have to make like a bear in the woods, which has happened several times. It is gravity and the pounding of running whuch shakes everything loose and downwards! Not sure what the answer is but I do plan routes carefully depending on what is happening downstairs.

[alcopop Graduate]

It is one of those things that just kind of creeps up on you. I can offer no easy way to avoid it, some people are regular some are random. Look at us talking about poo

Still, looks like yopu are on target to reach your 10k and now you have added motivation, finninsh the run quick before your bowels start hinting.

Hope you find a solution

[swanscot Graduate]

I, too, suffer with the occasional urgent need to stop for a toilet break and it's not predictable when it will strike. I always go to the toilet to empty my bowel before starting off, but still sometimes suffer with an urgent need to go when out.

I've read that sometimes it can get better as our body gets used to running, but mine got worse. When I started out running I was fine and I had no problems at all when I first worked my way from 5 km to 10km. Then I had a enforced break due to injury and since returning it has been a problem - sometimes. I run in rural locations and sometimes have to dive in the woods after 45 minutes onwards. Other times I can run for about 1.5 hours with no problem.

I've found it is particularly a problem when doing a long, trail run, because I carry water, maps, and windshirt in a belt bag, which aggravates my stomach. When I return to running following my current injury I'm going to try running with a small rucksack instead - although I've heard that for some people even the rucksack waist belt can be a problem.

I usually run in the morning and usually run short runs before eating. Occasionally I've still suffered when running 'on empty'. For my longer trail runs, I feel I should eat something, so usually have a small bowl of cereal about 2-3 hours before running.

I do not suffer with any GI problems at all when not running, however I've read that intolerance to certain foods may only cause problems when our bodies are under stress. At the moment I'm trying a lactose-free diet, so when I get the all-clear from the physio to run again, it will be interesting to see if this 'fixes' the problem. If not, I may try eliminating other foods from my diet.

From what I've read on the subject I think it will be a case of trail and error to find the best way to manage the problem.

[Tati Graduate]

Thanks everyone for the replies. It's nice to know I'm not alone. Swanscot, hope your injury gets better. That's one of the drawbacks of city running: no private bushes to dive into!