W7 R1 : Jo Whiley needs to wind her watch up.

[Pm3eak]

Done.

That about sums it up. Time dragged over last five minutes and was looking for an excuse to stop...which didn't come, thankfully.

Major tummy malfunction over last few days has put me further behind schedule....plus the snow break.

I can't say I enjoyed this: stomach felt like the Burco Boiler I used to mash up my chickens' food in...has done for several days.

Serious question: anyone else on here got IBS related exercise problems?: Not a whinge- had it too long for that, used to it: just interested to see (and hoping) whether running has helped fellow sufferers. It seemed to be manageable while swimming, my principal sport, and during rugby, cycling, squash, golf, weights, gym etc.... but really knocks my running. Feels like I am running with a children's' toy wigwam erected in my innards. I'm sure I can't be alone and am hopeful that this programme will help ( a major reason for beginning it).

Sluggish today: 3.5 km covered in the 25 minutes.

The good news is that Karen, my wife, is flying through the programme with (annoying) ease. I might have to start putting lumps of lead in her running kit; trouble is, I can't catch her to do it.

[Anthie Graduate]

I "liked" not because it was hard for you but because you managed to make fun of it in the end. For irritated Bowel Syndrom, have you got a special diet? I have a thyroid dysfunction, probaby autoimmune and so quite a lot of trouble for the past couple of years with my guts (how gory can this get!!). I'm off gluten following the thyroid forum recommendations and it's a bit better. But when I started the programme and went running a couple of hours after lunch (not too big), often what I call the "alien" in my stomach woke up making it hard to breathe deeply. I can't really describe the sensation, not quite the equivalent to your wigwam, but more like an acid brick... So now I only run after a light dry snack (rice, gluten free biscuits, toast, almonds...), not even fruit before (I keep them for after; last time I ate a banana before a run, the banana ran along me all the time!). And the alien keeps quiet (yes, it can be very noisy!). But I suppose it's more complicated with IBS. I hope you'll feel better for your next runs.

[Pm3eak Graduate in reply to Anthie]

Thank you for the reply Anthie. I do have a diet but one designed mainly from my experience/ lessons learned and those of fellow sufferers/ forums etc. In simple terms, I eat no bread except rye and occasional spelt...and even then hardly any. I don't eat pasta, cake or biscuits, or drink more than the occasional beer or wine. Please don't think me virtuous as I eat a lot of meat, cheese, fish, game and am partial to good cider...very partial

I grow a lot of veg, fruit etc. so we obviously eat that. I believe that apples and pears are God's ultimate creation...especially when fermented; my wife says I am addicted to fruit.

I cannot run, swim or do heavy exercise on anything but an empty stomach...never have been able to. Back when Nelson was a lad I played rugby at a reasonable level and was often physically sick before games...fine once underway. My stomach seems to over react to everything, which I think is the principal problem.

If I stick to that diet I am fine-relatively; I found that driving long distances on today's roads increased problems -presumably because of stress levels?-and I admit to being much better since I retired early and retreated to my little, rural hovel here on Poverty Bank, to write that best-seller; might even start it one of these days.

Thank you for sharing your experience Anthie: Merry Christmas to you.

[Anthie Graduate in reply to Pm3eak]

You do have an extremely healthy diet, and it's so great to be able to eat what you have in your garden. I can't do without dairy products (I love cheese), or meat and as for pastry, I'm buying organic gluten free biscuits with almonds and bucwheat or bread (I'm lucky as one the chefs where I live bake special gluten free breads with different flours like chestnut, rice and buckwheat). I love great food and it's hard not to be able to eat nice crusty bread (I live in France...) but I feel better off, so, I try to be reasonable. If your problem is increased by stress, then you may try relaxation and sophrology (if you haven't yet ;-).

Merry Christmas too and hope your next runs will be gentler on you!

[Lordi Graduate]

I suffered with colitis for a few years and no amount of food sensitivity assessment could identify any culprit(s). Then had acute appendicitis ( after having had a longterm grumbling appendix) and offending organ was swiftly plucked out - result - totally cured (8 years and counting). There is some anecdotal evidence that this works for some bowel disorders ( inflammed appendix weeping into digestive system?). Could also be a coincidence...I'm not wishing appendicitis on anyone(!) but if it does happen to you who knows? Appendectomy is not an elective operation of course as its a surgical procedure but you may or may not "be lucky" in that regard. I'm no expert, just reporting my own experience and note that many bowel disorders are similar ( not withstanding that food sensitivity does cause many of them).

As we are in that region of the human anatomy it might be worth looking up "runners' trots" and articles about bowel urgency caused by running etc.. which seems to be quite a common issue with runners.

[Pm3eak Graduate in reply to Lordi]

Thank you for this reply Lordi: very interesting. I have been investigated umpteen times without any positive diagnosis forthcoming. I've written it off as something I live with and manage. This flair up is my own fault really as it possibly ( ah, come on, be honest...definitely) arose as a result of 60 th birthday celebrations and associated excesses.

I really do know about exercise induced 'urgency'. In 1983 I was taken ill during a solo Land's End to J.O.G. bike ride: let us just say that I know pretty much every 'stopping place' between Taunton and Bristol. I never want to go through that again: it still haunts my dreams.

Merry Christmas to you.