Oh dear, my mind, lungs and legs may be willing but my bowels are weak.
A few weeks ago I had my first running "accident". I now seem incapable of running without needing an emergency pit stop, even if I have evacuated before heading out. Last week I had to dive into the woods and emerged with my legs the worse for a bramble and nettle attack. I have also dashed into a pub and had to stop and walk when no facilities or undergrowth are available. I have not changed my diet or regular meds. It happens regardless of whether I ate one or several hours before.
Do I resign myself to taking a precautionary Imodium half an hour before every run? Does anyone else suffer this bad? Anything else I can do? It is becoming a real distraction on every run, wondering "when" rather than "if".
Written by
Langley-Loper
Half Marathon
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I would suggest going light on the fibre the day before. And yes, for race day I would go with immodium for peace of mind. I wouldn't advise it as a regular (hah! no pun intended) measure, but you don't want that worry during a race (plus in my experience mid race toilet facilities range from grim to sparse to non existent.)
Yes, I'm afraid it's very common The movement of running tends to stimulate the movement of bowels. I tend to train where I can find a loo, avoid fibre, beer, and chilli in the couple of days leading up to a race, and have Imodium the night before and again in the morning!
How long has it been this bad? I tend to find it worse for a period of 3-4 weeks in a build-up period, and then it gets much better. Will there be toilets available en route? Otherwise, I hear that lots of people take Immodium. I wouldn't, but I'm in a good bowel period right now.
I've had this periodically too which I can't attribute to any change in diet etc. Drinking coffee and having a small snack half an hour or so before a run usually 'moves things along' so I can 'go' pre-run. If not, I've planned runs where I make a toilet stop after a couple of miles.
Morning, noon, afternoon or evening can all be messy for me. Early mornings are worst even if I manage a post breakfast evacuation. I can't face running without a small breakfast inside me as my migraine drugs make me so drowsy first thing. I need some food and a mint tea to get me going!
I'd take the Imodium. Will always remember a race last year where one poor lady had an accident and it was very visible to all. I think I would have taken my top off and tied it round my waist. I did feel for her we were miles from the finish line so she had no choice but to keep going.
I think I'd squat by the roadside. On the bright side, completing Rignold 's squatz exercise has enabled me to adopt the correct position with ease to miss my shoes ☺
😱😬. I always eat porridge when I am going running Wait an hour or So 😙then go out running. I stick to the same regime. If you find a fuel that suits you, stick with 😃 beware of milk! I make my porridge with water 🙂
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The movement of running tends to stimulate the movement of bowels. I tend to train where I can find a loo, avoid fibre, beer, and chilli in the couple of days leading up to a race, and have Imodium the night before and again in the morning! 
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