I told you...good, bad and ugly. I'm giving you all of it.
Parents who keep their children on a schedule often say things like, "We'll be a little late, (insert child's name) is napping at that time."
Runners on a pooping schedule say things like, "I can't do my run yet...I haven't had my poop yet."
I, like many other runners, fear pooping in my pants on a long run or worse-race day. Once I hit 12 miles my stomach is not a happy camper and after each 1/2 marathon I've done I have suffered from terrible stomach pains the day of and (usually) 2 days following the race.
My poop is dictating my running schedule!
I've learned to be flexible with my runs. I'll get up on a Saturday morning at 5:30 hoping to be on the road by 6:15 running then still sitting around my house at 7:00 doing random stuff to waste time until I poop. I have yet to give in and just go run without pooping, but I may have to-I fear that day.
I am not one of those people who has to eat several hours before a run or I will cramp up/can't run. I can eat Thanksgiving dinner and hit the pavement 20 minutes later-food doesn't affect me. Some runners plan what they will eat the night before a long run so they know they will poop before running. Some people will drink coffee to get things going. Unfortunately, the flip side to eating whatever I want means I don't have a go to plan to fix my pooping my pants fear. I have also read about people who poop before a run then take anti-diarrhea medicine to avoid having to poop during a race/long run. I haven't tried this, but I'm tempted....it's probably not healthy, but the embarrassment of pooping my pants might kill me before popping some anti-diarrhea meds ha ha!
Everybody Poops....And Talks About It!
As I was reading a blog about this very topic you can see I'm not the only one talking about this. It's quite the hot topic and people aren't embarrassed to tell all (probably the safety of being behind their computer screen helps people speak so candidly) ha ha. Here are some replies I read:
"Unfortunately, I do not have bowels that run like clockwork like some people. Nor are there foods that I can depend on to "clean it out". I'm not irregular, per say, I go plenty (tmi yet??) -- but my body just does at it pleases, when it pleases, and follows no schedule."
"I will say I worry much more about the prospect of a #2 during a marathon than actually being able to finish the marathon itself. The best advice I feel is to figure out your body's time clock and then just get up earlier and do your business naturally before leaving for the race. You DO NOT want to be the one pooping in your shorts!"
"This is a fantastic subject, haha. I always just get up at least a few hours before race time and have a small cup of coffee. I might have half a bagel or yogurt as well, but try and keep the food to a minimum. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I also do some light up and down jumping or jump rope. It can help!"
"I love this topic, it made me laugh! I have had so many conversations over the years with fellow runners about pooping before (or during) a race. I was extremely worried about having an episode during my first marathon but it never turned out to be an issue thank goodness!
I am a coffee drinker so that usually does the trick in the AM. I just make sure to get up early enough to drink it along with my breakfast and let it do its thing and still have time for the belly to settle before the race. and I am extremely superstitious about my meal the night before a marathon. I eat the same thing before every marathon just because it worked the first time and I go with it."
Hopefully some of these tips will help you or at least make you laugh!
I found this amazingly funny story about very topic....check it out Everyone Poops!
So what is it? Why is it that runners are know to be pant poopers?
“Contributing factors likely include the physical jostling of the organs, decreased blood flow to the intestines, changes in intestinal hormone secretion, and pre-race anxiety and stress,” said Dr. Stephen De Boer, a registered dietitian with the Mayo Clinic who has studied this topic. “What is clear is that food moves more quickly through the bowels of athletes in training.”
For more on this check out these articles:
Why do I have to poop when I run?
Out There: Everyone Poops
Hilarious internet find for this topic!
I hope writing this today didn't jinx my long run tomorrow! :)
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