Bladder Issues
I am not sure if this is a medical issue, race execution issue, or a gear issue. I have over active kidneys when I race. I can usually make it through most of the swim before I have issues, but my last 70.3 I was starting to have abdominal crmps from trying to hold it in by the end of the swim. I have never been able to pee in my wet suit, sanitary issues not shyness. On the bike I have to stop at every aid station, and usually start to have issues half way between aid stations. Last saturday I had to stop four times on a 70.3, that was in addition to going after the swim and going before the run.
I am loosing large amounts of time with the pit stops, and need to find a solution. I am wondering if anyone else has this issue and how they addressed it. I am almost ready to learn to pee off the bike. If I do, what shoes are recommended. My regular bike shoes would rip up my feet if I don't wear socks. I also don't know how to handle the pee in the wetsuit. My brother in law pulls the neck open, and lets water rush through it, but the neck of my suit seems to tight.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
I am loosing large amounts of time with the pit stops, and need to find a solution. I am wondering if anyone else has this issue and how they addressed it. I am almost ready to learn to pee off the bike. If I do, what shoes are recommended. My regular bike shoes would rip up my feet if I don't wear socks. I also don't know how to handle the pee in the wetsuit. My brother in law pulls the neck open, and lets water rush through it, but the neck of my suit seems to tight.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
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Comments
I don't get the "sanitary issue" of peeing in your wetsuit if u are ready to pee on your bike.
Your shoes will do just fine, just make sure you clean them good afterward.
Good luck with your issue
The higher your heart rate. The more FLOW to the kidneys= pee. Now caffeine is a bladder irritant. It also is a heart stimulant ( elevated heart rate = pee). Your excitement is also a heart rate increaser too. Are you peeing a large volume at each pit stop? Big volume=to hydrated. Small volume is bladder irritant/nervous to pass said pit stop or low on fluid. Watch the color of your urine as well. Clear=hyrated. Dark=irritated bladder. If you don't have this problem on your big race practice days before your event. Then look at caffeine vs excitement.
Is this special to events? Do you super hydrate the couple days prior to events?
Just some questions to ask yourself.
Peeing in your wet suit is no big. Urine is sterile. That lake water your in is FAR nastier than your pee!
There is nothing appealing about urinating into a wetsuit/bike suit for many, but there is nothing wrong with the practice, really no sanitary issues to worry about. If you feel you 'cannot' pee into a wetsuit, I doubt that is a physiological problem, more likely a form of 'shy bladder syndrome'. Practice makes perfect - pee in the pool, while swimming, repeatedly. Should be an easy fix.
In this sport, difficult to be "too hydrated". Definitely more concerned with people dehydrating themselves. Agree, caffeine, high heart rate, high fluid intake - all will will increase urine output. Agree the color of your urine is a good litmus for hydration status. If you want to get uro-nerdy about it, you could start measuring your urine output during training, not so much to determine your urine output over a day/training block, rather to see measure how much you are generating each void. This will help determine if you are over hydrated vs overactive bladder.
If you do end up with an overactive bladder diagnosis, hard to imagine you would want to start prescription medication for this (over peeing on the bike/in wetsuit), but your doctor could talk you through the options.
DS
i pee a lot.
just pee in wetsuit. I often do before and during and after swim. nice feeling.
let it rip while on the bike. I have to frequently. perhaps consider getting shoes that are barefoot tolerable. or put a lot of speedstick in your current shoes. or ride with soggy socks. rinse the shoes after races - various folks have difference cleaning liquid solutions to get out the smell.
in transitions, to save time, sit on the grass and go.
Personally, I ride in Mavics Tri shoe. (I believe they only have one tri shoe model). I have ridden without socks and without issues for years. Have several friends who ride in Specialsed Sworks tri shoes without socks and they have no complaints.