Pre-Race Bowel Cleansing?

gjordan

Perhaps this is another touchy subject, but, during my IM run I had the intense urge to have a bowel movement at about mile 12-3.  Any recommendations on how to avoiding a potty break during the run?  Perhaps pre-race bowel cleansing with Dulcolax?

Thanks,

George

Linda Patch

Ever try Immodium? I take two before the race, then have a couple with me on the bike and run just in case. Never have had a problem. And I've never had to use the extras--the two at the beginning have done the trick for the day.

mattsull

For me it's a matter of watching what and when I eat for the 2 days leading up to the race that seems to help. No fiber at all the day before and a very light meal at a round 5:00pm. I go all liquid on race day. 2:00am feeding and then sports drink/Infinit/gel on race day.

Al Truscott

 What Matt does, plus for my evening meal before an IM, I go totally liquid with a Jamba Juice or similar high calorie smoothie (or two). No problemo with this strategy in the past 10 or so IMs.

jwpicciotto

Agree with the eating light meals before the event, and go easy on the fiber. This is one of the issues with people trying to carbo load with pasta the night before an event. It just puts more material in your system to get ride of the next day. Also eat early the day before the event to give it time to make its way through. How early is a very individual preference. I shoot for 12-14 hours before showing up to the race venue based on my body's peculiarities. I would say stay away from anything that is going to speed up digestive transit time because these usually also increase the amount of water that accompanies the "payload", increasing the danger of dehydration. Also, you can't count on them knowing when to stop once your event starts.

GregSVan

I just stop at Coldstone Creamery a few days before the race. The Lactose results in something I call "The Asian Tsunami."

Steven Ford

Posted By Greg Vanichkachorn on 26 Jul 2010 12:05 PM

I just stop at Coldstone Creamery a few days before the race. The Lactose results in something I call "The Asian Tsunami."

 

Freakin Hilarious!

cdntriguy

Ahhhhh.  Hilarious!!!  Now I have another name for the lactose intolerance.  I know what you speak of!!!

Scott Alexander

I'm slightly lactose intolerant, and my buddy Paul is FULLY lactose intolerant. We call him a "lactard" (no offense to the mentally disabled).

I've switched, starting this year, to a completely liquid/smoothie race lead-in, including the night before and morning of, a race.
I didn't have to hit the portapotty at all at Vineman, so I'd call that a success!!!

penlynwilson

@George: Besides all the advice given by others, I would ask what was different leading up to that run than others. Is this the first time it happened? Sometimes, it can be as simple as eliminating bananas, oranges, or salad a few days prior to race day. Yes, I've had clients who plan their runs around available toilet facilities. Paying attention to (and logging) foods in the days before can help pinpoint the "problem food."

"The Asian Tsunami." - Too funny. I'll have to use that in my undergrad Sports Nutrition class this semester.

gjordan

Thanks all.

@Linda,
I first heard of the Immodium idea from Al's post race podcast. Immodium is an anti diarhheal, so, I guess it plugs up the pipe. I just was not clear on when to take it. Eventhough I have not taken it before I may try it for this weekends Vineman as I don't want to repeat my last experience.

@Penny,
Thanks for the dietary advise. I am a religous salad eater and that may have contributed to the problem. I'll cut out the salads and high fiber fruits 2 days before the race.

Nemo Brauch

George- I do the prophylactic Imodium on race day deal as well. My personal protocol is to wait until after my last trip to the porto-potties. My hope is to self clear with the morning BM as much as possible, and then I pop the Imodium.

One world of warning, be careful about avoiding "all" fiber foods pre-race day. Otherwise you may have trouble flushing the system with that final morning BM.

GregSVan

LOL! I never knew my bowel movement metaphors would be so popular! I got plenty more where that came from:



Hemorrhoids? = "The Red Tide"



Constipation? = "Im the White Wizard" (Think Gandalf...."YOU SHALL NOT PASS!")



Gas? = "Brussel Sprouting"



Ah, guy humor...

gjordan

All,

Here is some feedback on Vineman (7/31/10) race and pre-race bowel issues.  My last solid meal before the race was lunch the day before.  I don't remember exactly what I had, probably a salad.  After that nothing but Odawalla smotthies with protein.  Got up at 2 am for more Odawalla smoothie.  Then took 2 imodium ADs early in the bike (forgot to take them before the swim).  In the first 2 mile of the run I felt the urge to go so decided not to supress it and went the to porta potty for a BM.  The rest of the run I had a couple of episodes of nausea so I walked and a few ice cubes at the aid stations seemed to help.  Finished the run in 5:54 which included multiple walks for nausea and hills - my strategy for avoiding the medical tent.  Overall I felt better than IM France 5 weeks ago and my 13:06 final time was a PR by an hour.

 

Thanks for you help.

Nemo Brauch

Well we got the bottom have sorted out. We gotta figure out how to keep the top have from exploding too!! Did I mention I also carry Pepcid AC and Pepto Bismal tablets in my little medical baggie?

[Deleted User]

the last time I thought about this much about poop was when my kids were being potty trained.

mattsull

George, I would personally not eat salad, or many vegetables at all, the day before a race. I keep it to very starchy carbohydrates and some lean protein. I avoid as much fiber as possible the day before. I will also stay away from fruit with the exception of bananas.

Here's a thread about what I did at IMWI in '08. The same thing doesn't work for everyone. However, I am one who does have bowel issues on long runs. That's why I take such care prior to a race.

www.endurancenation.us/en_forums/showthread.php