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Bad to not pee?

jhpiiijhpiii
in General Training Discussions

I love that we can discuss bodily functions on this forum without even blinking an eye.

I read a lot about peeing on the bike and/or run and I feel a little left out. I never pee, or have the urge to pee, on any long rides (3 hours) or long runs (up to 2 hours). I drink 48 oz of water per hour on the bike, plus about 1,000 mg of sodium, and about 40 oz of water on the runs, plus 1,000 mg of sodium. In hot weather, I still sweat out more "water weight" than I would like but my performance is ok. 

Should I be peeing? Is there something wrong?

P.S. I am on HIM athlete, not an IM (yet)

Comments

  • afrostafrost
    I think peeing is very individual. I know people that pee 5, 6, 7 times in an IM bike. I pee in T2. That's it. I drink lots - 4 or 5 24 oz bottles. And I really have to pee when I get to T2, but I do not have to go on the bike. I sweat a lot like you, so maybe that is where all the fluid goes! But my performance does not seem to suffer. So I wouldn't worry about it. It will be interesting to hear from others on this.

    ---Ann.
  • steveperxsteveperx
    In three IM events, I've never peed on the bike or run course. However, I have yet to break 4:30 on the marathon, so perhaps part of my problem has been dehydration. But, as Ann suggests, it's probably highly individualized. I would suggest getting as much water/liquid nutrition as you can stomach, and if you have to pee you pee. If not, great.

    For HIM events, I've also never peed on the bike/run course. Same suggestion. Dial in your nutrition and let the peeing take care of itself. If you can drink more water, you probably should.
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    x2 on Ann's comments. In all 4 full IMs I've done, I've stopped to pee in T2 only in each of them. Unless it's a freaking cold race, I'm going to be sweating out 99% of whatever fluids I take in. And I would bet I'm taking in a LOT more fluid than most people who are peeing all over themselves and their bike. In over 10 HIMs, I've only had to pee once (in T2) and that was a surprise to me. For hot races, I'm trying to get in 54 oz of fluid + 1500 mg (min) of sodium.
  • jhpiiijhpiii
    Good points about the fluids excreeting through sweat. I just didn't think about that.

    Paul, how are you able to carry/pick up 54 oz of water per hour? I go through 48 oz because that is all I can carry, but based upon sweat tests, I really need more.
  • Jess WithrowJess Withrow
    OMG I WISH I had a fraction of your "problem!" I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum...

    The only thing I can think of is, when you DO pee after a long workout or race, are you peeing clear? If yes, then you're probably good to go.

    On my long training rides I'm able to carry 32oz in my Aerodrink, two 24oz bottles of concentrated Infinit (one on downtube, one in Sonic Wing X-Lab), a spare 24oz bottle of water in the Sonic Wing, and two 16.9 oz bottles of Aquafina (or Poland Spring or whatever I have) in my bike jersey. Last year I wore a 70 oz Camelback for my longer rides and runs (both of which were MUCH longer b/c I wasn't training with EN), but it was just too hot and it totally chafed my shoulders when I ran (duh - should've seen that one coming). Now I wear a Camelback run belt with a 24oz bottle and run loops close to home for my longer runs (I know a few people who run where they know there will be a water fountain in a park or run in a store and buy a refill if they can't/don't want to run loops).
  • Peter GreaggPeter Greagg
    For those that haven'y seen this, it's worth a read
    http://members.endurancenation.us/Resources/Wiki/tabid/108/Default.aspx?topic=Monitoring+Hydration+Status
  • Jess WithrowJess Withrow
    Thanks for the wiki link, Peter! That's a fantastic post!
  • Peter GreaggPeter Greagg
    FWIW, I always have wet socks after all my HIM.
  • jhbinscjhbinsc

    Superb read. Thx for sharing.

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    @ John - for training in Tampa, I start with 56oz on the bike, then I refill each hour, either at gas station store, or with water on the trail. The Suncoast Trail here is 42 miles long and patrolled by rangers who have kegs of ice water in the back of their pick-up (they actually drive the trail but very slowly with lights flashing) and fill locked dispenser stations along the trail ... pretty sweet deal. There is a nearby 8 mile trail (Upper Tampa Bay) where rangers do the same but they use the small club wagons on that trail.

    For an actual IM or HIM, I only use 2 bottle positions on the race bike and am constantly tossing and replacing water bottles on the course.

    In either case, my biggest struggle is to push enough liquid down the 1st hour when I'm not as thirsty, because if I don't I will definitely be behind in the 2nd hour and later.

    @ Jess - it will be many, many hours after a IM/HIM before I need to take a leak! image If I were a pro, the drug testers would be in for a long day of waiting.
  • penlynwilsonpenlynwilson
    How soon after finishing do you pee and what color is it?
  • jhpiiijhpiii
    Paul - You are lucky to have that setup. I do have a little store I stop in to get my 3 20oz bottle refill. But it really doesn't make sense to do more than one stop there. So I still get my 45+/- oz per hour but would love to figure out more. Still working on a good solution there.

    Penny - Like Paul, it is usually several hours after a race/long ride before I pee. Usually pretty clear because by then I have chugged buckets of water/Gatorade. Does that make sense?
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