For the past week or 2 I've had a desperate need to poo on any run over 3 miles. I'm OK for the 1st mile or 2 then suddenly the feeling comes and I need to go
Luckily, I've managed to nip into a pub a few times, but I went out for 5 miles today and ended up pooing behind some tree's , luckily, I'd taken some tissues in my pocket in case it happened.
I have tried going before I set off, but I never need to go, it only once I've been running a while and things are being jiggled about that things get moving. I have no problems with my pooing normally.
Its really annoying me now, I had to physically stop and stand still till the feeling passed enough to move again quite a few times today before I actually went. I guess I lost about 5 minutes between standing still and walking. I usually run busy routes too so opportunites to nip behind bushes etc are pretty few and far between.
Any hints/tips as to how I can stop it?
Comments
I started taking Actimel every day and the problem sorted out - I'm sure others will have better ideas cos it's very common. Bizzarely sorted out my IBS as well.
Best of luck - on the plus side you're running career might get sponsored by Andrex........
bugger, the search function is now too good and ulls up LOADS of threads so i cant find the best one anymore
basically
lots of us get this
ieven if we "go" before we run
for some people wheat and dairy makes a difference
for me, it miles worse if i am stressd, so races are a night mrae
i take immodium before every race, but even that dont always help
i avoid pasta and too much dairy pre a race,
as far as running goes, I think just accept it will happen , take tissues and plan your route around bushes
the less you stress about it, the bettr it will be
Just my opinion
I =have sufferd with this BIG time for 6 years
Cheers for that PH. I've only been runninng about 7 months and its only just started these past few weeks so God knows whats going on.
I think I'll try the immodium and just keep on taking tissues with me. Its just such a pain as it distracts from my running and knocks minutes off my times.
Heres hoping I don't have to poo in bushes for the rest of my running life
dopnt do immodium every run
i only do it once a week for races
do you run early am?
might help if you get up erlier and have a cup of coffee to-erm, go
i find if i am running hard that its worse, sort of like my bodys repsonse to physical stress
Smuffie - you are so not alone.
My worst time is in the afternoon, but I do sometimes have a problem in the morning. Just make sure as far as possible that you have gone before you leave home, some strong tea or coffee should help you there.
Running hard/fast does sometimes make it worse for me, so general plodding and slow running is OK, although not all the time. I can't pin it down to diet for me, but the better I eat the less problems I get I think. So eating regularly, keeping a 'healthy' diet with lots of porridge, fruit and veg and wholemeal stuff seems to work OK.
Do find friendly pubs or other places you can rely on to be open on your routes (or at least a selection of handy bushes!)
There is no cure, just finding what works for you.
There are lots of new medicines around,one of which might help cure/improve this problem.
My GP is a really good runner, does 8 miles a day and has qualified for the Chicago marathon next year so she'd be a good one to ask.
I just feel a bit daft making an appointment just because I have an uncontrollable urge to poo everytime I go running!
As has been said lots of people have this. Have you changed your eating habits recently in terms of what / when you eat before a run if the problem has just started recently. Think back and consider keeping a record of what / when you eat for a while to see if any patterns establish themselves or happens on every run in future. There are many reasons why this can happen. I find I can have problems if I eat too much friut / vegetables before a run. Others will have different triggers.
You could try to help things along by doing some exercises earlier in the day or late the night before (sit ups help me) to help you have a good clear out, for want of a better expression, when you visit the loo before your run.
If you stretch befor a run and you have the time try a gently mile jog before the stretch and visit the loo before you start the run properly to see if the jog has helped. This has also helped me in the past.
Good luck.
Probably worth asking her - she may be able to suggest something. She may even have experienced it herself. If she has she'll know its no fun once the griping stomach pains start so will probably listen.
I switched to a high fibre diet, and now I always go pretty soon after getting up in the morning, which suits me fine because I am a morning runner.
Don't know if it'd work for everyone, but it has for me.
Wholemeal bread, fruit'n'fibre, jacket spuds, baked beans, etc, less red meat and more fish or chicken, plenty of fresh veg - it isn't a bad diet!
I've never suffered from this when running but i do suffer with IBS. Word of advice - if you put your feet on a stool or small box when you're sat on the loo, you can more effectively empty your bowel which may help prevent it happening on your run.
LOL
but good advice
this can happen even after you have had a decent poo
sorry
Well, the first half marathon went without even a trace of needing the loo - thank god! Not sure if cutting out all dairy produce the week before was anything to do with it or it was maybe all down to luck and being taken in by all that was happening with the race - who cares, I managed it and without needing the loo so a great bonus to be had there!
If you suffer like I do, try cutting out dairy produce before a race, see if it helps.
TTFN
Rachel
I need to go whilst running have stomach like cramps but also blood in stool, does anyone else suffer with this?
Oh and thank you!!
The next time my dog takes a dump in the street and a neighbour complains, I'm going to blame the local running club...
Just to put the cat among the pigeons so to speak I have exactly the opposite problem and cant go at all when I know I've got a run coming up especially when it's a race. It's definately stress related and like you guys I also suffer from IBS but for me running with a bloated tummy and feeling heavy is as bad as needing to go mid race!
I've actually found that cutting out bread helps me a lot with the IBS and the stress and makes me more regular all round.
I also have bouts of migraines. Both issues you read about diet triggers and abt keeping a food diary. Truth is it rarely helps. There can be many minor and major triggers. Catch one miss most of them and you're not any better off.
IBS is not a diagnosis but a catch all phrase when they don't know what is the cause.
My doctor told me it is safe to take immodium frequently if you have an issue. A lot take it the morning of a race.
Milk is often claimed as a cause. Cutting it out is one option. Before you do try using only uht milk for a while. Abt 1-1.5 years and then try putting normal milk into your diet. It is a trick that worked for me and others I know. Only something like 10% are actually milk intolerant. Although the figure who claim it are a lot higher.