Toilet when training

Forest Gump1

I have have been training for the dublin city marathon and all is going well so far... the only problem i have is that the longer my runs get (im up to 14 miles at the mo) the more i feel the need to "use the bathroom". I find myself sprinting back to the house before its too late.......... can any one enlighten me on this subect please...

Rusty Cogs 08

I take it 'use the bathroom' is a euphemism for requiring a 'sit down' visit (otherwise I'd use a bush). Either cut down on your eating a few hours before your run or send your run via a pub or else make your run from your house in a figure of 8 where by you pass home half way along the run.

Running should reduce bloodflow to the digestive system so you should actually 'need' the bathroom less when running, if you're different in this regard you may want to look at your diet.

James Howlett

Rusty Cogs 08 wrote: »

make your run from your house in a figure of 8 where by you pass home half way along the run.

So simple yet so right. Good advice.

-K2-

Avoiding high-fibre and dairy products before long runs helps some people.

I guess you need to find out what causes you problems.

RJC

Have a sit down - in a bush - a few leaves or a bit of tissue if you can't let go of your civilised self and you'll be sorted. You'll be fine on race day as long as you launch the titanic down the bog before you start (nerves are a great laxative).

TJC

"launch the titanic down the bog before you start" :D:D


I like it!! I hope ur not a sailor!!

Forest Gump1

Thanks guys.. mite try figure out a good route that includes my house half-way round. I thought it mite be some thing more than food as i do my running first thing in the morning so have ate nothing since the evening before usually round 6 or 7pm..

plodder

Forest Gump1 wrote: »

Thanks guys.. mite try figure out a good route that includes my house half-way round. I thought it mite be some thing more than food as i do my running first thing in the morning so have ate nothing since the evening before usually round 6 or 7pm..

You could try getting up a few hours earlier to eat breakfast. Go back to bed if necessary, but it might encourage an early morning "habit" to develop. It's good to top up the energy stores in the morning, as well as carrying as little unnecessary weight as possible

Krusty_Clown

Forest Gump1 wrote: »

Thanks guys.. mite try figure out a good route that includes my house half-way round. I thought it mite be some thing more than food as i do my running first thing in the morning so have ate nothing since the evening before usually round 6 or 7pm..

Hmm.. While trying to remain as polite as possible, are you 'sitting down' between your evening meal and your breakfast? Try have a strong cup of coffee when you get up in the morning. Apart from the caffeine-based kick, it's also a diuretic.

onimpulse

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Hmm.. While trying to remain as polite as possible, are you 'sitting down' between your evening meal and your breakfast? Try have a strong cup of coffee when you get up in the morning. Apart from the caffeine-based kick, it's also a diuretic.

Coffee works for me too!

Munster_Gal

RJC wrote: »

launch the titanic down the bog before you start

OMG - Good job I'm on my own in the office at the moment - LMAO at that :D:D:D

Condo131

C'mon everybody - what a load of crap!:D

Take a wad of toilet paper in your pocket. If you've no pocket, pin some inside your shorts (between the liner and the outer fabric)[this is fine until you get a wet day!]

Plan your route. If you're in rural areas - no problem. If you're in an urban area, you can stop at pubs/garages/shopping centres/hospitals/public buildings/hotels/colleges - the list is endless. I believe that lots of places now have modern facilities like toilets.:rolleyes:

Particularly when in training mode, its difficult to avoid digestive system 'shakedown' on a long run, when you are feeding the engine and eat almost anything that gives you calories. Its a different matter when you're tapering in the last few days before a key race, when you should be watching what you eat very carefully.

RJC

Who needs toilet paper. Isn't that what the broad leafed deciduous tree was invented for? and the Doc leaf?.

Different in winter when it is just holly and briars - then bring bog roll.

Birdsong

Am in a similar position as OP, as soon as i up my runs over the hour I need to use the toilet. I tend to do long runs in either the Phoniex Park or Corkagh Park and both are very badly served for public toilets. going behind the bush is not nice either, esp when running with friends.

I now get up at about 6, have my porridge and go back to bed, and go for my run at 9.30 or 10. Some times i have taken immodium and in the beginning found that very good. But its almost as if the body got used to it, last saturday was a disaster:o .

Has anybody tried maybe taking senekot or something similar say the night before a long run. I am trying to follow all the dietary advice about eating the night before etc.

Would like to try the half marathon in September but its the one thing putting me off.

Long time lurker on this forum, lots of great advice always

Slogger Jogger

A surburban issue mostly I suspect. Lots of forests and fertilised trees down this way from longer runs when you can't always get the timing right or your body decides 'its time'.

plodder

Birdsong wrote: »

Would like to try the half marathon in September but its the one thing putting me off.

Don't know about the 1/2 marathon, but it's worth knowing that there are plenty of toilets around the course of the full Dublin marathon. So, the issue shouldn't be a problem when actually racing the marathon.

Condo131

Birdsong wrote: »

I now get up at about 6, have my porridge and go back to bed, and go for my run at 9.30 or 10.

I'm not sure if that's going to do you much good. I'm not a medical person, but I suspect the body goes into 'sleep mode' when you go back to bed.

I do know that peristalisis normally sets in about an hour after eating (that's why the toilets are always full at work, shortly after lunch!). So you might be better advised getting up an hour earlier. Alternatively, you could eat after your run - you might be starving, but ........if it solves the problem?

I reckon you might consider varying your diet the night before. Something may be disagreeing with you. If you take this strategy, change one thing at a time, otherwise you won't know which item is causing the problem.

wrt the Imodium and/or Senokot, they may/may not work for you and I don't think it would be a good idea to go on any medication long term (assuming that you're going to continue running), unless prescribed.

Birdsong wrote: »

Would like to try the half marathon in September but its the one thing putting me off.

For any long distance race, you should cut down on your roughage for 1 to 3 days prior to the race. That should significantly reduce the risk.

ozchick

RJC wrote: »

Have a sit down - in a bush - a few leaves or a bit of tissue if you can't let go of your civilised self and you'll be sorted. You'll be fine on race day as long as you launch the titanic down the bog before you start (nerves are a great laxative).

Please! No!!

I guess it depends when you run and when your er, body clock is programmed. Some good advice about diet and not eating too much before you run.

Dublin has no flaming toilets anywhere, it's SO annoyed and not just when running. After doing the Oxfam Trailwalker in Australia, I'm an expert at peeing in the bush, behind a tree, behind a rock...

I have a running friend who wears running shorts and just squats and pulls them aside for a pee!! (I know that isn't what you asked, but a tip anyway, as it's harder for us chicks. I can't get through a half without a pee and barely through a 10km.

My tip to the OP though, have a cup of coffee when you wake up - great laxative - always works for me!

dungeon

Yet another advantage of living in the country........

dungeon

On the subject, I was driving my car on a narrow road recently. There was a car coming against me so I had to pull in. A runner (who was running on the road) was also coming against me on my inner side and started abusing me as I was blocking his route!!!!! The fact that there was a footpath on the other side of the road didn't seem to hit him.

aero2k

I'm a bit wary posting on this - I don't want to sound like Gillian McKeith on "You are what you eat"!
I've had similar problems in the past, and some of my LSRs have turned into very fast tempo runs by the end. I used to get straight out of bed, throw on the gear and off out, but I found after 20-30 mins I nearly always needed a stop. So I started organising my runs to pass near the house at that point, as suggested above. More recently I've been trying to duplicate marathon day so I get up early, have a bit of brekkie, and let nature take it's course before I hit the road. I usually need to get more drinks after 75-90 mins running so I can make a pit stop then if necessary.
Finally, I've found carrying some toilet paper (wrapped in clingfilm to prevent disintegration) for emergencies sets the mind , and usually the bowels, at ease, just like it never seems to rain when you have an umbrella.

Birdsong

Many thanks for all advice. I think it will definatly be a few weeks of trial & error in the lead up to the half marathon. Was careful of my food yesterday. This morning I did a loop of 20 mins, came home & did the business, met the friends and went running proper. Was feeling very good, and enjoying the run. However I am also trying gels, high5 & 10 mins after taking that i was looking for a bush:o:o
As i say trial & error

BeepBeep67

It's absolutley trial and error with what / when you eat, I think also if you train at regular times and eat at regular times - you become more regular and I know now I can nearly c**p at will, I just need to think run and within 10mins I'm dropping the kids at the pool!

Condo131

Birdsong wrote: »

This morning I did a loop of 20 mins, came home & did the business, met the friends and went running proper.

Did you mean "This morning I did a poop of 20 mins":D:D ...and

Birdsong wrote: »

& did the business

:cool: