Distance running and poop

[Anonymous]

I am a newish runner- worked my way up gradually since May and am now able to do 8-9 mile runs once a week. However, anytime I run for longer than 30 min, I have to poop. I’ve experimented with timing of meals and types of food but it just seems to be the way my body works. I have taken to just running close to my house until I need to go, and then I take a bathroom break and complete the rest of my run. Does this happen to seasoned runners? Any tips?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a newish runner- worked my way up gradually since May and am now able to do 8-9 mile runs once a week. However, anytime I run for longer than 30 min, I have to poop. I’ve experimented with timing of meals and types of food but it just seems to be the way my body works. I have taken to just running close to my house until I need to go, and then I take a bathroom break and complete the rest of my run. Does this happen to seasoned runners? Any tips?

I run almost exclusively in the morning and experienced as kind of a ”runners diarrhea” and now I make sure I poop before I run.

I’m a 61 y/o male, btw.

[Anonymous]

Your plan of doing a loop close to your bathroom is great and then you are good to go after that. It’s how your body is operating. Consider that initial run as your warmup. Take a crap and then get going! Keep up the good work.

[Anonymous]

I would say over time my ability to run without having to drop a deuce has improved. But, it remains a timing issue with eating to be honest. Imagine finishing a half ironman while having that happen without access to porta potties except at mile 12 (so at that point, it didn't make much difference) - that was suboptimal.

Wednesday afternoons are usually the worst for me because that day is usually my speed running day, and I almost always do it in the afternoon.

I think just keep at it, and if you need to stay close to home, just do that. You could also fiddle a little bit with fiber intake and timing. That is why the recommendation is to always eliminate or mostly eliminate fiber from your diet leading into a long distance event - marathon, middle or full distance triathlon, etc...

[Anonymous]

My friend is a state park ranger and she says runners absolutely destroy the restrooms (which she cleans). Glad you go at your house.

[Anonymous]

I run first thing in the morning but prior to that, I drink my tea, poop, then head out on a run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say over time my ability to run without having to drop a deuce has improved. But, it remains a timing issue with eating to be honest. Imagine finishing a half ironman while having that happen without access to porta potties except at mile 12 (so at that point, it didn't make much difference) - that was suboptimal.

Wednesday afternoons are usually the worst for me because that day is usually my speed running day, and I almost always do it in the afternoon.

I think just keep at it, and if you need to stay close to home, just do that. You could also fiddle a little bit with fiber intake and timing. That is why the recommendation is to always eliminate or mostly eliminate fiber from your diet leading into a long distance event - marathon, middle or full distance triathlon, etc...

Yes, I suggest adding miles closer to home. I started to run loops around my neighbourhood as I started adding miles every weekend. It always happened around the 45min-1 hour mark. Thankfully on race day it didn’t happen, but I mapped out the port-o-potties along the running route prior to the race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I run first thing in the morning but prior to that, I drink my tea, poop, then head out on a run.

Same but I have coffee instead of tea

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I run first thing in the morning but prior to that, I drink my tea, poop, then head out on a run.

+1 I wake up an hour before I run so I have time to drink coffee and poop.

[Anonymous]

I take Imodium first thing in the morning on run days. I also make sure I poop before the run. Also, if you know that you have a 30 minute window, could you split up your run so you are back at your house in 30 to poop, then finish the run?

[Anonymous]

PP here, doh, you already are doing that. Sorry, I haven't had my caffeine today.

[Anonymous]

what is your breakfast/caffeine/daily fiber intake like?

[Anonymous]

This happened to me when I started running too! All my running friends said it's normal. For me it was a quite urgent need to go, and they said that was normal too.

My theory is that running is like a colon massage that pushes everything down to the end of the line, where it sets off the doorbell, lol. If you have stuff in your digestive tract, I don't think there's a way to stop it from making its way down (and out).

Gluten free bread an pasta stuff me up, so you could try a piece of toast pre run. But again, if your colon is full it's probably going to do its thing!

[Anonymous]

My DH is a distance runner and it sounds like Imodium is critical on race days. He mostly trains on the treadmill at home so guess it's not a problem otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Some of us never get over the problem