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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
throwing up on bike during race

kmowlam

Oct 5, 08 6:49

Post #1 of 16 (774 views)

throwing up on bike during race	Can't Post

in half yesterday,every bit of fluid i have hit the stomach, waited a few minutes and came back out to say hello.
i have ruled out the following
- no upset stomach before
- didnt drink the ocean while swimming
- drank same fluids/Gu as my training
- did push as hard as training rides (for not as long though) but during training i do sit up and relax more
- if i sat up for period during race and that seemed to relieve for a while but when back in aero, here it came again

it sure made the run fun without any fluids.
i wasnt pushing too hard, 210 watts at 148 bpm average (had to hold back due to issue)

i usually have the burp/puke minimal during short races but nothing to this extent.

talking to racers after, there was talk that i am perhaps too pressed over and the squashing of my stomach could be the issue.
ever heard of this? and thoughts on what else it could be?

thanks

Kerry

Hinds57

Oct 5, 08 8:06

Post #2 of 16 (730 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [kmowlam] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Could the ocean swim have causes a mild motion sickness?

Dave

TriToy

Oct 5, 08 8:10

Post #3 of 16 (720 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [kmowlam] [In reply to]	Can't Post

since it only happened in aero position it does sound like your stomach was being mechanically hindered....
---

cat formerly CatIsTriing
Sponsored by Suntheanine, Lycored and Celadrin really I am sponsored - not a joke!
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Raptor

Oct 5, 08 8:29

Post #4 of 16 (704 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [kmowlam] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I did the Lake Las Vegas Tri a month ago and could not believe the amount of people puking on the bike after a 500 meter swim.

I would say a mild case of motion sickness also. Did you take any salt tablets the day before?

kmowlam

Oct 5, 08 9:06

Post #5 of 16 (670 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [Raptor] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I live right by the ocean and swim there alot so i ruled that out.

goonly

Oct 5, 08 10:11

Post #6 of 16 (627 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [kmowlam] [In reply to]	Can't Post

The single biggest influencer on whether or not I ralph on a hard effort bike leg is if I had too much fat in my pre-training / pre-race ride. I've definitely thrown up my entire breakfast all over the PCH which is tough, but somehow the fat stays in my system and causes me to throw up anything additional that I put into my system over the course of the ride.

Quick Note: always vomit over your right shoulder and not your left.

Willrace4food

Oct 5, 08 10:59

Post #7 of 16 (599 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [kmowlam] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I live right by the ocean and swim there alot so i ruled that out.

Sorry to hear about the puking,mate. Did you podium anyway, in your usual style?

----------------------------------------
Original member of Litespeed Mafia

"ain't nothin' open after midnight except hospitals and legs" George Wallace

LittleRingMan

Oct 5, 08 11:27

Post #8 of 16 (575 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [kmowlam] [In reply to]	Can't Post

It's unlikely that the aero position obstructed you. Gastric emptying is affected by several factors. Distention and content are probably the most important factors in a race. A full stomach empties slower that a partially filled stomach. Liquid empties faster than solid. Protein and fat slow the emptying time as well. A weak carbohydrate solution will empty faster than water or a strong carbohydrate solution. Intensity of exercise will shunt the blood from your intestines to the brain, heart, lungs and muscle preferentially and the decrease in blood flow to the intestine will cause cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and has been implicated in ischemic damage to the intestine.

Are those wattage and heart rate numbers normal for your training--often sitting up and resting or slowing will allow better perfusion of the intestine and the symptoms get better. Did you overdo the drinking or eating beforehand? While riding in the aero position will facilitate reflux, it doesn't in and of itself cause vomiting.

sydc

Oct 5, 08 12:08

Post #9 of 16 (545 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [LittleRingMan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Maybe the Sharpie ink seeped into the first few Gu's...hmmmm...???!!!! :)

kmowlam

Oct 5, 08 14:19

Post #10 of 16 (455 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [LittleRingMan] [In reply to]	Can't Post

i ate a bagel about 3 hours before start but after that about 2 32oz fluid bottles (water and gatorade)

that wattage is pretty normal, perhaps my bpm was a little higher but i acrue that to race.
and the vomit is always a mouthful that feels like reflux but it happens every minute or two till stomach is empty or as i refuel.
i did find that water seemed but easier to stay in that the gatorade.

kmowlam

Oct 5, 08 14:22

Post #11 of 16 (448 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [Willrace4food] [In reply to]	Can't Post

thanks Zev. i was 8th overall and 4.40.01 (unofficial time).
waiting in results to come online.
lost about 7-8 lbs in the race, but nothing 3 IV's couldnt fix after. that stuff sure is good.
and once i felt full i]of fluid, I have never ever felt that hungry in my life.

and no the marker fluid didnt leak it......
unless it was a conspiracy of fellow racers...mmmmm

sydc

Oct 5, 08 15:35

Post #12 of 16 (406 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [kmowlam] [In reply to]	Can't Post

you said you always throw up a little at first on the bike...does that happen in a straight bike race as well when there is not transition from swim???? and if it doesn't happen on a straight road race, are you riding road bike or tri bike in aero. Just a thought.
I know it wasn't the markers...that was a joke...if you couldn't tell...i know i'm very serious most of the time.

xraycharlie

Oct 5, 08 19:42

Post #13 of 16 (312 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [kmowlam] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Memo to self after reading this thread and the latest one about peeing on the bike: Do not volunteer to wrench on triathletes' bikes.
-----
Over 500 days bike crash free.

FLA Jill

Oct 6, 08 6:47

Post #14 of 16 (239 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [xraycharlie] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've volunteered at bike check out for IMFL. There was a good reason why there were a couple of giant boxes of rubber gloves on one of the tables there available specifically for volunteer use because even if you were going by the 'Never touch anything other than the handlebars' axiom, it gets kind of iffy regarding bodily fliuds.

We did come up with a good game of 'Is that puke or powerbar stuck to the top tube?' though.

leannecharnas

Oct 6, 08 9:23

Post #15 of 16 (147 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [kmowlam] [In reply to]	Can't Post

One possibility, based on customer comments, could be an acid reflux issue. Do you ever have problems 'off the bike' or outside of racing/training? Just something to think about or talk about with a physician, as we have heard about this same type of problem on different occasions from our customers who have been diagnosed with acid reflux. (and have started successful treatment and thus prevented ongoing problems.)
Good Luck,
Leanne Charnas
Co-Owner,
Tri-Tech Multisport
Columbus, Ohio

SLC_vt98

Oct 6, 08 9:31

Post #16 of 16 (137 views)

Re: throwing up on bike during race [kmowlam] [In reply to]	Can't Post

That is the triathletes natural defense against drafters.....

Seriously that sucks.
I had issues a couple times yesterday when I had to inch back on the seat to deal w/ rough road sections. Every time I slid back I felt like I was going chunder.

...
Run like you stole something