I did my second IM at LP on Sunday and felt fine on the run. Didn’t have any major salt stains on my shorts at the end of the run. Although I didn’t pee on the second loop of the run. But man, the catchers brought me to the med tent and I wanted to get up and leave but after 15 minutes of chilling I tried and couldn’t. 2 hours later I had 3 bags of IV bags in me and felt like I wasn’t hung over to bad and could walk to the car.
I’d like to avoid this feeling of “HOLY SHIT” next year. Is it because I went anaerobic at the end of the run, from the last turn around on the run?
I felt fine during the run despite only one pee stop on the first loop and made sure I took plenty of fluids as well as salt tabs, but I wonder if some of the catchers were given the wrong information as to what to do with people after the finish. The finish line catcher that I had brought me directly to the med tent right after I crossed the line eventhough I was fine. I kept telling him that I was fine and he said “You need to be weighed”. I asked if this was new since I knew from volunteering as a catcher myself a few years back that the only ones who got weighed were the ones who obviously needed medical attention or said they needed to go to the tent, and the medical staff there would look at your registration weight on your card. The catcher said they didn’t know if everyone was being weighed, but that he was taking me to the tent. I said again that I was fine but kept walking along with the catcher to keep from cramping up. When I got to the entrance of the med tent, the person doing the check-in asked what was wrong with me and I said “Nothing, I’m fine” and the catcher said I needed to be weighed. The person doing the check-in said “If he’s fine then he doesn’t need to be in here” and then they let me go. Strange.
Yeah, I drank a lot on the run. Had salt pills. I kept a “smiling” effort on the run. At the finish I was fine and standing. Just crying cause I was a minute and 52 seconds slower then last year. I sat myself down on the cot. Saw a guy next to me getting an IV. Had heard they make you feel 100% better and that Pros know how to finagle one like a pro. Didn’t think I would need one, but when i tried to sit up and stand up I couldn’t, felt like poo. I guess that’s when the emotions of finishing left and the pains of the body started to take over.
Hey, I’m not a doc and I wasn’t there. So take this with a grain of salt…
You might have felt better if you’d kept moving on your feet after the race. I like to walk around while stuffing food in my face immediately after finishing. (When the IMCDA catcher asked me if I needed the med tent, I said “No thanks, where is the pizza?”) If you sit/lie down right after you quit running, you’ll feel like crap when you try to get up.
I agree with you…
It is never a good idea to stop on the spot like that. This is an abrupt change you body will not like much after 9H+ of constant moving…
I don’t know, and I’m only a pediatrician, but I think IVs are WAY overdone. Numerous studies show that rehydration orally isas a=effective as IV, if the proper fluids are used. If someone is hypotensive even supine, or unable to drink, then an IV should be given. Otherwise, I’d rather rehydrate orally.
If I can stand, I walk around for a long time after a race, while I drink and eat, but I’ve only done one IM. Maybe I’ll be singing a different tune next time.
Agreed, this is why I wanted to keep moving instead of being brought to the tent when I didn’t need to be there since I knew I would cramp up once I got in there. After walking around for a few minutes to settle down, I was fine.