Very long story short. I felt fantastic all day. Strong swim and bike. 8 miles into the run starting feeling really nauseous. I spent 4 miles slowing down, trying to correct that feeling. I did not want to
walk at all. But at mile 12, I came undone. I spent 12 miles walk/running battling pretty intense feelings of needing to throw up. I starting drinking cola to settle the stomach, but to no avail.
I considered just making myself throw up, but had no idea what the ramifications of that would have been. Dehydration. All fuel gone…Just not sure.
Would love to hear what others who have experienced this have done.
I had a similar situation at IMWI…I threw up…I knew it was inevitable so I kinda helped it along (basically just let it happen instead of trying to keep it down)…I was on pace to run about 3 hours till then…ended up running 3:46…I was damned if I did/damned if I didn’t and don’t think it affected my time either way.
Yes … especially considering you walked 12 miles to finish … empty the stomach, move slowly, gradually re-introduce water & sugar … if glucose is available begin with that or most simple sugar available
actually, did not walk the back half. But was a series of walk and runs. I kept taking cola down and gu chomps…just could not shake the feeling…so would run and then be grinded to a halt. Happened 5 times during that final 12 miles.
I know…but I kept that bike so in check. Zone 2 HR the whole friggin time. I got off the bike and my legs felt great…really loose. Thus my confusion as to why it happened.
Yeah its really hard to pin not knowing how you trained. Seems like some people are more susceptible to this than others. Luckily, I have a tough stomach so nothing really seems to bother it. The one thing I might suggest trying (and this is probably pretty unorthodox) is eating some strange combinations of food before training sessions. I’m not suggesting it all the time. Roughly once per week I’d eat the grossest sounding thing I could find in my kitchen before a long (ish) run and just go. I’m talking milk, jelly, pickles, doritos sort of combo, anything that won’t sit well. Like I said, super weird but once I got used to that I can pretty much run with anything in my gut.
could it be a function of taking in too much Perform on the bike course. I drink more then most, went through 8 bottles during the IM Bike, which took me. 6:03. Probably 6 bottles of Perform and two bottles of water. Other than that, I stuck to
Cliff Bar Z bars and honey stinger waffles. and two gu’s
Could be, something to think about next time around. I’ve only done 1 IM so my points could be rather mute compared to others here. But, the highlight of my day was feeling great the entire run and putting together a decent result.
got it. I was feeling so good on the bike and beginning of the run, that it caught me off guard…It was my first IM too, so I figure its a piece of the puzzle, I have time to figure out.
Danny, Take a long hard look at how much you ate/drank starting with the pre-race meal at 0430 ish…many of us eat/drink way to much before and during the race…your body is going through a tough time and all those calories don’t help…especially if they are new calories you have never tried before the race…I would suggest using the least amount you possibly can for a race (practice in training)…the school of thought has changed a lot over the years about how much your body really needs during a race and as you know it’s specific to each individual.
Same thing happened to me at IM Louisiville last year. Mile 2-13…bad… then just went away. I blamed it on a 5 hour energy I took in T2 but who knows. Everyone who ran by me told me to just throw up and that I would feel better. I had the same worries you had and did not throw up…thinking back now, I kinda wish I just threw up. May not have been any faster but would have atleast felt better.
Pre-Race: I had one piece of whole wheat bread with half a banana, honey and peanut butter. I drink one 24 oz bottle of perform. Right before the swim, I had a GU. Now, I have been doing this for a few years and it worked great. But last HIM, in july, I was feeling like it was too much but really did not want to change anything and try something new now.
During Race. Per hour, was around 210 liquid calories and around 150 food calories (swtiching between Waffles and Z Bars). I also squeezed in two gels at hour 2 and hour 4. My only initial thought was that the perform that
handed out tasted very different then what I was used to…not sure if that matters too much. My only thought is I took in too many liquid calories on the bike as I took in 6 bottles of perform and a couple of bottles of water.
Danny…don’t know you personally so this is only some advice but 360 calories per hour of stuff that is high in simple sugars to me is where you went wrong…that’s where I would look to solve your issue…total calories per hour and types of calories…I’m sick in my stomach just thinking about it right now !
I know…but I kept that bike so in check. Zone 2 HR the whole friggin time. I got off the bike and my legs felt great…really loose. Thus my confusion as to why it happened.
That is why I just bought a power meter. Hr is just not a reliable enough metric for us part time athletes. I’ve had the same issue as you.
actually, did not walk the back half. But was a series of walk and runs. I kept taking cola down and gu chomps…just could not shake the feeling…so would run and then be grinded to a halt. Happened 5 times during that final 12 miles.
Had similar issue in a 70.3 recently. My first GI issue ever. They had Hammer Heed on the course. I blame it (haven’t heard anything positive about it). I plan on carry ALL my nutrition in the futre and only take water hand offs.
I kept drinking water only until it settled down and just backed the pace down.
I figure at hte intensity of a IM, you’re mostly running on fat stores anyway, so taking in sugar shoudn;t be as critical. You have to do triage. What’s slowing you more… lack of carbs or GI distress? Solve the the first, then deal with the 2nd later.
Pre-Race: I had one piece of whole wheat bread with half a banana, honey and peanut butter. I drink one 24 oz bottle of perform. Right before the swim, I had a GU. Now, I have been doing this for a few years and it worked great. But last HIM, in july, I was feeling like it was too much but really did not want to change anything and try something new now.
During Race. Per hour, was around 210 liquid calories and around 150 food calories (swtiching between Waffles and Z Bars). I also squeezed in two gels at hour 2 and hour 4. My only initial thought was that the perform that
handed out tasted very different then what I was used to…not sure if that matters too much. My only thought is I took in too many liquid calories on the bike as I took in 6 bottles of perform and a couple of bottles of water.
This could be it. Always try to train with you want to use on race day. Either bring all your own stuff to the race or use what will be on course in advance so you know how your body will react to it. Just my .02, which is usually only worth that much
Did you use powdered Perform mix during training but the pre-bottled Perform during the race?
I had the worst stomach issues I’ve ever had in a race a few years ago at Honu 70.3 with that situation. The pre-bottled stuff was just SO MUCH stronger than the powdered stuff I’d mixed myself during training. I was also fine on the bike and then things went downhill fast after the first aid station on the run. I fought the “wanna throw up” feeling the next 11 miles. I threw up a few minutes after I finished, and I immediately felt 100% better. It made me wish I’d have just let myself puke during the run instead.
Since then, I can’t even look at a bottle of Perform.
Yes, that is exactly what I did. Used the powder for the first three hours that I mixed and then used their bottles which was nothing like what I was used to. I guess the solution would have been to stop at the special needs stop and picked up three more bottles…
That bottle stuff nearly killed me for the final three hours. just gross.
