This is one of those things I rather not ask, but need to at this point. Mornings are the best time for my runs- short or long, but due to intestinal meltdown 1/2 hour into my runs I cannot be too far from a restroom of some sort and it’s to a point where I think I might have to push them off into the evening. I have 1 cup of coffee when I get up/no food for the previous 12 hours, hit the restoom and then head out the door, only to have to return in a big hurry 1/2 hour later. I don’t know if I having too much fiber or not enough or what, but once I make the pit stop back at home I’m good for the rest of the day, so I’m finding myself incorporating the restroom into my run loop. It does not affect me on race days as the nerves usually take care of that way before 1/2 hour and typically before the race even starts.
Does this happen to anyone else and what have you had luck at in terms of resolving?
I read somewhere that runners take an Immodium an hour or so before they run long distances and that helps, but I don’t want to become a Immodium pill popper.
I too have a testy digestive system. I like Immodium because it’s effective, but I always feel like I’m using the nuclear option when I take it. I went to a gastro doc once, who prescribed me something called Nulev, which you can take during the run. It dissolves on the tongue and controls those intestinal cramps that can hit hard during a long run. I also did some fairly obvious non-pharma things, like cut down on eating lots of fiber the night before a long run (I used to munch on Cheerios at night – BIG mistake). You might also want to try putting off that cup of coffee until after the run.
Do you take any nutritional supplements in the morning when you get up? I was having a similar problem and finally determined it was the particular brand of fish oil capsules that I was taking. If I take them at nighttime, I am fine but in the morning the combination with running literally has me running for the bathroom.