OK, here it is. Last season, I worked like clockwork. Get up 2 hours before race start, brush teeth, walk around, have a muffin, 20mins later - BAM!!! The urge would hit. 5-10mins later - feeling much lighter…
(Slightly off topic, but a successful Aussie high-jumper was once quoted as saying that he would not have a cr@p for a couple of days before a competition, and then 30mins beforehand he would have a massive dump. Said psycholoically he was light as a feather!!)
Anyway, first few races this season, I have lost my mojo, and got stomach cramps on the run as a result. Cannot get the system working pre-race at all. And as we all know, having to take a dump on the runin an Oly, is not on.
Pearls of wisdom? Funny stories? Anything? (Sort of just trying to waste time here at work…)
When I raced cross-country in university, at the provincial championships, the starter called “sweats off” to get the race started. One of my team members was hiding behind a tree “evacuating”. To stall for him two of us did a quick stride which really pissed off the starter who yelled at us to get back on the line. We jogged back slowly until our teammate came sprinting out of the woods, then got on the line for the start.
I went to one race some years back that had two transition areas. Since it was a swim/run/bike format we went to the second T to set up our bikes. Then my buddy and I were getting ready to head to the swim start when he had an “urge.” The PP lines were too long and there were no other options. This wasn’t in the country, so he ran behind a dumpster (no pun intended) and had an “evacuation.” Might not have been a big deal except that he partiallly “evacuated” on himself. I think the word crass is an understatement here. He tried to clean himself up, but he still had to ride in the back of the truck until we got to the lake.
Coffee works wonders. I drink a 8-12oz cup of it before every race and it works like a charm (drink too much and you’ll have other problems early in the race…thank goodness the swim is first). Just try to take care of your business at home or in the hotel before going out to the transition area. I HATE standing in lines when I need to ummm “evacuate.”
Two hours before race time eat one over easy fried egg and drink a 12 oz cup of black coffee. 30 minutes before the race you will “drop a few points” (weigt watchers term for food quantity counting method) and be ready to race!
In 6 important races last year this method never once failed me!!
You must train your digestive tract the same way you train your body for a race. If you get up early every day and do your business early in the morning, your system will become adjusted to it, and you should have no problem getting things moving come early race day. Also, make sure your diet includes plenty of fiber and liquids, and, as others have said, a hot cup of coffee (or tea or hot water with lemon) gets things started. If I don’t go every day by 8:30–9:00 a.m., I am having major distress and it can be quite unpleasant to be in my general vicinity.
Oh, BTW–I always get to the race site early just in case the dreaded “double-evacuation” is necessaary. I often find that pre-race nerves can cause stomach churn, which causes–well, you know.
Here is what worked for me at about 4:30 this morning: Run 45 minutes deep into a residential neighborhood. Works like a charm every time.
This brings up another question: Has anyone ever had it so bad that you have actually gone and knocked on someone’s door to go? Every so often I think I may need to do this, regardless of how much I have relieved myself prior to leaving.
I have actually done that twice during evening runs (no pun intended). Once and a very nice young woman’s house, and once at a company. I often eye up current construction/renovation project going on in the neighborhoods I run in, just in case I have to hit the on-site PP if I get the trots.