I recently did Ironman Florida 2009 in beautiful Panama City Beach. The swim was slightly choppy and I swallowed a bit of ocean water. My stomach was turning flips at T1 and I had to pull over at the first rest stop on the bike and had explosive diarrhea. Three miles later what I thought was just a bit of flatulence was far, far worse. Had to sit in it for the next 98 miles.
Anyone else have trouble with saltwater? Any remedies? Suggestions? (Don’t say ‘Depends’ )
You didnt suck down a lot of vitamin C before the race did you? I didnt have any issues with the water but I have had in the past issues with too much vitamin C. If you take a multivitamin and then drink orange juice or eat a bar or drink an electrolyte drink. All that can put you into the red zone of stomach issues with vitamin C.
If your symptoms were saltwater induced, it “Depends” on what is what you defiine as “a bit.”
The osmotic load of seawater is so great that everyone would experience what you did at some point. The osm load is likely so great that your small intestine cannot absorb everything and then the osm load either prevents large intestine absorbtion or induces transit of fluids into the lumen of the colon (just like any of the pre-colonoscopy preps do)
First paragraph is ok…
http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/magazine03/hydration.htm
http://www.colonzone.org/salt-water-flush.php
Couple of hilarious lines…
“If you can’t an enema, or colonic, by all means try the salt water flush. However, it is by far the hardest method for most people to face.”
Ha! Sounds like you stepped up and faced it.
KLG
I am a Surf Lifesaver and I quite often swallow a bit of salt water. I have to say that, yes, it does help loosen my bowels… :-0
It won’t do you any harm, just part of racing I guess…?
In one 3 mile OW swim I swallowed more than my share and had a similar experience. I don’t worry about swallowing water in shorter races, but for 5Ks I try to limit as best as I can. But as my signature line says . . . .
Reminds me of my old fraternity days… The morning after “hell night” we were all given a red beverage described as “koolaid”. Last person to finish doesn’t get in. Of course we knew it wasn’t koolaid. It turned out to be supersaturated salt solution. Most guys vomitted. Those who didn’t vomit blew chunks the other way. Oh the brotherhood…
It wasn’t so much the pooping my pants, it was the sitting in it for 98 miles that was the worst. Hope not to repeat the experience. Fun and games the first…
No. Not too much vitamin C and I try to stat clear of high fiber the day before a race.
My coach has me cutting most fiber for 72 hours before race day. Maybe that could help!
I’d hate to have been riding behind the OP!
I feel sorry for the volunteer that helped you at T2!!!
I took in a lot of water at IMFL. I am a right side breather and the loop back to shore was worse from the eastern wind.
I had the opposite problem. I was fine till mile 14 on the run. I started having sharp abdominal cramps but could not get anything to move and the Port O’ Johns. I suffered through the last 12 miles.
Not sure it if was the salt or just my body hating me for what I was doing to it.