I have vomited in 3 of my last 5 races, why is this?
It keeps ruining my races and I want to find the cause ASAP, any advice would be much appreciated.
Below is a quick summery of my stomach issues:
The races have been 1/2 IM or IM distanceThe problems occur either on or before the bike. I have never vomited in the swim. The stomach cramps obviously hurt my run the problems have never started on the run. I normally have a strong stomach and can eat anything and exercise (bike, run) almost straight after eating without problem. I have had stomach issues (vomited) in 3 of 5 races this year The stomach issues have always started on the bike or in the swim. The first 2 races i only noticed them on the bike (1/2 IM) at IMC i felt them about ¾ the way around the swim but was only ill during the bike. I have never been sick in the swim, but during IMC my stomach felt upset before i got out the water.
The stomach issues involve me vomiting fluids. I find it difficult to replace them during the race, if i try to drink a lot of fluid after i vomit my stomach starts to feel bad again. I don’t feel nervous about the race before the start I have the same nutrition in the race as in training. my bike position feels comfortable.
I thought the cause might have been whole wheat bagels which i ate for breakfast. I cut these out for IMC and just had my every day breakfast (the same as i had for a race in which i wasn’t sick) of a bowl of cereal and a little milk and a banana. I was still sick. I don’t eat or drink anything on the bike until 30 mins after the swim.I eat a light breakfast ~2+ hours before a race I have never been sick during training.
I think it might be related to swimming as i have never been sick during training, but i’ve never done swim bike sessions. I also usually swim in the evening. At IMC my stomach did not feel right before the end of the swim. When training i never use gells or sports drinks during or after swimming.
The simple answer is that something you have put in your system is too complex for your body to break down due to blood being shunted from your stomach to your muscles. If I had to guess the reason it is happening that early in the race it might be stress related or it could be due to you coming out if T1 in calorie debt. What is your typical heart rate coming out of T1? Typically one of the main reasons people throw up during races is that something they have put in is too complex for their body to break down. Based off of my own experience and research backs up- the further you progress in the race the simpler your nutrition needs to be. For example a banana might be great on the bike, but at mile 11 of the HIM run all I can handle is flat coke. Back to your issue though- I’m willing to bet not have enough in your tank coming out of T1 and already are in a deficit calorie wise.
Many would dismiss this - don’t. I have a friend who took years to figure the nausea he had on the bike was actually motion sickness from the swim. I’m not sure what testing you could do to confirm it but do give it some consideration.
i have felt sick after the swim a couple 3 times and had issues taking in nutrition on the bike. once i overheated in the swim and just came out cooked … it was eagleman in 08 and the swim was like taking a warm bath in a wetsuit - i felt fine when i got onto the bike but my stomach went into revolt when i took my first gel 30 minutes later. another time i swam in a rough pack and probably drank too much of the lake water - when i got onto the bike i felt “all right” but on the first hill that made my heart rate rise i felt like puking (and did). and once i felt seasick after an ocean swim where i was swimming parallel to the shore and getting rocked by rollers.
each time it was made worse by getting onto the bike and going too hard.
When I first started tris I used to get seasick(motion sick) on the swim. Even threw-up during 1 swim and on the way to transition a differnt race I think it was a combination of nervousness, diet, not being very good at sighting and just the motion of turning my head to breath. After the first couple of seasons it went away.
Never got the same feeling in the pool, just race related. I have a tendency to get carsick and have even gotten “carsick” playing video games specifically driving games.
i would look into that as well as a guy i train with struggles when it gets really choppy.
Alos, have you tried an all liquid (ensure) diet before the race? I would also try and eat around 2 1/2-3 hours or more before the race just to give it a bit more time. I personaly do well with very simple solid foods: banana-toast-applesauce-sports drink. Some guys just make a smoothie with some meal replacement in it for calories and it will tend to digest quickly.
Swallowing water in the turbulence of the swim? Try and get away from the crowd (start late and/or wide) - go a little slower - make sure you don’t swallow any water that gets in your mouth.
Seasick - you could try and race with a scopolamine patch on - though fresh water swim are generally very calm…
Acid reflux? Take prilosec for the week before the race…
I had’t thought about motion/seasickness. I don’t usually suffer from it, and none of the swims have been in big swells. However, taking a motion sickness pill or patch is worth a try, so long as i can find one which will not make me drousy.
I might have ingested some water during the swims, but i can’t remember ever ingesting a significant ammount of water.
It could be my pre race food, but i don’t think it is. The 2 races i’ve done without sickness i had the same food at the same time.