Post Punk Kitchen Forum

I'm taking part in the Robin Hood Marathon tomorrow and am worried about doing a crepe in my pants on the way around the route. I did a 5k in April and didn't get any problems, but my bowel movements don't normally happen at this time. They usually happen around the time the run starts tomorrow.

Anyone got any pooing-whilst-running stories?

If you have to poop, can't you leave the race and go poop?
oh or do you mean not being able to control yourself? nevermind. i'm dumb

I once had to go in a NASTY porta-potty. I was thankful for it, because it was either there or in ma pants. I try to get up early enough so I can have a light breakfast (usually PB toast) and a bit of coffee. Then I get on the internet or read for half an hour or so while I'm digesting. Typically I'm able to go beforehand when I do that. Funny enough, I was just doing that now, and I just went, so now I'm headed out the door!

Any sorta run/poo stories are welcome. I've read a few accounts on other sites and have seen some brown-streaked legs on people qualifying or going for best times, but thought I'd ask here knowing that the PPK is good for a poo story.

yeah, i don't actually know anything about running except that my husband sometimes comes back from a run early with urgent need for the toilet, so I just assumed that you'd be able to feel the need and get away and then come back. He just told me you might not be able to tell when you have to go in time to make it to a toilet if you're running hard enough.

Ideally I would say you should shift your schedule so you are used to getting up that early, but since the race is tomorrow that's not really an option. I would just try to get up early enough so you can have a good breakfast half an hour to an hour before you have to leave, and hope for the best. Marathons will usually have port-a-potties every couple of miles, but you should check out the course ahead of time to be sure. I have heard poo-on-leg stories from people using port-a-potties, though..and it wasn't their own poo... :-X

I think bowel control would only be a problem if you're pushing yourself too hard (or if you have some problems with making it to the bathroom in time normally). If you're running at a moderate pace (for you), I don't think there's any reason to worry.

I have no pooing whilst running stories, per se. But regardless of food intake, whether I've pooed before leaving for a race, etc... I always have to nervous-poo before a triathlon. Which is actually kind of good, really, because it means I'm starting the race empty, right?

i second getting up a bit earlier so you can eat and relax and have time for an early poo..and coffee always helps a poo along ;)

If you drink two large glasses of cold water as soon as you wake up it helps your movement to come within the hour.

good read

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=5651802

Someone mentioned her to me when I told him I was thinking about doing a marathon, and we were discussing intense women runners. Apparently she's phenomenal though, and qualified for the Olympics with that run!

Yeah, see. No. I would be like, "okay, time to call it a day."

I believe it! I always end up using the portapottys more than once before races, and I think once during my half marathon. There was a line! And we were only like half a mile into the course.

It's definitely disappointing knowing your time could have been even 2-3 minutes faster, cause that's a big deal - 10+ seconds per mile! Maybe this is why I'm a middle-of-the packer ;)

I've actually never even considered that anyone would poo while running, but I've definitely considered a quick pee without stopping. I wonder if that's common?

i would get up early and drink a big asparagus cup of coffee.

i do this before my hot yoga class on the weekend, not because im afraid im goign to poo myself but because i dont want to feel like i have to poo in the middle of class and then have to leave drippign with sweat to go poo

I remember reading once that Paula Radcliffe had to stop to poo during a marathon. I didn't realise it was such a common problem!

When I was marathon training last year I had some really REALLY close calls. Sometimes nature calls and you are just nowhere near a public washroom.

I only had a ...mishap... once. It was pretty awful. It wasn't during a race at least. The sad part is that I was running home as fast as I could and I was only about 2 blocks away...

The same thing happened to me. I ate dinner right before going for the run and then I couldn't run home fast enough. Luckly nothing showed through the pants (yay for long tight pants) but man, it was uncomfortable.

I am so disturbed by that photo!

Id just run with a diaper on

this article really lays it out. not just pooping, but blood out of different orifices, puke and urine, too! good read.
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2011/01/marathon_disgusting_pictures.php

oh god

I can (horrifically) relate to #2. If you read waay back in the "bisque about your period" thread, you can read about the 1/2 marathon I ran while having a very serious menstrual malfunction. I actually had to leave the race course and find a bathroom to try and localize the mess. YEAH. Thank christ I was wearing black tights. My time was a full 30mins longer than my regular time. I crossed the finish line with my worried friends/family waiting (thinking something had happened, seeing as I was so late) only to respond with a deadpan "I don't want to talk about it. I need to change." YEAH.

I also saw an older woman with diarrhea streaks on the back of her shorts one year during the Vancouver marathon.

Conclusion? Distance running is gross.

I knew there was a reason I hated running.

This thread has convinced me that I never want to run a marathon.