Anyone suffer bowel problems after exercise? TMI

[Asleeponasunbeam]

I'm really struggling after long runs. This is the second 10 miles I've run (first HM in 5 weeks time) and both times I've been really unwell after with diarrhoea. Not just once, and feel dreadful. I'm in bed with Sunday night chores left undone.

Internet suggests it's a common problem and there is dietary advice I will try. I thought I was doing okay with hydration and felt fine during the run. I wasn't over-exerting myself. But I'm so worried about the event (and the 250 mile drive home afterwards), it's going to mar my enjoyment of the training.

I can't see how people carry on. I wanted this to be my first HM, not my only one, but I can't lose whole days feeling like this.

Any experiences or thoughts? Thanks.

That sounds unusual. A 10 mile run might well loosen your bowels a little but for most people it would be a case of going to the loo and being done with it.

Are you having any energy gels etc? They can really upset some people's stomachs. Can you post what you're typically eating/drinking before, during and after?

I thought it seemed a bit odd.

I feel okay this morning, but eating is a problem. I didn't eat anything afterwards. Absolutely couldn't. I know I need to. DH had cooked an amazing roast lamb too!

I've now got toast and milk.

No energy gels. Just water before, a rehydration drink during and after (and diarolyte yesterday). I just ate a normal day's food yesterday. Bacon sandwiches for breakfast, duck wraps at lunch and fruit and a couple of oat muffins during the day. Run was at 4pm. The other 10 miles, with same problem, was a morning run and I had a cereal breakfast about 2 hours before starting.

The running websites suggest chocolate milk straight after if you can't eat, so I'll have some ready next weekend.

I wonder if you have a wheat intolerance? You had a lot of bread/cereal based foods both days.

I sometimes get this too. I've had to curtail longer runs because my bowels are not prepared to wait any longer for me to get home! In the gym, I've had to get off the treadmill, go to the loo and then get back on. It's a nightmare. No advice though, I just suffer in silence. Did 12 miles this morning with no problem but I had already 'been' so guess that helped.

Do you think it might be the rehydration drinks? I ask because I had them for the first time today during a half marathon ( Learnt my lesson on not trying new things on race day!). The first one I knocked back thinking it was squash and then at the end they were giving out recovery rehydration drinks that tasted much like dioralyte and I got home to find my tummy in a state, gurgling, churning etc. I normally just have coconut water or Choc milk during/after a long run and don't have any probs. I think the double dose of rehydration salts is what made my tummy go so squirly