Running and the dodgy gut

[NotQuiteCockney]

I have a dodgy gut. IBS? I guess? Not severe.

I like to run.

But a good percentage of my runs are ruined by the rush to a loo. The park I run in has loos, I carry tissues in case there's no paper. But ... I'd rather not need to go.

I don't ever run less than two hours after eating.

But what else can I do? Do I need to get to three hours? That will make running trickier.

Normally, my breakfast is pretty high fibre, should I try eating less? More? Something else? Running first thing on an empty stomach? (Not generally possible, DH leaves too early.)

Bumping for you.

Anyone knowledgeable on this?

TMI Warning

According to Runners World mag around 50% of runners suffer with runners tummy. Some people manage to work out strategies to deal with it, others are like you (and me) and carry tissues just in case.

I've found that the night before a race or a particularly long training run then if I eat my homemade pasta bol then I'm ok - maybe psychological who knows/cares ?

I've a couple of friends who never run races without Immodium but train with tissues. Most of my running friends have suffered at one time or another and have had some 'difficult' moments or had to do the 'penguin' walk...

On days when I have to eat before going out in the morning, I have porridge and am usually ok, but like you, wait around 2 hours first.

Sorry not to have any answers, mine HAS improved gradually over the years I've been running but I'm still very careful to go to the loo before heading out so at least I can tell my head that I can't need to go - sometimes it works!

I knew I wasn't alone! Thought the title made clear it was TMI, but yeah.

A friend's DH waits 3 hours before running.

Is yours easier if you just don't eat before running? Next year, the kids will be gone at 7:30 many days, so I could just eat before bed, and then run at 7:30 ... but when I used to do that, it was still a problem, I had to make sure I (ahem) voided my bowels before leaving.

I'm working on 'making' myself go, by willing my guts to move, before I leave, but that's not going well.

My normal breakfast is homemade muesli, and it's very high-fibre. I guess I'll try reducing how much I have, and see if that makes a difference ...

oh well...in for a penny....

me too. it's a huge nuisance but I'm damned if it's going to stop me. I carry tissues, plan my routes round loos, and pop the occassional immodium (mainly only for races, or, if I just don;t feel right, and kind of suspect the worst).

I tend to run in the morning on an empty stomach anyway, and generally find it best for this particular problem.

I also try to walk/jig around a bit at home before leaving, which helps get things going so I can go before I go (iyswim ) but, interestingly, this morning - as a kind of experiment - I deliberately didn;t and had no prob at all - not the slightest. Whereas if I have been I seem to need to go again, whilst out.

I was asked, on runnersworld, if anyone had tried the opposite approach to immodium - ie a dose of senekot the night before to precipitate the voiding....and got laughed out the room. not a good idea, apparently...

another tip I read on rw - is that some people do a suitable length loop at the beginning of their run, and have a toilet stop back at their own house...

I had considered the loop run, but the distance it takes before I need a stop varies a lot. Sometimes it's 5 minutes running, sometimes it's more like 30. The loos in the park I run in aren't that bad, but I just really prefer runs where I'm not busy thinking 'do I have to go?' and instead am just enjoying running.