Try eating some instant oatmeal. One or two packets won't fill you up and you'll have a little more energy for your run. I find it rapidly initiates reliable peristalsis.

MoapaPk wrote:

rpc wrote:our dog has the same problem.

Acid reflux after drinking coffee?

good guess but no - bowl movement 2 miles into a run & no interest in going prior.

Obviously packin' some TP is the answer here, but the guy lives in DC, so perhaps there are no places to get outta site. You might try construction sites (porta potties) gas stations, going down in big culverts under the road....I'm sure there are more urban sites to use I'm just not that familiar with them...oh, college dorms and buildings, museums... It'd help to know what was along the way where you are running, get creative. And dude, never leave home without TP!

jniehof wrote:

battledome wrote:I think you're better off having a cup of coffee every morning about an hour and a half prior to your run...

blazin wrote:I don't have the time to wake up an hour or two before my run

Don't have time or don't want to? I get up at 5:00 so that I can have coffee and cereal before a run at 7:00.

DC, huh? WELL, no wonder....that explains it all!

In my best 3rd grade whiney voice...."Whazza matter? 'fraid the park police helicopters will spot you?!" (snicker... ) I'm sure they're used to being moon'd at.

You need to run on the canal. Although, your fears of poisen ivy are well founded. The place is covered in it.

Better yet, wait a few hours and run on the mall. The museums are free and so are the potties.

What happens if you do five or ten minutes of calisthenics the minute you wake up? Any chance you're ready to go by the time you're dressed and ready to go?

blazin wrote:I don't have the time to wake up an hour or two before my run so that my intestines can warm up and do their thing. I've tried eating dinner earlier and that didn't seem to help much, but I'm also unable to do that on regular basis. Short of exlax, does anybody have any suggestions for how to take care of this aspect of my running preparations?

With these constraints, I think you only have two options: coffee or cigarettes. Cigarettes are obviously not a good idea, so I'd learn to like coffee.

I have the same problem. I wake up an hour before my run, eat something and have a coffee. Deviating causes very bad problems...I once had to take care of things in someone's front yard on a pretty well-traveled street Luckily it was still dark out.

I run in Rock Creek Park in DC, so on fairly wooded trails, albeit in an urban park. I'm not sure dropping trou and pooping on the side of the trail would go over well, nevermind the poison ivy issue. But I'm game to give Metamucil a try.

Thanks to all for their suggestions. And to all those that have derived amusement from this thread: you're welcome.

aemter wrote:Best thread in a long time!

It's not bad, but did you see this one?

http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=53421

I was on Mt. Shasta this weekend (May 22, 23) on Helen's Lake camp site. The temperature was -5 F with winds gusting around 30 to 40 miles. Saw this brave soul squatting in the blustery conditions. I salute this individual as I held my shit all the way down to Bunny Flat and then committed the monstrous deed under much better circumstances.

I would like to know what is the most efficient way to take a shit under such conditions? I had 3 layers on and all I was thinking about was the logistics.

a) Piss first
b) Spread the wag bag (Prevent the wag bag from flying away)
c) pull down the layers
d) evacuate the bowels
e) Wipe super fast
f) pull up pants/layers
g) hand soap
h) put back the gloves.

A couple of these every morning and a glass of water and I'm good.



Saturday I had a race starting at 7 am. Going in the woods along the way and you can get thrown out of NYRR forever. In any event, it would kill your time.

Last summer I would run one morning a week with a fellow who lives on Cougar Mt, one of the prime trail running destinations for the Seattle area. Almost like clockwork, an hour into the run he would have to duck into the bushes. He always came prepared with T.P. in his fanny pack.

A couple of these every morning

Yeah, but you have to find two who don't mind waking up early and get along with each other even when you leave to go running.

If you run down by the canal, you have numerous bathrooms available to you. (just saying)

****I've experienced similar problems, which is specifically WHY I run there.********

There is a bathroom at Fletcher's and numerous porta-potties at the different locks.

Good luck

tigerlilly wrote:I'd go in the woods. problem solved.

Agreed. I carry a small plastic bag with wet wipes on every run/hike/climb. it's light and will definitely save yo ass! Pun intended. If you don't want to do your business in the bush, wake up a little early and run on a treadmill or elliptical and get things moving. That way you can take care of your bidness before you go.