Morning Run (Bowel) Preparations
Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 7:58 pm
[Disclaimer: This is a somewhat gross post related to bodily functions, I've tried to avoid obscenity.]
I like to run in the mornings. Not only is it cooler during the summer months, but it's the only time of day I really control my schedule. Unpredictable amounts of work, not to mention social activities, can pop up during lunch or in the evenings after work, throwing my whole schedule off. I find, however, that while I'm able to get from bed to hitting the trail in 15 minutes, this really doesn't give my bowels sufficient time to do their thing. They're simply uncooperative in the mornings. But a couple of miles into my run they definitely come to life. (Just to be clear, without being graphic, the problem is lightening my load before I go running, not any digestive issues.) This means that my runs involve a whole lot of sphincter clenching, the occasional shart, though as yet no total loss of control. I have nightmares about having to take dump alongside the trail and ending up wiping myself with poison ivy.
Does anyone else have this problem, or know of a solution? 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?
I like to run in the mornings. Not only is it cooler during the summer months, but it's the only time of day I really control my schedule. Unpredictable amounts of work, not to mention social activities, can pop up during lunch or in the evenings after work, throwing my whole schedule off. I find, however, that while I'm able to get from bed to hitting the trail in 15 minutes, this really doesn't give my bowels sufficient time to do their thing. They're simply uncooperative in the mornings. But a couple of miles into my run they definitely come to life. (Just to be clear, without being graphic, the problem is lightening my load before I go running, not any digestive issues.) This means that my runs involve a whole lot of sphincter clenching, the occasional shart, though as yet no total loss of control. I have nightmares about having to take dump alongside the trail and ending up wiping myself with poison ivy.
Does anyone else have this problem, or know of a solution? 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?