Piriri on the run: When “number two” is your number 1 priority – 03/25/2023 – On the Run

Halfway through the run, without warning, you start to feel the first signs of cramping. As feeling pain during a test is normal, you minimize the symptoms. Gradually, the discomfort increases, and your focus is no longer on the race pace and turns to intestinal discomfort. The sweat turns cold. You look around for chemical toilets in case the situation gets worse. The pain increases and becomes unbearable. In the best case scenario, you find a cabin, relieve your intestines and try to continue the race. The worst case scenario is up to your imagination.

Yes, this text is about “number 2”.

Readers unfamiliar with racing routine may question the choice of theme. Too eschatological, he will say. But, among athletes, this issue occupies a prime space on the list of concerns. There is even an expression in English to designate this intestinal disorder among runners: runners trots – something like “runner’s trot”. And, unfortunately, it is more common than it seems.

According to an article published in the Western Journal of Medicine, of the 707 marathoners surveyed by the researchers in Oregon (USA), more than a third reported having already tried the runners trots. Professors Erick Prado de Oliveira (UFU) and Roberto Carlos Burini (Unesp), in a text for the scientific journal “Sports Medicine”, mention that, depending on the survey methodology, the incidence of intestinal discomfort varies from 30% to up to 90% among long-distance runners.

Marathon runner Bill Rodgers, famous winner of the Boston and New York races, is credited with saying: “More marathons are won or lost in the bathroom than at the dinner table.”

Why do runners get diarrhea?

The first message is that the runners trots it is an episode, not an illness. Embarrassment aside, there’s nothing to worry about.

There is no single explanation for this exercise-induced gastrointestinal distress. The causes are varied and often combined with each other.

The mechanical cause is the simplest. During running, there is a displacement of the organs inside the abdomen. These movements can influence the digestive process and increase pressure in the colon.

Another cause is vascular. Running increases blood circulation, given the body’s need to transport oxygen in order to support intense physical activity. This change can alter the functioning of the digestive system, inducing intestinal contractions.

There is also the chemical factor. Anxiety, nervousness and excitement are feelings that can stimulate the release of hormones such as adrenaline, for example. These substances, when in greater amounts in the blood, can affect the digestive system. In short: the butterflies in your stomach at the start can turn into a stomach ache a few kilometers ahead.

Finally, there is the nutritional factor. Changing your eating routine can trigger unknown – and unpleasant – reactions. The most common examples are the consumption of gel or foods that are not usual, the ingestion of excess water (or dehydration), or even an overly reinforced meal before the races.

What to do to avoid diarrhea on the run?

Below, I have compiled some tips described by professors Oliveira and Burini to avoid intestinal discomfort.

• Avoid excess fiber-rich foods the day of and the day before the race.

• Beware of aspirin and ibuprofen painkillers before the test. They increase intestinal permeability and can lead to discomfort in the digestive tract.

• Avoid foods high in fructose, such as juices or very sweet fruits.

• When taking carbohydrate gel, consume plenty of water to dilute the substance.

• Drink water during the test. Dehydration is a common cause of diarrhea.

• Learn how your body reacts to each food. Test your pre-race nutrition in the days leading up to the race.

And you? already suffered from runners trots? Share your experience in the comments below or chat with me on Instagram (@rodrigofloresnacorrida) or by email ([email protected])

PS: The title of this post is great, but it’s not mine. I deliberately stole from a New York Times piece on the subject.

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