HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

UC and ultra running tips?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/17/2013 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I'm hoping to run a 16 mile trail race this weekend and then a 26 mile race next month. 

I did a 9 mile in Feb (first big race since having UC) and except for a constant urge after mile 4, I only had to stop running at the end of the race due to stronger urges. I managed to walk the last part and was happy to just finish the race at all. 

Any other racers out there with UC that have any tips on what helps them get through the race? 

Posted 4/17/2013 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
I would formulate a routine to get yourself cleared out before the race. This is pretty common for any runner even if they don't have UC. A lot of runners drink quite a bit of coffee before the race. Ideally you'd do this 2 hours before.

Some runners also go for a pre-run to get things going.

I would stop drinking and/or eating 90 minutes before the race. A lot of people (non UCers) over hydrate/over eat anyway. Eat and drink until 90 minutes before then use the next 90 minutes to get rid of whatever your body wants to. If there are long lines in the porty potty a good trick is to get in line early, go, then go right back in line (even if you don't feel you have to go again). Keep doing this, you'll probably find you can go a bit every time (1 and/or 2) and get yourself empty just before the race.

Just before the race you might want to consider an anti-diarrhea medicine. A lot of non-UCers use Immodium anyway. If you can get a prescription for lomitol that's very effective.

In the race try to train yourself to go a long ways before needing food/drink. You should be able to train yourself to get by on a minimum of food. Try to get through an hour or 90 minutes before starting to fuel.


You don't want to bonk but you want to get by on the least possible. Excess food in your gut is not good. So in training try not to eat much. Especially near the end of training runs where you are near home/car.

As much as possible your fueling should be done 90 minutes before the race/training, then recovery fueling right after.
Posted 4/17/2013 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Wow. You sound like a pro at this. Thanks for posting a response. I am for sure going to follow your advice on the food/drink intake. The idea to walk to the end of the porta potty line after going is a great one!

I've always limited my food/drink during training runs b/c i don't like carrying the extra weight and just don't feel it's really necessary unless it's super hot outside.

What foods to you intake during a long run to prevent bonking? Do you use gels or solid foods? Drink preferences? I'm going to carry a couple water bottles with Emergenc-C Cran-Pomegranate mixed in. Do you think that alone will be enough for 16 miles? I'll probably average a 11-12 minute mile if I don't have to pit-stop much along the way.
Posted 4/17/2013 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
I pretty much do not use food for long runs even up to the 3 to 4 hour range. For a marathon distance (I am ussually around 3 hours) I'd take 3 gels. And also a water/gatorade as needed. I like the gatorade diluted. So I just run through the water stop grab a gatorade, grab a water, get both down fast, figuring I'll get about 1/2 of each.

You should be OK as long as you've tested things out on a training run. Everybody seems to be a little different. Sounds like your effort will take 3 hours or so?? My advice would be do a 3 hour training run, covering maybe 85 percent of the distance. Or the same distance but on easier terrain. Test out your fueling on this kind of run.
Posted 4/18/2013 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Yay, other runners with UC! I've just started getting into running recently and haven't done any races linger than a 5K yet but I'd like to do a half marathon in September. Just a warning that Emergen-C really upsets my gut...you might be fine with it but I avoid it now. Good luck at your race!
Posted 4/18/2013 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
Sometimes before a run or longer bike ride I would use a small plain water enema to flush out anything in the last part of the colon. I found it bought me more time.

Sigh... I wish I could run again.
Posted 4/18/2013 9:59 AM (GMT 0)
All good advice so far. I think I can handle a few urgent rr breaks since its a trail race and mainly in the woods. Runners are used to seeing others relieving themselves so it wont seem too bizzare. As long as its not one of those horrid hour long D episodes ill be ok. I'm worried too about fatigue from being on
Asacol and Uceris but I'll just have to wait and see how it goes.
Posted 4/18/2013 10:06 AM (GMT 0)

Learjet said...
Sometimes before a run or longer bike ride I would use a small plain water enema to flush out anything in the last part of the colon. I found it bought me more time.

Sigh... I wish I could run again.

Sorry to hear your not able to run now. I've been through that in the past with runners knee and am worried UC will take me down again. Hope you can find something similarly satisfactory for me it was mtn biking until my leg healed many years later.
Posted 4/22/2013 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hello. I just wanted to follow up on how things went. I followed most of Ole363's advice and I had not one urge during the entire race! I ate nothing before, drank coffee (a small cup mixed with extra water) 2 hours before, did my elimination at home, then stood in line at the jon right before the race and during the race I drank tiny sips and only what was absolutely necessary (about 1/2 water bottle mixed with 1/2 a packet of Emergenc-C Cran-Pomegranate) and ate 2 organge slices during the entire 25K. I also took an advil right before and halfway through the race. It took me 3:20 to finish a super hilly course. Other than some slightly sore knees yesterday I feel great today. I did have some minimal D later in the afternoon about 3 hours after the race. I'm sure it was from the post race hotdog and chips. I hope this encourages anyone else out there who is considering running but is scared, trail races are a great alternative to road races.
Posted 4/22/2013 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Awesome! Great job! Glad it went well.
Posted 4/22/2013 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
Great to hear things went well.
Posted 4/23/2013 8:04 AM (GMT 0)
Great to hear it worked out well.. I too follow the same advice, and if I am well, I am fine..

Last year I tried running during a bad flare, and the 10km almost killed me. If you are weak from D, I would advise not running. Gentle exercise and fresh air helps during a flare though..
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply