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Training for a Marathon with UC. Need advise!

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Posted 4/4/2010 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hey everybody!
I've been training for a Marathon for the past 2 months and after successfully staying on remission for about 8 months, I'm back on malasamine (a real bummer).
Has any of you here trained for an event like that with the disease?

I trained for a 1/2 marathon last year while in remission and I was fine. My concern now is that the mileage has increase on my long runs (yesterday I ran 15.8 miles) and by mile 14 I had to walk because I was in pain.. when I got home I basically emptied completely and I think I even had a fever after. I'm trying to eat just soups for now, but I need to have a full balanced nutrition as well.

I'm really concerned, and even though I will talk to my coach next week, I think anyone here that actually has this could help me as well.

Any advise you have would be really appreciated.

-BTW I'm running to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, so. I'm not quitting!
Posted 4/4/2010 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
You should make sure you have enough food intake as well as carbs to burn while training (from what I understand).

If you're back on your meds, make sure it's both oral and rectal.

Severe training can in itself set off autoimmune disease....just make sure you're using the meds.

Sounds like you've set out quite a goal....and that you'll succeed in it!

quincy
Posted 4/4/2010 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
I only use melasamine suppositories because of the location of the colitis, since the doc told me it would take much longer to process on a pill.
I also take probiotics every day.

I'm worried because on long runs, it feels my intestines cannot keep the food I've ingested and I just get diarrhea.. which in a long run in a port-a potty sucks! so next thing you know, I'm running on empty -literally- and even though I'm drinking lots of water and eating energy gels (I'm working on finding one with less sugar than the ones I've been using) I feel depleted and my stomach is sore..

I've been eating super healthy, lots of protein and healthy carbs (I cook all my food to avoid any surprises), I started with the soup yesterday because I was so hurting I wanted to give my gut a break with something light -it's chicken broth-

Thanks for the reply!
Posted 4/5/2010 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
You should look into enemas instead of/in addition to the suppositories.

Other than that I can't help you, because my definition of exercise is basically walking to Noodles and Co.
Posted 4/5/2010 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
thanks for the input.. my only worry is that I don't have insurance and as it is, going to the doc for even a prescription costs a lot of $$$.. very sad
Posted 4/5/2010 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
longer to process a pill.....never heard that one before.

q
Posted 4/5/2010 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have done several marathons. 

In the morning before a run I relax, drink a couple of cups of coffee, and make sure I go to the washroom before the run.   As much as possible I try get into the habit of going in the morning.  I take a couple lomitol before I run, and a couple at night.  Even in a flare that ussually regularizes my system enough that I go at semi-regular times.

But despite my best efforts UC shows up on runs sometimes.   If in a flare I found it a good idea to go on a 20 minute warmup (on a treadmill, or track near a washroom) before the real run, then use the washroom right after.   That ussually gets my system empty and prevents cramping and bathroom stops on the real run.  Also a good idea to know the route and possible bathroom locations (woods, gas station etc.).  If you are running with a group also look for some short cuts on the route just in case you have to stop.  

Posted 4/5/2010 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
Well, my point may be a bit negative. I stoped all sports, swimming, tennis, skating. I only go out for a walk now. I have a slight leg/ankle/hip arthritis. Also, my doctors told me to work out but not excessive ...
Keep us posted.
Posted 4/5/2010 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
Lots of marathoners who don't have UC get diarrhea but I know it's harder for those with UC. Lots of good advice and I would also recommend that you take 2 imodium before your long runs. The imodium will counter the increased motility. I did the Big Sur Marathon while in the midst of a 2 year flare. I was a bit panicky during the event as port-a-potties, were few and far between and in heavy use. The side of the road wasn't really an option either with too few discreet places. But I managed to do it. I also recommend that you look at products like GUU and FRS electrolyte chews for the actual run. Try to get a product with the least amount of sugar.

Sue
Posted 4/5/2010 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much to all!!! I'm crying because I'm feeling so grateful that you all took the time to reply.. I really want to do this and well, we all know how depressed you can get when blood shows up again, that's why I started running and doing yoga on a daily basis, to keep a positive mind.

Sue, I will try the imodium this saturday in my long run and see how it goes. The GUU tasted like chalk to me and I felt like throwing up, but I will check some gels called "hammer" that have the less amount of sugar

Ole363, I've tried to wake up a bit earlier but my runs start at 7am on saturdays and most friday night I work late... although I've been trying to use the bathroom before runs and timing my dinner time, etc.. to no use yet.. what is lomitol??
Thank you all again.

And please, keep the replies coming!!!
I'll keep you all posted about my training.

Dani
Posted 4/5/2010 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Lomotil is the prescription version of imodium. Imodium should be fine and it doesn't have the sleepy qualities of lomotil.

Sue
Posted 4/5/2010 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
My UC was diagnosed 2 weeks after this year's Houston Marathon. Haven't run another one yet, but am thinking bout doing the Mount Desert Island Marathon in Bar Harbor, Maine in October. I also take Hammer gels (can't stand any other gels) and make sure I wake up early enough to go to the bathroom before my long runs. I take the gels every 4-5 miles and drink a lot of gatorade. Try to eat dinner by no later than 7 p.m the night before your long runs, so you can go to the bathroom in the morning.
Posted 4/5/2010 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, the Espresso Hammer Gels are yummy!
Posted 4/5/2010 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
Take on pass on the tomato sauce when you eat the big pasta dinner the night before!
And take two immodium after you poo that morning!

I tried to do a 5 mile walk with a friend who didn't know about my UC. I was flaring, and couldn't do it with stopping to poo behind a bush, right near the U.S. Capitol. She was embarassed because we were then dead last to the finish line. She would normally have run it and won it, but was 8 months pregnant...but still had high expectations. oh well.
Posted 4/5/2010 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
houstongal. Thanks for the info on the hammer gels, and the timing between them.

Peety, yeah, about the pasta dinner... I'm lucky enough that I've already requested a gluten, dairy free meal for our big dinner the night before (I'm running with Team in Training to fundraise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society). The tomatoes don't affect me (I'm luky because I love tomatoes!)
Posted 4/5/2010 9:52 PM (GMT 0)

I've run a couple of marathons, and Sue's right:  the running itself can bring on diarrhea.  You're asking your body to do a lot of things at once, and processing food isn't high on the list.  Funny, a friend of mine was reluctant to run a marathon in the first place because she thought it had to involve pooping oneself. . . . 

I found that Gatorade and the gels made it and gas worse, which I chalk up to the sugar/ fake sugar.  An old-time trick is a boiled potato cut into pieces with a bit of salt. . . kinda of hard to carry.

And I wouldn't be embarrassed in the least if you had to walk some of those miles.  You might even consider walk a mile, run a mile.  Good luck. 

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