Keeping with this running theme I’ve got going on right now, I thought I’d share a little story from a race that took place nearly a year ago. Last April I was running the GW Parkway 10-Miler on what turned out to be one of the first really warm days of the season. As in, the temperature reached about 80 degrees by 11:00am.
I’d eaten a CLIF bar before starting out, deviating from my normal routine, but I figured I could use the energy. Around mile 3 I remembered just why I don’t usually eat before a race.
Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever tried running while clenching, but it’s not fun. And it’s not easy. There weren’t very many bathrooms along the way (I remember only one, there may have been another) so, had I stopped, there still would have been a line of people to contend with. And seeing as I was still in my competitive “maybe I can beat my last 10 mile time” mode, I didn’t want to stop.
But, good lord, 7 miles feels like forever when nature’s calling.
Can you tell? I'm concentrating so hard on just making it to the end.
Now, take into account that I was getting dehydrated and the heat was making me loopy, and you’ll understand why I was a mess when I finally crossed the finish line. I was standing in front of the porta-potties, just staring at them, white as a sheet, when one of the friends I’d run with (the now-boyfriend) found me and asked what I was doing.
I whispered, “I have to poop. I’ve had to poop since mile 3!” He looked at me like I was crazy (fair) and gestured to the mostly empty porta-potties, that I’d just been staring at, blankly. “So…go.”
Basically what I looked like when he found me...except I was even more out of it then.
Afterward, and after I restored my energy levels a bit, I admitted to him: “The whole time I was running I kept thinking, if I actually poop my pants, do I have the guts to blog about it?“
Yeah. I don’t think so.
So here’s hoping that something similar doesn’t happen on Saturday (2 days!). Because mile 3 out of 26.2 is MUCH worse than 3 out of 10.
ahahaha… I’ve had that feeling on the treadmill more than once! It’s awful!
Good luck this weekend!
I don’t wish it on anyone.
Thanks!
hahaaaaa. i’ve also had the treadmill experience – in which case i’m IN A BUILDING so i always stop and take care of bidness. i can’t imagine spending 7 miles that way
It wasn’t pretty…or pleasant.
there are PLENTY of bathrooms! and we kind of run close to your apt….i.e. No excuses! You’ll be loopy either way, after 26.2, we don’t need toxic bodily substances being held in to add to the mix
Yeah, no worries. I’m not trying to be a hero this time. If I’m still standing at the end I’ll count it as a win.
It happens though, right? You know, um, “going” while running? I thought that was one of those things that hard-core runners did that makes us non-running weaklings tremble in our walking shoes…
Good thing you resisted till the end, haha! It’s really difficult to concentrate on other things because you always keep on concentrating on not “going” haha!
Cheers!
At the Pacers Half Marathon last year, we were waiting for a few friends to finish, by the finish line. A woman, wearing a BRIGHT ORANGE SKIRT had a huge brown stain on her skirt and diarrhea poop running down her legs. It was gross. Seriously. You’re better off at the porta-potties.
I was telling Karl about my friend running a marathon who witnessed a woman pooping all over herself, and he said “wow, that’s diesel. If it was my girl, I would have married her on the spot!” — then when we witnessed it ourselves he said “forget what I said. That is just disgusting.” and tried hard not to vomit.
Good luck tomorrow!!
A few years ago I was down in Richmond for their marathon, waiting for the elites to cross the line. Lo and behold, the number one woman came tearing across the finish line to nab a big ass first prize check.
Nothing abnormal except for the deuce marks. She shit her pants while racing. True story.
I’ve always wondered what runners do about that- I mean it could happen.