Whilst not being particularly highly trained I do do a lot of running (I'm a member of the Hash House Harriers. If you don't know who they are look them up on Google!!)

99% of the time the mere prospect of going for a long run is enough to produce a crap - hence I'm OK on the run. If that doesn't work I find that whilst running there is a (partial?) shut down of the digestive system when exercising which helps get me through. I suspect its the IBS that is causing all your (and your fellow runners) distress!!

My advice - don't take up triathlons.......

Just an update:
I am running the Boston Marathon on Monday and have decided to try out immodium. I know I am taking some risks, especially since I won't be running again for a week or two afterward, but i have also stocked up on metamucil, so I think it should be ok. I will give an update after the fact.

And, about the Harriers - yeah, I've always been curious about going on a Harriers run, but haven't ever done it.

Our friend George ran the Marathon in Greece about ten years ago. He made the mistake of drinking orange juice while running, something that he had never done, and had to poop right there and then.
Well, he went into the bushes by the road, then he rejoined the race and finished in the top 10 percent anyways.
Well, that's his lesson to not do anything new during a marathon.

I would say that if you are running enough to drop shit out your ass you are probably running too much. The human body was never meant to run for long distances. Even the cheetah only runs at 70 mph for short bursts.

And now... Deep Thoughts. By Jack Handey.

"Ever wondered why a horse can take a dump while running, but it has to stand in one place to pee?"

Just a note to "shit volcano" -- I have run marathons, but even going for a short run (ie: 20 minutes), I have issues. My stomach hurts and I have to rush home to the toilet. So - just saying its more than an issue of running too long!!!

I ALWAYS have to go in the middle of a run. It's to the point I bought a treadmill so I'd be close to the bathroom. :( I don't know what to do! I ALWAYS go before I run, but then it's urgent in the middle of the run and I have to walk home so I don't crap my pants! What can I do?? Help me!!!

I too had considered buying a treadmill but realize marathons aren't held there. I recently found DIGESTIVE ADVANTAGE for IBS, a probiotic supplement, and an IBS website that says SOLUABLE FIBER is best. After 2weeks I have had only 1 problem "run" that I had to walk.

I have the same issue as many of you, and it's about to drive me crazy!! It doesn't matter WHEN I run, I have MAJOR bathroom problems. I'm getting ready to participate in an IBS study throgh my GI doctor's office. The study is testing the use of an antibiotic for IBS. The drug is already used to help prevent "Montezuma's Revenge". Hopefully it will help the IBS!! (and hopefully I won't get the placibo...)

One of my uncles, born around 1906, used to tell the story of impromptu drag races (say 1920 or so) between horses and cars. The family (five brothers, including my father) had a horse that loved to run, so they would hitch him to a wagon, and a couple of the boys would incite the horse to race against a car going down one of the country roads. The horse would run flat out and poop voluminously while running--but he would always beat the car. The boys, riding right behind the horse, would arrive home, victorious but splattered with fresh horse dung, and my grandmother would look disgusted and say, "Racing again, eh? Better clean up."

"3. Perhaps try a gentle enema such as Fleets about two hours prior to the run."

Fleet's? 'Gentle??' Are you kidding me???

Yeah, I suppose you COULD take the stuff prior to the event, but it won't be a marathon you'll be running - it'll be a relay - from your sofa to the bathroom - for hours on end. There is absolutely nothing 'gentle' about Fleet's!

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"...[the turd] smelled like a road-kill possum raised on a diet of carp, wrapped in dog shit, inside a burning tire with a bag of hair in the sewers of Calcutta." - C Everett Poop

I googled "running IBS" to find this site and I'm so relieved to hear there are others who have this problem. I ran this morning - just 5min intervals (1min rest between), and the 2nd 5min interval was enough I could feel cramping coming on. I find that I have to slowly build back up to being able to run any length of time. I am trying to lose my maternity weight, so I'm starting all over. Even before the baby I would find that anything over 20 min would start my cramping, and going more than 50 min would drop me (very sick, cold sweats, nausea, cramping). I don't have to stop immediatly to go, but I usually have cramping periodically for a couple hours after the run, then WATCH OUT. Chills, nausea, and an unhealthy BM. Then all symptoms generally go away about 5 minutes post-poop. I already eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet (as I'm constipated normally until stressed and that causes severe cramping and diarrhea), and since I'm trying to lose weight, I've limited my dairy. I am not sure how Immodium would work - at least not for me. I think the running just stresses my body and causes the IBS to act up. Keep the ideas coming though - I'll check back for more.

I started the Gasparilla 15K today feeling so good. Pooped before my run and felt good at the start. Thought it would be my best run ever....then it happened. Around mile 6. I don't even know I'm doing it, until I feel wet. Geez!!!!!!!! It was horrible...I got the runs during the race. I finished, got my medal and left. I was so embarrased, smelled terrible...I didn't even get the goodies in the end, just left. The run ended up ok but I was so conscious of it all that after mile 6 it went down hill - surely wasn't my best. I don't have IBS and don't normally have any issues. Only when I run. Help! There has to be an answer.

I apparently have IBS and have found this interesting, i am training for a half marathon, which i trained for last year too. However only recently whilst running i have been getting awful stomach cramps, on and off, sometimes a lot worse than other times,when i stop running and at home the pain for the first few hours is extreme! followed by a runny poo poo. within a few hours the pain is a lot less and sometimes has gone completely.

It is odd becuase it never use to happen, does anyone know a way to stop this severe pain? as i don't want to give up running

I ran a half marathon today. It's been a while since I've run long distance but since I pooped the night before the race I didn't think I'd have trouble. Around mile 8 I really had to go. I was looking around the running trail for somewhere to poop but there is no way I could have done it without being seen. I kept running and crapped my pants around mile 9. I just kept running- didn't even care. Around mile 10 there was a porter potty so I went in just to get the crap out of my underwear. I kept running and was so embarassed because I'd catch whiffs of myself and I knew other people must have too. I really need to figure this out. Do you really think enemas would work? Has anyone tried them before a race?

something smells.....You may be onto a new way to get an edge in competitive running, while the other runners are pacing themselves at the start of the run, put on an early burst of speed and take the lead position. When you are definitely in the lead slow down and shit your pants. Try to eat the most horrible foods imaginable the night before so your stench will be so nasty no one can bare to pass you.
Be sure to save enough back for a re-poop if the situation demands it.

_______
Eat chilies and feel the burn!!

I can relate to that problem. Before I got old, fat, and lazy, I ran a lot to stay in shape and almost always had my run delayed, interupted, or postponed cause I had to poop._______
Here I sit, my cheeks a flexin' , trying to give birth to another Texan!!

Two years ago, I ran a my first half marathon. I was a bit nervous because I have had problems in the past about having to stop quickly at the potty. Well, I made it to the potty on mile 6 and thought things would be alright. No such luck for I had to go again around mile 11 but there was no where to go. I said, oh well and went in my tights. When I got to he finish line, I heard, "What smells!" Of course I knew it was me so I wrapped my bottom half in the free aluminum foil looking blanket they passed out and ran to my car. My husband laughs about it to this day but I was so embarrassed. I was 52 years old at the time and finished it in 1 hour and 55 minutes. I have tried cutting out wheat, sugar, and cut my fat and it seems to be better, but don`t think I should do another half marathon.

When I excercise such as doing sit-ups or push-ups it stirs up my bowels and I run to the nearest restroom
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Russell the shitting queen

I appreciate reading the reports of everyone's rnning diarrhea, it's good to know I'm not alone. But, seriously - is there a cure for this awful problem? I get it just about everytime I run. I'm reduced to running in areas that have porta potties every 1/2 mile. The dietary recommendations have not worked. On rare occasion if I've just had a full evacuating BM I don't get it. So, I'm tempted to try an enema prior to a long run. I'm training for a marathon. Is it really possible in this day and age that I cannot be a runner because of this physical problem? Thank you for your serious feedback.

Chickenshit, I think age has nothing to do with whether you can run or not. As I said earlier, doing certain things causes me to have this problem. Sometimes when I run, I have to go to the bathroom.
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Russell the shitting queen

I have had this problem for years. I know where every decent public toilet and the best bushes are on every major running route in town. I have never actually crapped my pants during a race but, I've come really really close. In fact, I was in a half marathon yesterday and was only saved from that fate by the fact that the course looped back by the starting line (lots of porta potties at the start) at the precise moment of my attack. The only things that SOMETIMES help me are to limit sugar, fat, and high fiber foods for at least two days before a race. Don't drink alchohol the night before and try to limit coffee to the least amount you can drink and still function. I know the nurse said to eat high fiber foods but, most of the articles I've read on the subject disagree (this includes one from the mayo clinic). That said, I still get sick when I run sometimes.