II. Incidence
- Runners Diarrhea affects 35% of runners in 10k race
III. Mechanism
- Increased intestinal motility with intense Running
- Caused by gastrointestinal peptide
- Possibly related to bowel ischemia
IV. Symptoms and Signs
- Watery Diarrhea
- Increased stool frequency
- Large volumes
- Bloody stool in 12% of patients
- Diffuse nonlocalized low Abdominal Pain
- Tenesmus
V. Recommendations
- Establish pre-run ritual
- Avoid eating 2 to 3 hours before Running
- Decrease dietary sugars
- Decrease Dietary Fiber or use liquid meals before race
- Decrease Caffeine intake
- Avoid mints or gum containing Sorbitol
- Avoid large Vitamin Doses (especially Vitamin C)
- Switch training time of day to evening
- Stay conditioned
- Consider anti-Diarrheal drugs
- Consider temporary decrease in miles or intensity
- Initially decrease program by 20-25%
- Slowly re-increase Exercise program
- Consider rice-based Electrolyte solution (CeraSport)
- Anecdotal evidence only