Racing and Vomiting
MartinaNYC
Posts: 190 Member
Hi fellow runners! I ran a 4M race in Central Park yesterday and it's the second time that I start feeling noshes towards the end of a race. I made some researches and every one says that it happens when you are nervous or when you push hard. Although sometimes I feel noshes when I push myself too hard during training runs, that wasn't the case yesterday. First of all, I was 100% relaxed- I ran this race to support Boston and I wasn't concerned about my time. I was simply listening to my music and having a good time! And I didn't push myself- I started slowly and proceeded at an almost even pace, just following the flow and listening to my body. Then, half a mile to the finish line, I started feeling noshes. Just so you know, my pace for mile 4 has been the same as for mile 2 (mile 3 has been a bit slower because it was very hilly), so I wasn't pushing harder or anything. Of course, when I saw the finish line, I wanted to speed and save some seconds but as soon as I tried I felt everything coming up so I slowed down again.As soon as I crossed, I set down on the side and kept coughing while feeling everything coming up. The first aid station was right there and they had me putting my arms up and breath. I ended up not vomiting and after a couple of minutes, it all went away. I stood up and I kept walking. Again, I'm positive I didn't push too hard. In fact, right after I was feeling great! I wasn't fatigued and my legs were still fresh (even today I don't feel any extra pain). Any thoughts? I had a tiny breakfast at 6:30am (the race started at 8am): coffee with a touch of soy milk and a tsp of honey and one rusk with a tsp of honey. Later, a guy from my team told me to try and race on an empty stomach next time but I'm not sure about this. I run on an empty stomach during my rare morning runs ( I usually run in the evening) but first, I start running as soon as I wake up and second, I always run at an easy pace... I feel like I need some fuel for my races but at the same time, I'm tired of wasting seconds because of this issue. Did this ever happen to any of you??? Thank you!!!
0
Replies
-
I would agree with your friend about running on an empty stomach for a race starting at 8 a.m. If I were to eat something small I would do it 3 hours ahead of time to give plenty of time for digestion, etc.0
-
I do the majority of my runs first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, I hate trying to go for a run after I eat something. For race days if I am up a couple of hours prior to start time I will eat something light (fruit, yogurt) but generally I won't eat anything until after I am done. During half marathon and longer races I will use Hammer Gel. Different people's bodies react differently so you should pracitce your fueling routine during training runs prior to race day.0
-
I run everything on an empty stomach (training runs, short races, marathons). If I have to eat something, I find the things from the gummy bear phylum are about all I can handle.0
-
I can't eat before a morning run or I'll throw up.
That being said, on mornings I don't eat and I'm dehydrated I'm likely to get nauseous. What was your water intake like the day before and morning of the race?0 -
Do you experience the same thing during your training runs in the afternoon? Have you tried eating a similar breakfast (to what you had for the 4M race) before one of your morning training runs?
Vomiting can be a result of too much - or too little food/water. Dehydration presents itself in strange ways - vomiting and diarrhea. It seems backwards, but it's true.
I've had to do a lot of experimenting with my pre-race meals, and during race refueling foods. I always eat before I run - training or rracing. I am usually up 3 hours before a race to eat just because I don't want to lose any minutes in a bathroom or port-a-pot. Training days I will eat about and hour and a half before running. I do most of my training runs near gas stations or facilities that have restrooms.
I've heard some people can only tolerate a liquid breakfast before races. You might try experimenting with smoothies.
How many races have you ran? Have you experienced this in each one?0 -
Thank you so much for your answers!0
-
Do you experience the same thing during your training runs in the afternoon? Have you tried eating a similar breakfast (to what you had for the 4M race) before one of your morning training runs?
Vomiting can be a result of too much - or too little food/water. Dehydration presents itself in strange ways - vomiting and diarrhea. It seems backwards, but it's true.
I've had to do a lot of experimenting with my pre-race meals, and during race refueling foods. I always eat before I run - training or rracing. I am usually up 3 hours before a race to eat just because I don't want to lose any minutes in a bathroom or port-a-pot. Training days I will eat about and hour and a half before running. I do most of my training runs near gas stations or facilities that have restrooms.
I've heard some people can only tolerate a liquid breakfast before races. You might try experimenting with smoothies.
How many races have you ran? Have you experienced this in each one?
Thank you for your answer- I had a similar problem during some of my training runs but I know it was probably because I was pushing way to hard. That's the same thing that happened during my last 5K- I pushed too hard during the first 2Ks and as a result I had no energy left and I almost threw up the banana I had 2hrs prior to the race. I was also told not to have coffee before my runs so I should try that, although I don't know how I'll be able to wake up properly on race day
I had a similar breakfast on Saturday 2hrs before my 10miles long run and I didn't have any problems... Sunday I have a 5K and I'll try to follow my BF suggestion and have a few tbsp of honey and that's it! Oh and I drink plenty of water every day (8-10 cups per day) but I never drink when running less that 8 miles... 0 -
I'd say 10 cups (my usual) the day before but I'm afraid I didn't drink plenty on the morning of the race... And I never drink during runs shorter than 8 miles becuase I don't feel the need, plus water+running doesn't agree with me... Probably I should try to drink more on the morning of the race and try as much as I can to avoid my beloved coffee, which I heard can cause these sort of problems...0
-
I can't eat before a morning run or I'll throw up.
That being said, on mornings I don't eat and I'm dehydrated I'm likely to get nauseous. What was your water intake like the day before and morning of the race?
I'd say 10 cups (my usual) the day before but I'm afraid I didn't drink plenty on the morning of the race... And I never drink during runs shorter than 8 miles becuase I don't feel the need, plus water+running doesn't agree with me... Probably I should try to drink more on the morning of the race and try as much as I can to avoid my beloved coffee, which I heard can cause these sort of problems...0 -
I run everything on an empty stomach (training runs, short races, marathons). If I have to eat something, I find the things from the gummy bear phylum are about all I can handle.
I saw your great accomplishments so I should probably trust you THANK YOU! 0 -
My first marathon is not until October. I always drink a lot of water, but before my first half marathon all I had was a banana and that was plenty. I prefer to run fasted but realize that more energy is needed prior to a marathon.
Maybe a banana, some oatmeal and a few cups of water several hours beforehand?
I have read that you should never try new foods just prior to a marathon. Stick with something very light that your body is already accustomed to.0 -
With all things running, we are each an experiment with a sample size of one!
So your job is to figure out what works best for you. I know plenty of runners who eat before they run.
Just try some different things and see what works best for you.
I would suggest that hydration for a morning race should be done the night before more so that the morning of.0 -
Another thought I had is I know several runners who get up pretty early before their marathons to eat, then go back to bed for a few hours.
Let us know what you try and how it goes.0 -
I can't eat before a morning run or I'll throw up.
That being said, on mornings I don't eat and I'm dehydrated I'm likely to get nauseous. What was your water intake like the day before and morning of the race?
I'd say 10 cups (my usual) the day before but I'm afraid I didn't drink plenty on the morning of the race... And I never drink during runs shorter than 8 miles becuase I don't feel the need, plus water+running doesn't agree with me... Probably I should try to drink more on the morning of the race and try as much as I can to avoid my beloved coffee, which I heard can cause these sort of problems...
Unless you feel a compelling need to drink water (which most people in the country seem to think) the medical evidence has, for many years, been that your thirst will tell you when you should drink.
Many years ago, conventional wisdom was that runner's should "pre-drink" and then drink, drink, drink along the way. In addition to having lots of folks sloshing around full of water, the running world saw people die from the complications of drinking too much water.
The International Marathon Medical Director's Association (IMMDA) has changed their guidance to "drink to thirst" and even Runner's World has changed their tune in recent articles.
http://aimsworldrunning.org/guidelines_fluid_replacement.htm
For substantiation about drinking to thirst while running, Dr Tim Noakes (the author of the fascinating book "The Lore of Running" as well as the inventor of the energy gel) has published a book on water (over)consumption and endurance sports
http://www.outsideonline.com/blog/outdoor-adventure/tim-noakes-on-the-serious-problem-of-overhydration-in-endurance-sports.html
Note the following link is a research report from a medical doctor who is a Professor Emeritus of physiology at Dartmouth Medical School. He is the author of a textbook on kidneys. At 100 footnotes, this document stands in complete contrast to the folks who urge us to drink, drink, drink who do not support their arguments with their own research, anyone else's research, nor, in most cases, do they even attempt to justify their recommendation.
http://ajpregu.physiology.org/content/283/5/R993.full
It's very profitable to convince people to drink a lot of water and it's a very reassuring behavior (one writer described handheld water bottles as "pacifiers for joggers") but, from a medical perspective, there's little value for either the athlete or the dieter.0 -
Nice post^^ The way I handle race day so far is to have an english muffin and peanut butter when I wake up and a little water along the way. Mind you, I have only run two 5k races. If I roll out of bed for a training run, then just a little water and I hit the road. I tend to drink a fair amount of water during the day. One thing I have learned along the way is that I have little control over my energy and water needs in the near term. Drinking when I am thirsty seems to be a very reliable way to go. Vomiting after a race is sign that something has gone seriously wrong, imho. The point made above about being a sample of one is very important. You have to decide what is best for YOU. No one else can determine that. My personal experience is that I have been able to run longer and farther without the need for water or food (gel). There is a limit to that, for sure. Temperature, intensity and time on the road will dictate the need for water and gel (or your chosen food source). My personal limit seems to be around an hour and a half. If I have a run planned for longer than that, I strap on the hydration belt.0
-
I had to experinement with pre-race and pre-run fueling strategies. I've found that small and simple works best for me and that I should skip the coffee. The coffee part hurts my soul but I think it was a contributing factor to my long run tummy issues. Now I do a few caffinated shot bloks during my run if I need a little extra buzz.
Breakfast for me: 1 peice whole wheat high protein bread, 1 tsp. peanut butter, and 1 tsp. jam or honey.0 -
I tend not to eat before my morning runs since I a full stomach is uncomfortable... However, since I don't like feeling hungry on a longer run (over 16 miles) I tend to eat about 15 mins before the run (somewhere between 500 - 700 cals) and just bear the discomfort for 4 miles :-). When it comes to a race (any race) Ill have a bagel before since I tend to do better. It does affect me though, the last 5k that I ran I settled for 2nd overall female place because if i pushed it I would have thrown up. I remember, one of the leader guys asking me, "you can catch her?" And I thought to myself, nope don't want to be known as the girl that threw up at thefinish :-)0
-
Sometimes when my heart rate is up super high before the end of a fast race, I will feel like throwing up. That also happens when I'm doing steep hill sprints (for the same elevated heart-rate reason)
I eat less than an hour before any run, day, night, race, short run, long run. and drink plenty of water. so I don't know about any of that. It certainly doesn't make me nauseous.0 -
I tend not to eat before my morning runs since I a full stomach is uncomfortable... However, since I don't like feeling hungry on a longer run (over 16 miles) I tend to eat about 15 mins before the run (somewhere between 500 - 700 cals) and just bear the discomfort for 4 miles :-). When it comes to a race (any race) Ill have a bagel before since I tend to do better. It does affect me though, the last 5k that I ran I settled for 2nd overall female place because if i pushed it I would have thrown up. I remember, one of the leader guys asking me, "you can catch her?" And I thought to myself, nope don't want to be known as the girl that threw up at thefinish :-)
Unbelivable- that's the same exact thing that happened to me last Sunday (except that I wasn't second! I had enough energy left to push but I knew that by doing that I would have thrown up... bummer!!! 0 -
Sometimes when my heart rate is up super high before the end of a fast race, I will feel like throwing up. That also happens when I'm doing steep hill sprints (for the same elevated heart-rate reason)
I eat less than an hour before any run, day, night, race, short run, long run. and drink plenty of water. so I don't know about any of that. It certainly doesn't make me nauseous.
Yes, that happens to me as well (especially when I push on Hills) but I heard it's very common! I was concerned about what happened to me on Sunday because in that case I know 100% that I wasn't pushing too much...0 -
I had to experinement with pre-race and pre-run fueling strategies. I've found that small and simple works best for me and that I should skip the coffee. The coffee part hurts my soul but I think it was a contributing factor to my long run tummy issues. Now I do a few caffinated shot bloks during my run if I need a little extra buzz.
Breakfast for me: 1 peice whole wheat high protein bread, 1 tsp. peanut butter, and 1 tsp. jam or honey.
Thank you for the suggestions! And yes, I have to learn to skip the coffee... I heard that caffeine and warm beverage in general are very likely to cause GI problems if taken before a run!0
