Throwing up at the end of a race?

short_nerdy_lady
short_nerdy_lady Posts: 152
edited January 22 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey Guys!

So I just started running in February and had NO issues with Nausea in training. But my first 5k I felt EXTREMELY nauseated after for hours to the point where I laid in the back of the car with a bag on my lap on the way home. After my 10k I felt fine for about 45 min then all at once I felt like my body was on fire and freezing then I threw up.

I keep hydrated and eat 2 hours before the race. Not sure whats going on here as in training I'm fine.

Any suggestions to avoid this?
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Replies

  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    Sometimes the adrenalin of the race makes you push yourself harder than you expect or are used to. Throwing up sometimes happens.
  • missybct
    missybct Posts: 321 Member
    Yup, I'd go with that. When we are in the zone we tend to discredit any abnormal stomach feeling - I do it on the cross trainer all the time, and when I come off I feel like I'm going to blow! It's adrenaline and maybe motion.

    Are you eating following the race at all? I'm just wondering whether it's any acid or something built up during running.
  • Joshacham
    Joshacham Posts: 467 Member
    That's what I call "Getting the job done with style."
  • short_nerdy_lady
    short_nerdy_lady Posts: 152
    @Missybct

    I had half a multigrain raisin pita thingy they gave us at the end of the 5k and at the 10K I managed 3/4 of a whole wheat bagel.
  • short_nerdy_lady
    short_nerdy_lady Posts: 152
    That's what I call "Getting the job done with style."

    hahaha! I'm just glad it happened on the way home and not in front of alot of people!
  • BamaBreezeNSaltAire
    BamaBreezeNSaltAire Posts: 966 Member
    It's pretty common after races. I think another posted said it best about the adrenalin rush.
  • bannedword
    bannedword Posts: 299 Member
    I puked at mile 12 of the Chicago Marathon and finished. I have no idea why.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Yeah. I thought it was traditional and customary?
  • Shetchncn1
    Shetchncn1 Posts: 260 Member
    Well we are all proud of you! Great job on the 10k!!!
  • BioMechHeretic
    BioMechHeretic Posts: 128 Member
    Usually just over-exertion from pushing so hard. All junior high and high school I did competitive swimming, and people wouldn't even be surprised to see someone blow chunks mid race and then keep swimming back through it lol.
  • Tech49
    Tech49 Posts: 10
    That's what I call "Getting the job done with style."

    That's awesome. I gotta remember this.
  • adriennefit1
    adriennefit1 Posts: 2
    Same thing happened to me after my first 10K. Felt awful for hours after. But I was told it is normal and I know I pushed myself more then I ever had in a training session. I havent figured out how to avoid it just yet. Maybe its all apart of the process for some. Congrats on the run though!!
  • short_nerdy_lady
    short_nerdy_lady Posts: 152
    Well we are all proud of you! Great job on the 10k!!!

    Thanks! Wasn't easy, but I'm glad I didn't give up.
  • short_nerdy_lady
    short_nerdy_lady Posts: 152
    Same thing happened to me after my first 10K. Felt awful for hours after. But I was told it is normal and I know I pushed myself more then I ever had in a training session. I havent figured out how to avoid it just yet. Maybe its all apart of the process for some. Congrats on the run though!!

    I don't feel so bad now :) Thank-you
  • rllewell
    rllewell Posts: 234
    Puke before the finish you went out too fast, puke after the finish you went out too slow, puke right at the finish line = perfect pace ; )

    Personally I've never had that reaction but have seen many do. All part of stressing your body to your limits which is what racing is all about.
  • mrdexter1
    mrdexter1 Posts: 356 Member
    good example of electrolyte inballance ...
  • crista_b
    crista_b Posts: 1,192 Member
    This thread is scaring me out of wanting to do races... I have serious emetophobia and have panic attacks if I'm around anyone who gets sick or if I see puke. I have goals of different races, but now I'm not sure if I could handle them if people are going to be throwing up. :frown:
  • DeeDiddyGee
    DeeDiddyGee Posts: 601 Member
    May be too much fiber.
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    You really shouldn't puke at the end of a race. Sounds like you pushed yourself too hard.

    I have never puked at the end of any race, even ones that I've done in insufferable heat.
  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    This thread is scaring me out of wanting to do races... I have serious emetophobia and have panic attacks if I'm around anyone who gets sick or if I see puke. I have goals of different races, but now I'm not sure if I could handle them if people are going to be throwing up. :frown:

    I've done 5 or 6 5Ks and I've never seen anyone throw up. I don't know if I can say I have emetophobia, but I definitely have a very strong dislike of being around people puking and it makes me feel sick and faint when I see it. Think of it this way, if you see someone puking you can run away!! :)
  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    I've never thrown up at the end of a race, and I wouldn't agree that it is normal or something to strive for. I've only seen one friend throw up, and that was because she trained with water, then took the blue electrolyte drink during the race.

    Its either a sign that you pushed too hard or your electrolytes are off.
  • short_nerdy_lady
    short_nerdy_lady Posts: 152
    RE: electrolytes

    Not sure that's it as I was sipping Gaterade and water throughout the race.
  • short_nerdy_lady
    short_nerdy_lady Posts: 152
    This thread is scaring me out of wanting to do races... I have serious emetophobia and have panic attacks if I'm around anyone who gets sick or if I see puke. I have goals of different races, but now I'm not sure if I could handle them if people are going to be throwing up. :frown:

    Crista don't let it scare you. As crappy as I felt at the end the pride of finishing was worth it. I'm also just starting out so maybe this will be something I "grow out of" :) When I look at my finishers medals I don't think of throwing up, I think of hearing my name called as I crossed the finishline, the excitement at the start and my other half next to me encouraging me hard at the 8k mark when I felt like my legs wouldn't take another step.

    Don't be scared :)
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    hahaha! I'm just glad it happened on the way home and not in front of alot of people!
    Throwing up at the finish line will make people look at you in awe! :-)
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    Sometimes the adrenalin of the race makes you push yourself harder than you expect or are used to. Throwing up sometimes happens.

    Yeah, yesterday was pretty close to one of those for me. I pushed harder than i ever have.
  • crista_b
    crista_b Posts: 1,192 Member
    Crista don't let it scare you. As crappy as I felt at the end the pride of finishing was worth it. I'm also just starting out so maybe this will be something I "grow out of" :) When I look at my finishers medals I don't think of throwing up, I think of hearing my name called as I crossed the finishline, the excitement at the start and my other half next to me encouraging me hard at the 8k mark when I felt like my legs wouldn't take another step.

    Don't be scared :)

    Thanks. I've always been very out-of-shape and overweight so I'm trying to make myself into a runner, and my main motivation is the feeling I'll get when I can actually finish a race. One of my friends runs marathons, and I hope to join her someday!
    For now, I'm sticking with the c25k program and working my way up. My sister, that same friend who runs marathons, and I want to do the Pretty Muddy women's mud run in Chicago in September so that's my current goal. :smile:
  • short_nerdy_lady
    short_nerdy_lady Posts: 152
    Crista don't let it scare you. As crappy as I felt at the end the pride of finishing was worth it. I'm also just starting out so maybe this will be something I "grow out of" :) When I look at my finishers medals I don't think of throwing up, I think of hearing my name called as I crossed the finishline, the excitement at the start and my other half next to me encouraging me hard at the 8k mark when I felt like my legs wouldn't take another step.

    Don't be scared :)

    Thanks. I've always been very out-of-shape and overweight so I'm trying to make myself into a runner, and my main motivation is the feeling I'll get when I can actually finish a race. One of my friends runs marathons, and I hope to join her someday!
    For now, I'm sticking with the c25k program and working my way up. My sister, that same friend who runs marathons, and I want to do the Pretty Muddy women's mud run in Chicago in September so that's my current goal. :smile:


    I'm the same way! I'm 5'2ish and 185 never done ANYTHING athletic in my life. To be honest I think my family came to my first 5k because they couldn't believe I'd do such a thing! Haha.

    We have more in common then I thought, and to be honest the extra weight for me has been a burden. (Not to mention seeing my chubby legs in finish photos makes me want to lose weight more!)

    You are not alone in this, Once we get the weight off we will get better at this. My advice: Do a few 5k's before attempting anything bigger. The 10k I shouldnt have done but did because I thought I'd have a month to train and didnt count on getting ill.
  • Bekahmardis
    Bekahmardis Posts: 602 Member
    I did the Pigman Triathlon in 2004 and oh yeah, there was definite vomit going on. I tell people who see the pig I got, "Hey! I puked for that pig!"
  • Sierrasdawn2
    Sierrasdawn2 Posts: 13 Member
    I run, and have completed many races...from 5K to Marathons. That feeling of being sick and wanting to ( or actually doing) throw up, is kinda normal...if you push yourself, which most people do in a race. I sometimes also feel it during training when I run 18 miles or more.
    I have heard it is because of the stomach and contents are being shook up during the run...maybe...
    I also think it has to do with the effort.

    What helps me is the juice from a real orange and to just sit still for awhile. I don't drink a bunch of water...and I can never eat real food immediately after a race...slices of orange is the only thing that makes me feel better.

    The way I look at it now....I am not going to actually WIN the race...it's ok if I take it a bit easy and actually enjoy the whole experience.
    Love the Run!!!
  • LizHR
    LizHR Posts: 16 Member
    I have not been sick but felt pretty queasy a few times, especially if I tried my version of a spint finish (i.e.anything faster than a granny hobble). I get dizzy easily anyway.

    Try eating something protein and something sweet at the end of the race. My wierd but it works combination was a slice of ham or cold chicken, or a boiled egg, and then a (small) chocolate bar or a honey sandwich. Stays down OK & balances the blood sugar drop that I think causes it.
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