Sickness after running

LukeDXB
LukeDXB Posts: 2
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello everyone,

After running 17km (pretty much without a break), I end up feeling ill for the rest of the day.

Joints were getting sore but after taking glucosamine prior to running, am fine.

I drink water mixed with electrolytes and this has helped as I was previously just sipping water during the run.

Also I live in Dubai where at 4:00AM it's about 27 degrees Celsius with very high humidity. By 6:00AM, it's around 32 degrees Celsius. So am sweating an awful amount.

Should I be eating during the run?

I also run during the week across sand dunes and this is for about 30 minutes, running up and down dunes, in hard and soft sand.

Any ideas why I feel so bad after running 17km?

Thanks!

Replies

  • DirtyLittleRemix
    DirtyLittleRemix Posts: 18 Member
    I have no experience running so I may been way off the mark here but a touch of sun stroke? Do you wear a hat when you run? I find that I get light headed at the gym if I haven't had a small snack before and after the workout, perhaps that is something that could apply here? Hopefully someone with more experience will come along and give you a better answer!
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    What are you trying to achieve from running, and how does a 17K session fit with the rest of your training? What other sessions do you do and what other disciplines do you practice?

    Personally for a 10 mile session I eat beforehand and drink a half litre of electrolyte when I'm out. But at those temps I'd suggest dehydration.
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    I used to live in Bahrain and think you're nuts for running that far in that kind of heat and humidity... I could barely walk to my car. I'm build for the cold though and I'm happiest exercising outdoors on a frosty day in Britain. I'm back in the UK now and currently finding indoor temperatures too hot and outdoor temperatures nice and cold. Kudos for you for running in that heat though!

    You will be losing a LOT of salt and you're at risk of hyponatraemia i.e. insufficient sodium in your system, which can be fatal. Make sure you're drinking those drinks that replace salts/electrolytes and enough of them, and enough water. This is probably the reason why you're feeling ill, i.e. you're losing too much salt and not replacing all of it. Or you're dehydrated, or a combination of both. Please be careful about this because hyponatraemia can be fatal.

    In Bahrain in the summer I'd typically drink 3 litres of water in a day while being mostly sedentary with a bit of weight lifting in an air conditioned room thrown in... that amount of water will be a lot more if you're running long distances outdoors. And you have to factor in replacing electrolytes which was less of an issue for me because weight training workouts didn't go on that long and I'd eat before and after. But any time during the day I felt ill/dehydrated I'd drink water and eat something salty and that usually fixed it.

    I think the amount of electrolytes you should take in is relative to the amount of water you are drinking. And if you're running in that climate I'd estimate you'd need to drink about 5-6 litres in a day. I might be wrong, never done running, but I was drinking about 3 litres a day in summer and I was mostly sedentary apart from the weight lifting.
  • LukeDXB
    LukeDXB Posts: 2
    Ok - I wasn't exactly clear: I'm running between 4:00AM and 6-6:30AM. It's about 32 degree C and 75% humidity.

    The goal is marathon. I did the 2012 Standard Chartered Marathon here in Dubai and did it in 4 hours, 30 minutes. The goal is to better it. When I crossed the finish line, I could barely walk..

    If lack of sodium is a problem, should I be taking tablets or something?
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    As others have said water and electrolytes sound the most obvious. As for your joints there is no scientific evidence that glucosamine actually does anything for joints. Lots of people swear by it but the science doesn't back it up. If your getting joint pain I would have a look at the usual suspects which is your shoes and running form

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