Are GI Issues Ruining Your Running?

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While training for my first marathon, I had the honor of making my very first trip to a gastroenterologist.

During the second month of training, I developed some severe stomach issues. I’ll spare you the details, but I’ll say that they were scary enough that I booked an appointment ASAP. The pain and discomfort started to interfere with my training runs, and I was nervous my first marathon finish was in jeopardy. After the initial appointment, the doctor diagnosed me with ischemic colitis brought on by a mixture of taking too many Advil while running 50+ miles a week and not staying adequately hydrated. I stopped the Advil, loaded up on water, and haven’t had any issues since!

Unfortunately, the majority of runners will experience GI issues at some point. Here are the top causes, as well as some advice to make running enjoyable again!

Major Causes of GI Issues During Running

All very un-sexy and, unfortunately, all very common to anyone who’s had to find the nearest port-a-potty in the long run.

Issues With Your Diet

Avoiding meat, high-fiber foods, and concentrated sports drinks/gels before runs may help alleviate GI issues mid-run. Also, consider limiting dairy products, as the protein in dairy takes a while to digest.

Running in Warmer Temperatures

One study found that, when athletes were dehydrated and running in the heat, their stomachs emptied significantly slower. The majority of these runners also reported GI issues. If you must run in the heat, as I do in Florida, here are some tips:

Additional Running Resources