running question, very personal, for women only PLEASE!

[IamLoved]

Hello ladies!

I have a problem and I am hoping that one of you may be able to help me. I started jogging about 6-8 weeks ago. My oldest daughter and I go out together as often as we can. We are able to jog for 3-4 miles at a time now and are very happy with it. We are doing our very first 5K this Saturday. Here is my problem. After I get done jogging I need to use the bathroom. Like immediately. It is bad enough hobbling up my driveway to rushing to the bathroom here at home. I am very concerned about being at a 5K event and desperately needing to use the bathroom as soon as I finish running. I am sure that part of the problem stems from the fact that I have given birth to 6children. Keigals will probably help long term but what do I do in the mean time? Has anyone else had this problem and if so what did you do to fix it (if anything)? Thanks.
By the way I always use the bathroom before we go out jogging and we don't drink water during the jog.
Thanks!

[Veganforlife]

Well, I know rebounding gets me (ahem) going...it's a good thing...you don't think so? Better out then in...

[IamLoved]

Yes, better out than in, but I'd rather not in public! :o

[rawstrength]

I ran on my high school cross country team and I have to tell you that EVERYONE, even high school girls who have never given birth, has to go to the bathroom immediatly after running. One time I finished a 5k at a school that I was unfamiliar with. As soon as I crossed the finish line, I began looking desperately for the toilet! I ran into the nearest building, which turned out to the library. Before I even opened my mouth, the librarian said "down the hall to the left." I followed her advice and quickly found the bathroom.

My only advice to you would be to not drink too much water in the hour before the race (make sure to drink a ton the day before the race). Also, don't get nervous, because nerves make you have to pee more. That sounds silly, but it's true!

Don't sweat too much about this, because it happens to everyone. I'm sure you will be able to quickly find the toilet as soon as you are done with your race. And if you badly have to go in the middle of the race, you can always look for a private spot and use the woods! Some of my teammates have some pretty funny stories about that . . . heh heh.

Good luck with your race! I'm sure you'll be rawkin' .

[IamLoved]

rawstrength -
Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate your help! I just assumed that it was because of having the children. Ok then. Hopefully there will be a bathroom nearby to attack after the run.
Thanks again. :)

[Veganforlife]

Ok then. Hopefully there will be a bathroom nearby to attack after the run.
Thanks again. :)

If not? Run like the wind!!! LOL!!! Sorry...my bad...you'll be fine!!!

[Stina]

Does anyone suspect any men perhaps spied on this thread?;) When my community hosted a 5k run, they set up port-a-johnnies along the way for just this purpose. But that's the advantage of living in a retirement community! Incidentally, the toliets are owned by a company that's called Honey pots, which I think is just about enough to make me never eat honey again.

[Veganforlife]

Oh I'd bet a body part that some men have tapped into this thread. I would read one that said men only, wouldn't you? Come on! You KNOW you would! LOL!

Honey Pots! We have them here to. I've always thought that was a sick name for the port-a-pots!!! :p

[Eva]

Don't sweat too much about this, because it happens to everyone. I'm sure you will be able to quickly find the toilet as soon as you are done with your race. And if you badly have to go in the middle of the race, you can always look for a private spot and use the woods! Some of my teammates have some pretty funny stories about that . . . heh heh.

Good luck with your race! I'm sure you'll be rawkin' .

LOL! Go in the woods during the race?! We were told to just "go" in our shorts! Seriously. But that was for competitions that we were big about. Our (ahem) hard-core stuff got us top ranking of the big schools in FL though!

NOT that I'm suggesting to IamLoved to go in your pants! ;)

Perhaps it would be worth scouting out the bathroom in advance? They do often add portapotties too at big races. Otherwise, rawstrength and others have shared some good advice. :)

And of course -- GOOD FOR YOU that you're doing so much good for your body!!

[lori ann]

Hey there,

So how did your 5k go?? Good I hope.

[OneBite@aTime]

I know it got "worse" for me after having kids. Every 5K I've ever ran has had johns set up.
If you see one before you're finished...go ahead and use it-keep your bladder (or bottom...whichever the case) as empty as possible and that should help

[ltcartwright]

I'm not a runner, so don't kill me....!! Would wearing bladder control pads help? Or does that slow you down? (Like I said, I'm not a runner.)

[Bethanie]

It's great for days when they have those "the first 200 people in line" times when you have to get up aroung 4:30 am to be the first in line:)
I wish i had known this when i did it some years ago in below zero weather for a $20.00 coupon for Christmas shopping:p
B.

[IamLoved]

Hello,

You ladies are so funny! They did have some portapotties set up and I hit them right before and directly after the run, so things were fine. Thanks for all your advice!