h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, 10km as a distance would have been fine if it hadn't been for the fact that with about 1600 metres to go I desperately needed the loo. Not just for a pee either. So I swerved off the course to use the facilities - but couldn't get back on the track because by the time I'd "been" my legs had got cold.

Let's start at the beginning though.

Gruesome #2 is built like a runner, all skinny torso and legs up to her armpits. (or as her grandad would say: they go all the way up to her bum and then they start getting cheeky)

Anyhow, she decided that she would quite like to enter the race for her agegroup (W6) which was over 600 metres, and is called the Bambini Lauf. As it was her first ever run I didn't expect much, and true to form they all set off way too fast. But she did well, stayed the course and finished 18th overall, and 8th out of the girls. All the wee ones got a T-shirt (which was adult sized S, so it comes down to her knees) and a certificate telling them their time and where they came.

That run was at 5pm - so afterwards we hung around (they all ate ice cream) until it was time for the 10km.

It's at least 12 years, if not longer, since I did one of these, and I haven't run the whole distance in "training" but I was pretty sure that I could get around a 60 - 65 minute time. The run started at 19:35.

And off we went, really fast (and my, what a lot of racing snakes in the field!!) - too fast for me, and I slowed right down once we got past the spectators.

The course was 7 times round the city centre - boring as heck, but as you come past the finish line where the spectators were, at least you get a boost as they clap.

I'd just completed my first lap when the first of the guys went round me (a lap was 1,400 m - we had to add a bit on at the beginning to make the 10k distance) and pretty soon I was almost trampled in the rush. (but they were all very nice)

Round and round - pretty boring as I said, and pretty horrible because there was a long incline of about 800m which was horrible on the legs. As I was going up that for the 6th time I realised that I very urgently needed the loo. Not just to pee, but to go. So I swerved off the course and went into the changing place to use the loo.

And of course it's not a quick thing, and at that time it had got pretty cold - so my legs just went stiff and there was no way I could resume running.

So my first run "back in the running world" ended in failure.

Pretty peeved about that - but there is a citylauf in the other town near me on 19th June - this time I will enter the 5km one (because the loo problem is something that crops up often when I'm running, and frankly I'm baffled about it)

So, for me but for Gruesome #2

The main thing is that you gave it a go. All the best runners make pit stops - even Paula Radcliffe!
You can't be the only runner who finds that running 'starts other things in motion' - it might be worth finding a website and asking what other people do to cope.

Well done to GrueTwo - looks like you'll have a running buddy now

(In my case, it's libraries and bookshops which have that effect on me - must be something to do with tilting oneself to one side to read the titles as I squint at the shelves )

Living in Germany has its advantages here - you know a bit more about digestion than you would otherwise. You will have observed over the years how your digestion reacts to different foods, so eat with an aim to clearing the entire system by the morning before you run.

German hospitals are fond of enemas. They never work on me, but I recently discovered that if I drink about 3 litres of water all at once, it has the same effect, and none gets spilt.

As far as I know, pasta is the staple food for people doing long distances (a friend of mine did a 24-hour "spinning" stunt a couple of years back and said it was very important to eat during the breaks, even if you didn't feel like it). So, as you have to eat to keep your energy up, stick to noodles once the "system" has been flushed out.

Is it possible to run the distance the evening before? Would that clear you out? Or do you only get the "urge" when running in a competition?

I expect you know all that, but it's all I can suggest. If drinking the three litres at once doesn't work for you, (don't leave the house for the next couple of hours though, in case it does!) you'll have to revert to a laxative. I've never been constipated, but I was delighted to discover the three litre water cure in case I ever needed it.

Better luck next time. And there are people who've fared much worse. You certainly didn't make a fool of yourself.

Thanks both.
The loo problem comes up when I've been running for 30 minutes - as a laxative I can recommend running above all else.

I drink, on average 2.5 litres of water a day, plus various tea drinks (mostly herb or fruit) and recently one or two cups of coffee - but not too often.

I actually tried a laxative tea the night before the run, because I was petrified it would happen, and although I don't think it really had that much effect, I did "go" before the race (twice, if you can bear the detail )

And yes, TC, living in Germany really does waken you up to what goes in and comes out and what goes on in between!

I'll go on the Runners's World website and see if I can find some tips - I might even try the Ask thing here.

#2 is so proud of herself - but she's too little to do regular running training over and above all the running around she does as a normal kid. As long as it's fun, she can do it. I saw some scarily competitive parents yesterday.

I thought you'd have thought of all that. Just to clarify: the trick is to drink the 3 litres all at once, not spread over the day.

Keep us informed as to what they say on the site, it's obviously a question of timing.

3 litres at once? I'd have to be within running distance of the loo - don't know about you but since I had the gruesomes the very thought of having a drink and not knowing where the nearest loo is makes me want to pee, let alone the other!

off to Runners' World (I'll try the English site)

you're much braver than me.

Feeling a bit better about it now - I did 40 lengths at the pool today, that's good for concentrating the mind.

! I sound like some kind of exercise addicted maniac - i can assure you it's not the case.

will be my downfall...

How are you, LSF??? 20 weeks already?

I'm good thanks Sho!

Although I'm not as fit as you - I can't even walk up the stairs without my heart racing and being out of breath!

ah, but you have an excuse... and just think, it's only since I had kids that I have managed to get this fit.

It must feel good to be that fit.

I seem to remember what that feels like... although it *has* been a few years!

I've never been this fit