It seems that training is going a bit better in California. It's the last few weeks of school, and it pretty much isn't happening, but I want to be training, so I guess that's a good sign. I'm almost counting down the days, so my schedule no longer interfers with what I'd rather be doing.
Training question for the week: Do elite marathon runners poop in their pants on the race? I would stop at a porta-potty, but for an elite that could mean losing the race. Would you need to poop? Is that why they put blankets around them when they finish? How about peeing for that matter? At what point is a race too long to just hold it?
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Tina, this is an important but often overlooked facet of competition strategy. Having long ago mastered the content of the Barber library classic "How to Sh*t in the Woods" -- I have continued my research in advanced urination and excretion technique.
Even if you start a triathlon fully hydrated, you will always leave T1 with a calorie and hydration deficit. In triathlons, as in most other endurance events, dehydration is far more common than drinking enough to have to pee during the race. But, if you do have to go, it is distracting and sometimes painful to move vigorously. This is true in swimming, biking, and most of all in running. Beyond a certain threshold, holding it is not an option.
In the ideal case, an athlete should do his business within an hour or two prior to the race, and then urinate immediately before the start. For mass start events, this can be a problems, depending on the facilities. Lines at porta-potties can be long, and crowds near the starting area can make an inconspicuous release difficult. Plan ahead, use your personal race supporters as line holders, or pee in an extra water bottle, if you can.
There are several reasons why the swim is the appropriate choices for the first leg of a triathlon, and permitting pre-race urination is one of them. Anticipate the conditions of the race you are preparing for: do competitors start in the water or on the beach?
Even with a beach start, an open water swim is a relatively comfortable place to urinate. The abundance of clean water leaves you feeling clean as you head for T1. Additionally, peeing in a wetsuit can calm your nerves in a cold water swim.
(This is not to say that many a swimmer has not relieved some pressure in their lap lane -- I had been a swimmer for a good 7 years before I realized just how common this phenomenon is. Even in a chlorinated pool, it's kinda gross.)
Peeing during the bike or run is another matter. If you plan on doing this, you should train specifically for this. It is incredibly difficult to retrain your body to override the now intuitive message "do not pee your pants".
Consider your clothing. Bike shorts have a wonderful layer of padding that prevents saddle sores, but this padding can also be very absorbent. Imaging beginning your run wearing a wet diaper. Tri-specific shorts a similar to bike shorts, but the padding is much smaller, partly for the reasons just mentioned. Keep in mind that urine may alter the amount of friction between your shorts and your most sensitive areas. Chamois creams (aka booty creams) are a pleasure to ride with whether training or racing, and have the additional feature of being anti-bacterial.
While training, pay close attention to your urine. Where does it go? Down your leg? Into your socks? How does this feel? Does it go down your bike? Is it absorbed by your saddlebag?
Of course, you should also carefully consider the weather conditions. On a hot day, the moisture could help cool your body. But even a half a pint of water on your crotch on a cold day is enough to make you, well, uncomfortable, to say the least.
So do elite marathoners poop their pants during a race? If they must poop, probably they do. Or, they pull a fast squat on the side of the road -- no wiping -- which is not much better. Running a marathon, especially a fast one, is incredibly painful. It is not like the foul smell would spoil their otherwise pleasurable run.
The shiny silver blankets are for primarily for heat insulation. And wicked cool looks. Those blankets are a byproduct of NASA space suit research -- so when you finish you next race, keep in mind that it is your tax dollars keeping you warm.
Michael,
I believe this was the most informative post we have had yet- bravo. Sounds like you might be speaking from a lot of personal experience. We miss you and hope you are doing well!
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