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Fixing problems in Ultramarathons

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The table below lists some of the possible problems you may encounter during an ultramarathon, along with possible causes, treatments and preventions. Continuing a race when you have a problem entails some degree of risk, and these problems can impair your judgment, so use caution. This list is not comprehensive, and is expected to change over time. With all these suggestions, never forget [[The Golden Rule of Racing]], "Never do something in a race you have not practiced in training".
{| class="wikitable"
!Symptom!!Possible Cause!!Possible Treatment!!Possible Prevention
|-
|rowspan="9"| Nausea/Vomiting/Stomach ache|Overeating|
* Reduce calorie intake
* Ginger or mints may help
|
* Eat what appeals
|-
|Going too fast|
* Slow up, possibly dramatically until things improve
|
* Better pacing
|-
|Excessive fluid intake|
* Reduce fluid intake
|
* Drink to thirst
|-
|Too much salt|
* Restrict salt intake
* Be careful with [[Electrolyte Capsules]] to balance them against fluid intake.
|
* Balance salt intake with fluid intake
* Avoid [[Electrolyte Capsules]]
|-
|[[NSAIDs_and_RunningNSAIDs and Running| NSAIDs]]|
* Avoid NSAIDs
|
* Avoid NSAIDs
|-
|Infection|
* Sorry, better luck next time
|
* Careful hygiene, including keeping all your drinking containers sterile
|-
|Change in intestinal bacteria (due to traveling)|
* Sorry, better luck next time
|
* Travel earlier
* Avoid non-bottled water.
|-
|Constipation<ref>It's unusual for constipation to cause nausea, but it can happen</ref> |
* Higher [[Fiber]] intake
* Stay hydrated
|
* Higher [[Fiber]] intake
|-
|Tight waist band|
* Loosen anything around your waist or pressing on your abdomen
|
* Avoid whatever caused the pressure
|-
|rowspan="3"| Fatigue/sleepiness|Low blood sugar|
* Take something sweet or a Gel
|
* Take carbs earlier
|-
|You're running an ultra (what did you expect?)|
* [[Caffeine]]
* Short nap (5-15 min)<ref>Some runners recommend napping in a chair, others lying down with your feet elevated.</ref>.
|
|-
|Thinking about the time|
* Ignore the time of day and focus on the hours
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| Depression|Low blood sugar|* Take something sweet or a [[Comparison_of_Energy_GelsComparison of Energy Gels| Gel]]|
* Take carbs earlier
|-
|You're running an ultra (what did you expect?)|
* Music
* Positive thinking
** Mentally hook a runner in front and let them pull you along
* Join up with another runner or group of runners
|
|-
|rowspan="7"| Headache|Low blood sugar|* Take something sweet or a [[Comparison_of_Energy_GelsComparison of Energy Gels| Gel]]|
* Take carbs earlier
|-
|Tight hat|
* Loosen hat
|* [[The_Golden_Rule_of_Racing| The Golden Rule of Racing]]
|-
|Lack of sleep|
* Short nap
|
|-
|[[Caffeine]] withdrawal|
* Take [[Caffeine]]
|
* Monitor [[Caffeine]] intake
* Consider abstaining from [[Caffeine]] for 1-2 weeks before the race
|-
|Overheating|
* Slow down or stop
* Remove excess clothing
|
* See [[Running in the Heat]]
|-
|Dehydration|
* Drink more
* Keep salt intake high
* Slow down or stop
|
* See [[Practical Hydration]]
|-
|Altitude sickness|* [[Viagra,_Exercise_and_AltitudeExercise and Altitude| Viagra for Altitude]]
* Descend
|* [[Altitude_TrainingAltitude Training| Altitude training]]* [[Viagra,_Exercise_and_AltitudeExercise and Altitude| Viagra for Altitude]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| Heartburn|Eating 'wrong' foods|
* Antacid tablets
* Eat what appeals
* Avoid what triggered the heartburn
|
* Avoid what triggered the heartburn
|-
|Stress|
* Try to relax
|
* Visualization
* Preperation
|-
|Blisters|See [[Blister Prevention]]|
* [[Taping]]
|
* See [[Blister Prevention]]
|-
|rowspan="3"| Bloating or gas|Overeating|
* Reduce calorie intake
* Gas-x
|
* Eat when hungry
|-
|Eating beans or other gassy foods|
* Gas-x
|
* Change diet before and during the race
|-
|Antibiotics|
* Gas-x
|
* Take yoghurt to help compensate
|-
|rowspan="7"| [[Running_and_Lower_GI_ProblemsRunning and Lower GI Problems| Diarrhea]]|Infection|
* Consider Imodium<ref name="Imodium"/>
|
* Careful hygiene
|-
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastrocolic_reflex Gastrocolic reflex]<ref>Not normally diarrhea, but the strong urge to defecate</ref>|
* Some foods are a stronger stimulus of this reflex, so avoid those foods
|
* Avoid triggering foods
|-
|Too much [[Fiber]]|
* Consider Imodium<ref name="Imodium"/>
|
* Carefully reduce [[Fiber]] intake before the race
|-
|Change in intestinal bacteria (due to traveling)|
* Consider Imodium<ref name="Imodium"/>
|
* Travel earlier
* Avoid non-bottled water.
|-
|Too much isolated [[Fructose]] |
* Stop [[Fructose]] intake
|
* Avoid foods high in [[Fructose]]
|-
|Dairy (lactose intolerant)|
* Stop dairy intake (read the ingredients)
|
* Avoid dairy
|-
|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ischemic_colitis Ischemic colitis]|
* Stay hydrated
|
* Stay hydrated
|-
|Antibiotics| * Sorry, better luck next time
|
* Sorry, better luck next time|* Take yoghurt to help compensate
|-
|rowspan="2"| Weak legs|[[Delayed_Onset_Muscle_SorenessDelayed Onset Muscle Soreness| DOMS]] |
* [[Caffeine]]
|
* [[Downhill Running]]
|-
|[[Glycogen| Glycogen depletion]]|* Take something sweet or a [[Comparison_of_Energy_GelsComparison of Energy Gels| Gel]]
* Increase carbohydrate intake
* [[Caffeine]] to increase carbohydrate absorption
|
* [[Carbohydrate Loading]]
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[Cramps| Cramping]]|[[Sodium_Deficiency| Sodium Deficiency]]|
* Add salt to your drink
* Eat something salty
* Drink pickle juice
|* [[Fellrnr%27s_Go_Juice27s Go Juice| Fellrnr's Go Juice]]
|-
|Muscle fatigue|
* [[Stretching]]
|
* [[Stretching]]
* Relaxed [[Running Form]]
|-
|rowspan="3"| Chaffing|Skin on skin|
* Wear something form fitting so the clothing rubs, not the skin
* Tape both surfaces so the tape is rubbing, not the skin
* Lubricants may help if used early enough, but often make things worse
|
* Wear clothing that prevents the chaffing
|-
|Skin on clothing|
* Wear something form fitting so the clothing rubs, not the skin
* Tape the skin
* Lubricants rarely work
|
* Wear clothing that prevents the chaffing
|-
|Monkey butt|
* Clean the area using moist wipes, making sure it's really clean. Any unwanted residue will act as an abrasive.
* Diaper (nappy) treatment can help relieve the pain. [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Destin&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FDesitin-Maximum-Strength-Paste-4-Ounce%2Fdp%2FB003O32P8U Desitin] (or a [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Zinc&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FZINC-OXIDE-OINTMENT-RUG-Size%2Fdp%2FB000PHZ8W8 generic Zinc Oxide ointment]) is recommended by some runners, but does tend to leave white marks.
* Lubricant can help if used early enough, but if the skin is damaged and rough it doesn't help as much. One of the best lubricants for this area is [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=2Toms&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2F2toms-Blister-Shield-SportShield-Roll-On%2Fdp%2FB00905EBQU 2Toms Sport Shield]. You either need a roll-on dedicated to this area, or preferably use the [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=SSWipes&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSport-Shield%2Fdp%2FB004453IH4 Sport Shield Wipes].
|
* Cleanliness is critical. Make sure the areas is thoroughly clean, using wet wipes if you have to go mid-race.
* Lubricate before the race, clean and lube after you go and periodically through a longer race.
* [[A_review_of_graduated_compression_wearA review of graduated compression wear| Compression shorts or tights]] that are too tight around the buttocks can hasten the chaffing
|-
|rowspan="5"| Fainting, or near fainting (light headed, dizzy)|Heart problems|
* Fainting or near fainting can be a warning sign of a serious health problem and it may be the only symptom that precedes a sudden cardiac death<ref>See [http://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/1101/p2001.html http://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/1101/p2001.html] and http://www.jfponline.com/Pages.asp?AID=5146</ref>.
|
|-
|Dehydration|
* Drink more
* Keep salt intake high
* Slow down or stop
|
* See [[Practical Hydration]]
|-
|Stopping suddenly<ref>The calf muscle helps pump blood, so stopping suddenly can exacerbate low blood pressure. </ref>|
* Slow up before coming to a stop
|
|-
|[[Hypothermia]]|
* See [[Hypothermia]].
|
|-
|Altitude sickness|* [[Viagra,_Exercise_and_AltitudeExercise and Altitude| Viagra for Altitude]]
* Descend
|* [[Altitude_TrainingAltitude Training| Altitude training]]* [[Viagra,_Exercise_and_AltitudeExercise and Altitude| Viagra for Altitude]]
|}
=Notes=

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