Avid runners, am I the only one with this problem?

[willow74]

Lately I've been working on increasing my speed as well as my distance in my run. But pretty recently, every time I run, right around the first mile mark I get a very intense urge to pee. But when I pause the treadmill to go to the bathroom, little to nothing comes out. The feeling stays through the rest of my run, and goes away only after im fully cooled down and my heart rate is normal. I don't believe its a bladder infection. I've had those before, and the urge was constant, not only present during and shortly after a run.
Is this something all runners experience or should I see a doctor?

[redeyemindtricks]

I work with athletes of both sexes and various ages. This problem, as you've described it, is something I've mostly seen in women after pregnancy and/or menopause. Those hormonal changes can thin out a woman's urethral walls, which, in turn, can cause these kinds of issues.

So... it's possible that you just have naturally thin urethral walls, if you've never been preg.

If that's the case, then there's probably not a whole lot you can do about it. I know a few athletes who just use incontinence pads and keep on keepin' on.

__

Before you consider those things, though, you should think about the obvious things first. Stimulants? Diuretics? Do you use anything pre-run with those properties?

If you are drinking anything with 100 or more miligrams of caffeine before yr run, that right there is probably the culprit. Try cutting down (or, if you can stand it, cutting OUT) the caffeine, and see what happens.

[willow74]

I've never been pregnant, and I literally drink nothing but water. Id never thought about thin urethral walls, though.

[redeyemindtricks]

Well, we've got a process of elimination, and we've eliminated most everything else.
I mean, I know women who run in the equivalent of adult diapers. No fucks given, really, either way. LOL

Running exacerbates all kinds of annoying anatomical things that female athletes don't think about, and that no one bothers to tell them about.
As another example, women with wider Q-angle (hip angle -- the thing that gives you thigh gap, if yr young and skinny enough) have different shear-force differentials on their knees, and so their kneecaps literally get pulled in different directions than those of women with smaller Q-angles. That means a totally different set of recommended pre-hab and rehab exercises for runner's knee problems. How many female runners actually know this? Or physical therapists, even? Not enough... ): Blahh.

If it was me, I wouldn't bother going to a doc unless the problem somehow gets worse, in which case you'd want to see someone who specializes in women's sports med.

[justbanANNAz]

i used to get that. i don't think it was abnormal. i think it was just the feeling of increasing the distance and speed that was rushing through my system giving me that feeling.

anyway i always make sure that before i workout i go to the bathroom so i feel comfortable. if u feel it while ur running just try to get past it. so next time don't stop the treadmill and focus on say ur legs or butt and the muscles ur working. it helps.

[dangerDoge]

Hmm... When I run, usually the urge for urination goes away. Everyone on cross country / track team I've talked to about it is the same as me.
The urge for peeing/pooping may be before a race from nervousness, but once you start running it all goes away until after you've had a bit of rest and your heart rate goes down. We ran pretty hard in cross country too so I don't think that has anything to do with it.

I would personally seek a doctor and discuss it. That doesn't sound too normal. I've heard of a thing called stress incontinence common in women (where vaginal muscles weaken and you can't hold back pee) but that usually means there is actual pee there... Not just the urge.

[apple24]

MHO right here!

[TripleAce]

Its not really a runners thing. When you run you should actually not feel the urge to pee

But if you do, its stress incontinence... basically the bladder muscles are weak during stressful times

I think... check it out with a doc i think but they might not really have much answers

[willow74]

Is it really incontinence though, if there's nothing coming out? :/

[TripleAce]

Yea true, it really does sound like an infections or sometimes its possible the nerves are over stimulated when you run

This is a tricky one... is it always when you run?

[willow74]

Yes, and only then

[apple24]

Yeah I felt like that when I was in cross-country but I was just always nervous before a game! It usually goes away after I calm myself down and don't drink or eat at least like 3 hours before you practice.

[tolmbyy]

nope

although i don't drink water 1 hr prior to running