You know how they say bull sharks have a stomach of steel because they will eat literally anything, including old car parts and other random debris found in the ocean?

(Source)

(If you don't know this fun fact, you obviously don't watch enough Shark Week.)

When it came to pre-run nutrition, I used to be the bull shark with the stomach of steel. I could eat or drink pretty much whatever I wanted before I left for a run and wouldn't have a single problem.


Me and sharks, the resemblance is uncanny

In the 6+ years I've been running, I can count on one hand the number of times I've had any sort of GI issues on a run.

Until this training cycle.

In two weeks, I have now had two major stomach issues on runs.

One was during my first long run of training. With 1.5 miles to go, my stomach revolted, and I had to walk the rest of the way home.

The second happened last night. I headed out for my seven miler and a half mile in, I had to turn around and head back home.

After my stomach calmed down, I went back out to finish my run. It ended up being the most miserable run ever. After all my stomach issues, I was super dehydrated. I managed to kill my entire water bottle by mile four and I was so so thirsty for the rest of the run.

I think I have a hunch what caused both stomach flare ups, and if I'm right, I'll be pretty shocked because it's never caused problems before.

I guess I can kiss my stomach of steel goodbye. I'm going to have to pay much more attention to pre-run nutrition to prevent future stomach emergencies because let me tell you, they are not fun at all.