Ice Baths and Warning Labels

I'll try to keep this posting as non-graphic as possible, but I'm not making any promises. Read at your own risk. So this past Saturday I was set to run 14 miles for my marathon training. This is the longest I have ever run in my life- so I had been mentally preparing myself all week. Last year when I ran the half (13.1) there were thousands of screaming fans...er...spectators cheering me on, so this time it was up to me to pump myself up.



The past 8-10 Saturdays I have gone through the same ritual: alarm at 5:30am, get dressed in my professional running gear, eat a power bar on the way to the run, warm-up, and hit the pavement. Now, if it ain't broke, don't fix it right?! Well, this past Saturday I decided I needed to switch up my breakfast 'power' bar. Doesn't sound like a big deal right? WRONG. Started out great- made it through mile 3; then made it through mile 8; I even made it up what looked like Mt. Everest on mile 11; so close!! Now, about mile 14 I was faced with a dilemma that stopped me dead in my tracks. I could either sprint to the end and find a bathroom, or...well...poop in the middle of the road. I managed to run/walk/hobble/clench my way back to the store where we started only to find they didn't have restrooms. I'm thinking...ok...somehow I'm going to have to make it home. I got to the first stop light and peeled into the Exxon; I think I took out a mexican. I almost left my car in the intersection and ran in. Had that lady not opened that door when she did, well, we would have had a clean-up on Aisle 7. Now, I know most of you are thinking- Doss, this is gross. And I would have to agree, but it is amazing what my body has experienced throughout this training process and I felt the need to share.



Two gas stations stops later, I made it home and I'll be damned if I didn't dig through the trash to find that 'power' bar wrapper and see what was in it. Not suprisingly, this is what I found printed on the back: WARNING! This product contains sugar alcohols that may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. This product may have a laxative effect. Well no shit! Literally.



After my bowels calmed down, it was time for my 1st Ice Bath! I had all the neccessary materials- warm coffee (which didn't help my current situation), magazines, phone, etc. I sat down in the tub, with my running tights still on- sweatshirt, scarf and hat- and turned on the cold water. I let it fill up above my legs and then dumped in 15 pounds of ice. After I came back from my black-out, I stayed in for 15 minutes. My feet were screaming and my body was completely numb from the waist down. *Thank you Mauri for distracting me this entire time!* Once the alarm went off, I shout out of that tub so fast only to discover I had no feeling in my legs- I looked like Bambi on ice. As of Monday- my legs feel spectacular-ish...and the ice bath will now become a part of my Saturday training ritual.

The moral of this story is- don't take laxatives before a long run. And I would also like to thank Pure Protein for overshadowing one of my greatest physical accomplishments.