Remember that accuracy is as important as distance.  Windage and elevation are keys.

I'd ignore the standard recommendations on how much to drink while racing.  For me, a sweater, it's not enough.  You should figure out, by weighing yourself before and after, how much you lose through sweat in a given time period.  Then, as long as you take in fluid at a slower rate than that, your bladder won't be filling up.  Then the key is to start with an empty bladder and nothing on the way, as others have suggested. 

I've read that kidneys "shut down" during a race, but I think the extent of a shutdown probably depends on how fast you're going (so training runs are different from a BQ attempt). For me, this has been a learn-by-your-mistakes thing, but I have negotiated one marathon with no pee stops, and plenty of other examples have been mentioned, so I think you can learn to do it.

BTW, the BAA gives you a free 59 seconds, so I think your McMillan prediction is even closer to a BQ than you thought. Not to add any pressure or anything. !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/wink.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/wink.gif|border=0!

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Well, I would just like to say I made it all the way down the the instructions posted by rosecoloredglasses before all this pee talk made me have to go!   !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|border=0!



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Dave[/URL" target="_blank">

I've never had to stop to pee in a race, ever.  I seem to have honed the science of taking in only as much fluid as I need.  I don't recall ever feeling dehydrated after a race...in fact, the port-a-potties are always my first stop AFTER a long race.  I've felt the heat, but never any real dehydration. 

Now, I did have the terrible unmentionable GI problems during my first Boston attempt, and I DNF'ed after I realized that I was not ever going to make it to Boston by visiting every single port-a-potty along the way.  But that's a whole 'nother ball game.

And, FWIW, McMillan calculated 3:49:59 for my first marathon, and I finished in 3:49:30. It can be eerily accurate.

--Robin

When I was a marathoner I never stopped during a race. I ran the whole way. I did slow down slightly at aide stations but just enough to grab a drink and then get back up to pace.

I found the key to hydration was the day before. I did my major hydration the day before the race and just topped off the day of the race. I usually was not one of those standing on some long porta potty line. I went and found a secret bathroom or just some bushes if need be.

Doug Latimer, an ultra marathoner taught himself to pee while running. He figured stopping to pee coast him Western States one year (back in the 1980's I think) and so he didn't stop to pee. He just kept on going and poured water over his shorts to wash things away. He tied for the victory the next year.

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Originally posted by TammyM:

Vista - I'm not sure if I'm amused or disturbed by that info . . . !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/wink.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/wink.gif|border=0!

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And the fact that he admitted that to anyone 

quote:

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Originally posted by vista129:

he has a doctor friend who hooks him up to a catheter before the race and just umm......enjoys sitting in his seat for the whole race.

I am not sure where you would hide the bag, but that is another issue.

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1. Only in America.
2. Couldn't you disguise it as a Camelbak?
3.  I can't believe I've opened up this thread again.