Epson Salt

The instructions on the Epson Salt bag advised two to four teaspoons dissolved in eight ounces of water. With the exception of prepping for a “Rooter Router Job” (Colonoscopy) I have had no need and hence have no experience with laxatives. I imagine for thirty some odd years my love of beer had been enough to place me in a “Relaxed” state.

When I started running Ultra Marathons I had little idea that my GI track would be a limiting factor. Now, at sixty, with the effects of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery I find myself in need of experimentation to be able to participate in that which I love.

“How are you doing?” the doc says. “I’m making progress, but I’m really having a real issue when my runs get beyond ten or twelve miles” ……. A pause follows .........I’m sure the good doc is thinking “Well just don’t run more than ten miles”

Sorry, not the answer I want to hear…..… I’m not upset, I realize that I must appear to be some sort of freak and I need to figure this out for myself. It's not all that bad, I don’t mind “Mooning” the wildlife of Gambrill State Park on training runs but human animals along a race course may not be forgiving or appreciative of the struggle.

So here is the thought process ……. Little or nothing in the pipeline, little or nothing screaming to see the light of day?

Experimentation!

It’s 9:45 A.M. Thursday morning September the 19th, I have no appointments but I may want to go on a run with my buddies at 5:00 P.M. Two teaspoons dissolved in eight ounces of water, the low dose for an adult.

An hour later, rumblings, grumblings, nothing urgent so an easy walk to the comfort station started the process. The second hour inspired me to pick up the pace when nature called and in the third hour I decide to work downstairs to reduce the distance between me and the bathroom. I’m glad no one was around to hear the displeasure I uttered loudly with each visit. I am sooooo glad that I started with the minimum dose, proof positive that more is not always better.

At four o’clock, convinced there could not be anything left inside me I met my friends for a five mile trail run. No problem with the run but with a mile to go I ran out of gas (no pun intended). I think I was a bit dehydrated.

It’s now Saturday afternoon, my GI track isn’t 100% settled, I race tomorrow, Susie’s Cause 5K in Towson Maryland in the morning followed by five mile laps at Rick O’Donnell’s Memorial Run. Tomorrow will also be exactly two months before the JFK 50 miler.

 One side note, on one of my solitary runs this week I approached a large bolder in the trail. Without thinking I jumped up on it, went into “Four Wheel Drive” for a few feet and then jumped down the other side with a couple of bounds. As I mentioned there was “No Thought” in this maneuver.

IT WAS SIMPLY FUN

There is always hope ……………………….. Mike