Going for a Gingerbread Man

Apparently 20% - 50% of runners experience these problems whilst out on a long run or worse, in a race. If you look on any forum you will see runners out there crying out for advice on how to prevent them or how to manage them and, if you don't suffer from it yourself, you probably know someone who does! As far as possible we always plan routes that pass public conveniences or start at a place where there is a loo because one member of the group, Gingerbread Man, will, without doubt use a facility if it is available!

I have just called Gingerbread Man to let him know about this revolutionary breakthrough and to ask him for a few details on this somewhat debilitating condition and he told me that lately he has received numerous calls as well as messages on runner's forums as his fame is spreading. In fact, he is becoming so well-known that the term "Runner's Trots" is likely to soon be a term of the past as runners will be refering to the dreaded "Gingerbread Syndrome" or complaining that they had to "go for a Gingerbread mid run"! Part of the reason he has become famous is because he was featured recently in "Tony's Trials" during an episode of Marathon Talk.

Gingerbread Man's reputation was quickly established not long after he joined Stockport Harriers. He took part in the Wilmslow Half Marathon and spent more time ducking in and out of fields than he did pounding the tarmac. His next Half Marathon was the Great North Run. Here he was glad to find a regular posting of portaloos and added at least 30 minutes onto his half marathon time by frequenting them at every opportunity. He doesn't seem to be quite so bad these days and this is probably because he may have identified a possible cause. Gingerbread Man likes his food and in particular sweet food. The night before his Wilmslow debut he had been at a party. In order to give himself a good chance in the race the next day he substituted beer for Lucozade. Likewise, on his way up to the Great North Run that year he was keen to make sure his glycogen stores were high and drank Lucozade continually on the three hour journey to the race. He has also noticed that, when his work colleague, Sarah is kind enough to bring cookies and cakes into work he has issues on his evening run. He has now established "There is definitely a link between pooing a lot and eating a lot!"

Gingerbread Man and all of your followers - this might be worth consideration!