So what can distance runners do to avoid these problems?

• Make sure you are wearing the correct running shoes and that you have ‘worn them in’ well in advance of any big run.
• A well-planned training programme, including runs of varying lengths and stretches before and after going out, should help guard against risk of muscle and tendon injuries.
• Drinking plenty of water throughout the run is essential. This is important, not only during the run, but also during training runs to get your body used to it.
• Women should wear the correct sports bra. This should give support and prevent vertical movement as well as side to side movement.
• Treat athlete’s foot at the first sign of infection (e.g. an itchy or sore foot) with an antifungal product such as DAKTARIN® Gold cream, which is effective after just one week of treatment*. To prevent re-infection try treating your running shoes with DAKTARIN® Dual Action Spray Powder.
• Take some IMODIUM^® Instants with you to ensure you don’t get caught out by ‘the trots’.

Runner’s trots has been shown to affect as many as 50 per cent of marathon participants . And that’s not all – almost a half of all runners may also suffer from a bout of diarrhoea before a competition due to pre-race nerves.

Dr Patrick Milroy, Medical Advisor to Runner’s World magazine comments, “For most of us, running 26 miles is enough of a challenge. Urgently needing a bowel movement is actually one of the most common reasons for stopping during an endurance run. Increased gut movement and a redirection of blood flow results in the release of certain chemicals that can trigger diarrhoea.”

It’s not just amateur athletes who have to contend with runner’s trots either. Professional long-distance runners often experience problems with their bowels during races and indeed the phrase was coined by professionals.

Dr Milroy continues, “There is no need to feel embarrassed about preparing for a potential bout of diarrhoea. Even those at the very front of the field have to ensure that they are ready for all eventualities to improve their chance of a successful race. Planning ahead for these scenarios can help to minimise the added strain that an unexpected bout of diarrhoea can bring.”

Diarrhoea is often caused by an increase in the rate at which the muscles of the bowel contract. This acceleration causes waste to be pushed out of the body unnaturally quickly. This means that vital nutrients and water cannot be absorbed into the body and dehydration may result. An anti-motility preparation, such as IMODIUM^® Plus, can help by restoring the muscle contractions to normal speed.

The last thing runners want to worry about on the day is whether their stomach will stand up to the rigours of 26 miles so a little forward planning can go a long way. To help ensure that you don’t get caught out, be prepared and take some IMODIUM^® Plus with you. IMODIUM^® Plus caplets can stop diarrhoea in just one dose. Take it at the first sign of diarrhoea and you could avoid potential embarrassment or even having to drop out of the race.

IMODIUM^® Plus is a unique combination of loperamide, to stop diarrhoea and simethicone, to help relieve associated symptoms of wind, bloating and cramps experienced by over 70% of sufferers. Together they provide faster relief than loperamide alone. IMODIUM^® Plus is available in an easy to swallow caplet format in a 6 pack and a 12 pack size.

* Most cases