Fainting hours after long run

D) All of the the above.

Running for 2.5 hrs with limited running experience will take a toll. That's one of the reasons why, generally, we should keep the long run restricted to ~25% tops of your weekly mileage.

low blood pressure?

low blood pressure?

My systolic can be as much as 20-25 points lower after a strenuous run (~3hrs). Occasionally I feel dizzy when standing up quickly etc

Lower BP is common after exercise. If u already have low BP, this might make it worse.

Same thing happened to me last year while I was at church, even though I was experienced with the longer distance. I think I just did not eat enough and was just really tired. Looks like you did not eat very much either. You probably burned around 2000 calories, an extra banana and some peanut butter doesn't make up the difference. Plus the standing in church probably did not help either. I would not be too worried unless it happens frequently.

Off the Grid wrote:

low blood pressure?

My systolic can be as much as 20-25 points lower after a strenuous run (~3hrs). Occasionally I feel dizzy when standing up quickly etc

Lower BP is common after exercise. If u already have low BP, this might make it worse.

No, I generally measure about 120/75 or even slightly higher.

Seen it before:

I wonder why the symptoms waited until 2 hours after the run, and after eating, to manifest. I would think blood sugar would be the lowest during or immediately after exercise.

i has the vapors wrote:

Seen it before:

I wonder why the symptoms waited until 2 hours after the run, and after eating, to manifest. I would think blood sugar would be the lowest during or immediately after exercise.

Well it has to be church then... When I was a kid I passed out cold in church a few times without running beforehand. So I don't do church anymore which solved that problem.

Seriously, you didn't eat enough before or after your long run. You gotta eat something before a 2.5 hour run after a 14 hour fast.

It's possible your electrolytes were imbalanced. I have a real problem with losing a lot of salt when I run, and if I'm not careful about replenishing shortly after the run, it gets ugly in ways similar to what you are describing. Are you drinking any gatorade or another sports drink while running? After?

saltyrunner wrote:

It's possible your electrolytes were imbalanced. I have a real problem with losing a lot of salt when I run, and if I'm not careful about replenishing shortly after the run, it gets ugly in ways similar to what you are describing. Are you drinking any gatorade or another sports drink while running? After?

Describe "ugly"?

I have some constructive observations. If you're old and it takes 2.5 hours to run 16 miles, then you are pretty much a weakling or super fat. For both skinnies and fatties, it's important to eat right. But you skipped all forms of breakfast (food, liquids, etc) and dragged ass for 50 percent of your weekly mileage. Not good.

But you should get a second opinion.

Kevin52 wrote:

Well it has to be church then... When I was a kid I passed out cold in church a few times without running beforehand. So I don't do church anymore which solved that problem.

I've long suspected that god was just a figment of my imagination, but never had a good reason to act on that suspicion. Since there is now divine obstruction of my long runs, I can no longer support this theistic farce. No more church for me! Plus, maybe I'll ease into long run once I have higher weekly mileage. And eat more.

Thanks!

saltyrunner wrote:

It's possible your electrolytes were imbalanced. I have a real problem with losing a lot of salt when I run, and if I'm not careful about replenishing shortly after the run, it gets ugly in ways similar to what you are describing. Are you drinking any gatorade or another sports drink while running? After?

I didn't have any sports drink, just water. But it was also pretty cool and I didn't sweat much.

Drinking just water isn't very wise for a long run, especially after 14 hours of nothing.

You need to start preparing better for your long runs. You'll get a lot more out of your efforts when you prepare and recovery properly. Don't be another one of those guys who thinks putting in the workouts gives him an excuse to lead a lifestyle that undoes it all.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm resistant to some of the suggestions because...

A) I don't want to eat immediately prior to running. I don't do well on full-belly running. I also don't have time to eat and allow stomach emptying prior to running.

B) I don't want to carry a fuel belt to get sports drink unless it is summer/hot. Where I run has water fountains along the route, so I'd like to just take advantage of that. Is there a small or pill-based electrolyte replacement product?

So, my plan going forward is...

1) Eat more the day before, and later in the evening before.

2) Bump up the mileage on the other days of the week before increasing the long run, keeping it to below 30%.

3) Take an energy gel with me. Only use it if needed.

4) Drink a recovery drink immediately afterwards in addition to my breakfast. Plus, bigger breakfast. And another snack an hour later.

5) Run on Saturday so I'm not stuck away from food/water immediately after long run. Alternatively, I could take a fuel belt into the church service.

also drink a lot of water before the long run. either that morning or a lot on saturdays

Carry Gu's with you either in pockets or safety pinned to your shorts or shirt. They'll give you better than 100 calories each and should be taken at your water stops along your course. Take one at the start and every 45 minutes there after.

Increasing your weekly mileage without consuming more calories is only going to make it more likely that you'll end up drunk on glycogen depletion again.

McMillan thinks I shouldn't overreact and start Gu-ing every 45 minutes.

http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/marathonlongrun.htm

i has the vapors wrote:

McMillan thinks I shouldn't overreact and start Gu-ing every 45 minutes.

http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/marathonlongrun.htm

That's because he eats.

If your not gonna eat do the GU. 1 or 2 just before and 2 during. If you can eat decent 2-3 hours prior - or at least before bed then don't.

If it's a MP run do all of the above.

Kevin52 wrote:

That's because he eats.

If your not gonna eat do the GU. 1 or 2 just before and 2 during. If you can eat decent 2-3 hours prior - or at least before bed then don't.

If it's a MP run do all of the above.

To clarify, he says in the article that he doesn't eat breakfast before his runs, and eats no GU during. He doesn't mention how late he eats dinners, but a 7pm dinner would be a 12-hour fast if he starts his runs at 7am. I'd be curious to know if he snacks into the night prior to long runs.