www.incontinentsupport.org

I have decided to become more healthy and exercise. As I said in another thread I am going to start running. I just don't feel good about my body. When I was in the Marine Corps, I was in great shape. Now, I'm like 20 lbs overweight. I have been staying up late till like midnight and sleeping in till around 10 a.m. Well, I'm trying to change that. The last two nights, I went to bed around 9:30 and got up at 6:30 a.m. I waited for some light and put my running shoes on. I ran for about 1/2 mile around our block. I wore a dry fit shirt, running shorts, and some underarmor lycra shorts that restricted my diaper. For a diaper, I wore an Abena Extra. I did not have any problem doing this, the diaper held up fine. What is going to be the true test of the diaper is when I get to running like 5 miles in 45 minutes. Right now, I'm just at like 1/2 mile in 5 minutes. I can't wait until I get up into the 5 mile range. That will be real progress from where I'm at now.

I have to wear a diaper while running because I have bowel incontinence. If it were just urinary incon, I would just pee on myself while I ran. I sweat so much running, that it soaks my shorts and shirt anyway. It is dry fit material anyway so you really can't tell. But because I sweat, I really don't need to urinate. I have run for 5 hours before and only urinated once along the race course. The rest, I just sweat out. But that was before I was incon. With the bowel incon, I have to wear a diaper. I find that running aggravates my urge to have a bowel movement. And I have alot of diarrhea. So I feel that running in a diaper is the way to do it.

I just have to be careful with my medication. I cannot get dehydrated. It is bad for my kidneys. For long runs, I have a fuel belt with 4 waterbottles on it so that I can drink fairly often on a long run. I think I mentioned before that I use to run marathons before I became incon. In 2007, I logged over 800 miles running. I would like to do that again. I want to sign up for a 5K to get myself started. Next year, I want to run the local Marine Corps Half Marathon in my town, 13.1 miles. I have run the Marine Corps full marathon in DC. That was a magnificent race.

Good for you for being determined to get exercise in spite of your issues. I have no bowel problems, so as you said I buy black bike shorts and just let them get wet. It doesn't show unless someone is really close and looks really close and they dry quickly.

In the winter I wear my Abena pullups and black sweat pants which show wetness a bit more than the Spandex material but still not unless someone really looks close.

Fred,
I am glad I am able to run. I have been running the last few days. I wear an Abena Extra diaper, a pair of underarmor spandex shorts, running shorts, and a dry fit tshirt. The underarmor shorts support the diaper. You can hear the diaper with each step though. But I'm not worried. With that clothing combo, I can run for a few miles. Its good for about a 5k. I don't know how far I can push it. It all depends on how much I sweat. I drink alot on the run so I sweat alot. My biggest concern is having a bowel movement on the run.

Hi Don,

I am Kakapo and live in the United Kingdom. I am a girl. I am also a runner and have just got back into this. I used to run a lot, but since becoming urine incontinent, I gave up. I got back into my running, as I missed it and realised that I shouldn't let bladder weakness stop me from doing what I enjoyed. I find the best time to run is early morning about 7 a.m. for me, as there are not too many people about. I wear a size small Tena pant under my jogging pants, as this works best for me. As well as having to wear protection whilst running, I wear all day, as it is just easier and convenient to do so.

Maybe we could become friends. If you want to send me your personal email address I will email you back. Here is mine if you would like to get in touch, i would like to hear from you. Perhaps we could chat about our running.

My email is Kakapo60@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kerry