I have a problem…I love running and have been doing it for 20 years. I need water to stay hydrated however recently ALWAYS seem to find I leak urine whilst running. It is light, however it is so annoying!! I am using incontinence pads which are working for me…however, need this to stop as I feel horrible whilst running. I am already doing kegel exercises to help this, however, I don’t know what to do about staying hydrated. Shall I switch to energy tablets?
Thanks
Hi,
Running with incontinence does not mean you should stop drinking water. This can be dangerous for your health and can even irritate your bladder further. Instead, it is useful to adjust your fluid intake slightly. If you are drinking water half an hour before your run, you can try drinking water closer to the time you start running. Alternatively, push your last cup of water before your run back to an hour or longer before you begin running and see if this helps.
Sugary sweets and energy tablets can actually worsen dehydration, as your bladder can feel an urge to purge the product, causing mini-contractions that make you urinate.
In the meantime, it is useful to visit the toilet as close to your run as possible and ensure there are toilets nearby on your running route to reduce your worries.
