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Seth S.

Should I run until I vomit?

asked 12 months ago | Report

I've heard a lot of stories about runners vomiting during hard runs & some trainers even encouraging the practice as a sign of intense effort.

Up until now, I've been slowing down a bit whenever I get the sensation that I'm about to vomit.

I only get the feeling when I'm pushing hard and have eaten within the past 2hrs. Is that all its about? Having food in my stomach? Or is there an actual tangible intensity benchmark I've been shying away from and should push through?

Thanks for your thoughts!

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• Stephen H.

  only in races... or fast hill repeats.

  answered 12 months ago |Report

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• Chari M.

  "Should I run until I vomit"

  Yikes, are you kidding?
  I believe in training hard...
  but that just sounds too...
  (forgive my frankness)
  stupid...

  Again, forgive me but I really
  like feeling GREAT before,
  during, & after training. :o)

  I want to ~WANT to do this!
  I don't want to dread training.

  Well, that's my take on it.
  Trying to learn to train
  "SMART"...

  Running Healthy~
  Chari

  PS Good luck on your ....
  "Vomit Intensity" of
  training... if you must...
  Whew! That just sounds
  crazy. Too crazy for me.
  (call me chicken :o)

  answered 12 months ago |Report

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• Lazaro R

  I'm with Chari. Why would you want to vomit during a workout or race.

  I can't believe that there is any benefit whatsoever to vomiting during training. I would feel like I did something wrong leading up to a race if I were to begin vomiting. Not only does your stomach acid irritate and hurt your throat you would have to scrub down your shoes after ever training session. I can understand if you ate some bad sushi but other than that I would not use vomiting as a training gauge. I would try to understand what it is that is causing you to want to vomit and correct it.

  answered 12 months ago |Report

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• David N.

  Not in training. Maybe in a race but, really, how often do we actually see someone throw up in a race or at the end of a race? It happens occasionally but it's not the norm. How often do you see Olympic runners puke after a race?

  answered 12 months ago |Report

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• Mike M.

  If vomiting was a part of my running I would take up something easier, like cycling (j/k).
  I would only consider it in a race, and only if I was certain that doing so would provide the relief I needed to finish. In training, no way.

  answered 12 months ago |Report

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• Mimi

  Only if you're doing the Krispy Kreme challenge (http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4000801).

  Seriously though, I don't think that it's a very good idea. But I think some people are more prone to puking than others.

  answered 12 months ago |Report

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• John P.

  I've done it. Many times. I don't recommend it, though.

  answered 12 months ago |Report

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• Antti P.

  Should you run until you vomit? No, you shouldn't.

  answered 12 months ago |Report

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• Bob

  GO for it!

  answered 12 months ago |Report

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• Tim N.

  Your body is going into mild shock..Not good..Slow down.Your not in that kind of running shape yet and your body is trying to let you know..Build up steady mileage and then start some speed work down the road...Seth we want you to enjoy running...You should finish a work out feeling tired but with a little left in the gas tank...Dont concern yourself with times and blown up mileage some people do..They took years to get to that point...If your in this for the long haul your going to rebuild into a completly new being..A running machine...Then one day you will only feel sick when you dont run...Strange but true...Tim

  answered 12 months ago |Report

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• Jimmy J.

  My buddy Nick used to get sick every time we did a long run. He did everything he could think of to avoid it, but almost every single time we went long he had to (throw-up). After that he would get his second wind and could run my butt off the last few miles to the finish.

  I don't think it's wise, but in Nick's case it was something he tried to avoid and couldn't. Later things changed and he rarely gets sick doing Ultras, and even won a 50-miler in 2006. Slowing down in my opinon is what you need to do, (after the Vomit part of your training). Let it Rip. That is if you feel okay.

  I hope this helps. ( = God Bless...+

  answered 12 months ago |Report

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• Clem G.

  I agree with Tim N. You shouldn't be pushing so hard that you lose your lunch. Again, it is a rarity, and I have never seen a long distance athlete puke in any event that I have watched or run in. I would only do it if I HAD to.

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• Adam B.

  "NO" there is better ways to improve your race like trying intervals or fartlek.the reason your body wants to hurl is because your lactic acid buildup.the more you train on hard intervals with recover the more your lactic acid threshold will be so you wont feel like throwing up so easy at races.and most runners spouses and friends dont want to see you throwing up at the race lmao.I like doing fartlek the best but interval traing will do also I just dont like looking at a watch.

  answered 12 months ago |Report

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• Kevin M.

  I think if you have the ability to push yourself until you get that point, then you'll be an excellent competitor. I have tried to exercise until I puke, even when I first started, but I could never get to that point. I think VO2 max also has something to do with it. From what I've seen guys with lower vo2's are more likely to hurl than guys with higher vo2's. I think it's okay to get to the point of yakking. Your body will recover, you'll be stronger. Just don't make a habit of it.

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• Brad

  HHAHAHAHAHAHAHA UMMMMMM NO!!!

  answered 11 months ago |Report

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• Jeff C.

  It's not a bench mark.... You CAN push yourself to the point where you are nauseous, but unless you are bulimic, puking after every workout is not something your mind and body would want to do. If you like intense workouts, just don't eat a couple hours before and you should be alright. ....Now I have seen people puke after intense workouts, but it's not the norm.

  answered 11 months ago |Report

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• Joanne S.

  Can you what races would be like if everyone puked at the finish line? I'd hate to work clean-up crew!

  "Please come to the race expo to pick up your race bib, t-shirt, and bucket."

  answered 11 months ago |Report

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