How do you deal with the painful lower back aches that make you feel like you're going to shit yourself but also like a period cramp, when you run too hard/fast? I can't push myself to my top speed for long periods of time unless I want to be squatting over a toilet for a literal 10 minutes. Same happens when running up a hill at the same pace instead of slowing down. Tried NSAIDs beforehand, not eating for two hours prior to running, stretching, taking a shit prior. RDLs at the gym, leg weights, etc. None of it helps. It doesn't stop me from running again, but it is discouraging. Doesn't happen if I don't push myself.
History: Running ~3 times a week for 5 years. 3 years straight treadmill, mix for the last two years. Sickle cell carrier so my blood cells are shit at carrying oxygen.
Lower back pain seems unrelated to the gastrointestinal issues, but who knows. If you have lower back pains from sedentarism before you starting running, they should go away as you gain strength.
Bad posture can cause a LOT of issues. And bad posture is very common in amateur runner (I have it too), especially when getting tired on long runs. When you can start catching your head looking down instead of in front, when your shoulders start getting tight, your arms no longer are moving naturally with the flow of the run, yeah, you're tired. Next day you might notice one painful knee, or one shoulder blade that is giving you trouble on each step. Or you'll develop muscle soreness on one leg. All are typical of bad posture and your body compensating.
Gotta straighten up and look forward as much as humanly possible, and relax the torso.
Now, the toilet stuff you're describing could be "runner's trots". Do you have stomach acidity? Do you cough, feel a roughness, irritation in your trachea? Do you feel some liquid sloshing in your stomach when you start running longer? Salivation? Stomach pain? All culminating in a need to eventually cut the run and hit the toilet? Does it subside if you stop running and just walk?
If yeah, it's probably that.
NSAIDs are a no-no, as they often irritate the stomach mucosa and that means more acid, which we do not want.
You should try to eat... something... before runs, you need fuel. Try some dry fruit, maybe a banana. Just a little, to have something inside the stomach. Do not eat anything oily and hard to digest. Try some neutral foods you might have around.
If it doesn't work, take an anti-acid medication like 2 hrs before the run. I would recommend Famotidine, 20mgs, very safe, very easy to buy, essentially no side effects. Another option is something line Rennie chewing tablets, which work on neutralizing existing acid. Famotidine will work on cutting secretion. But if you're certain you have acidity, if you had stomach issues, acid reflux during sleep, I would see a medic instead, they might prescribe something long term and also have you do some poop tests and some Xrays to see if there are lesions (ulcers) on your gastrointestinal tract and if there is a bacterial infection that needs some antibiotics.
Lastly, you should definitely not "push it" a lot, especially if you have a medical condition, keep to the 80% chill, 20% faster tempo-HIIT, and recover after it properly. Running is VERY intensive on your body. Might also give a shot to running more often, but lighter, so 5 days instead of 3, but go chill 4 of them, insert a slow long run, and relaxed easy runs as the norm.
