Does anyone have any experience with migraines during or after running long distances? A brief background, I've had about 10 or so migraines during my life but none in the last 10 years or so until last year during the marathon, (mile 16). Today after the 1/2 while eating a burger about 45 minutes after finishing I started getting another one.
Is there some kind of chemical imbalance going on or something? Anyone have any ideas or suggestions. I felt as though i was hydrating properly.
Thanks

My first thought was proper hydration, but you said, "I felt as though i was hydrating properly." Is that because you had to urinate often?

Sometimes I think I'm hydrating well, but then think, over the past 2 or 3 or 4 hours of hard exertion, I've only used the facilities once. That's a sign to me that I haven't kept up with what my body needs and that a dehydration headache could be right around the next bend.

Any more details?
Doug

Well I went to the bathroom just before the race, then again at mile 7 and also when I got back. I drank water on the course and one cup of the other I think at the last aid station. When I got back, I had more water, 2 of the jamba juices (they are so good), and a bit of Amino Vital that I had someone brought for me. When we were eating the thought of a big coke was too much to pass up so I had some of that as well.
That's about it.

I too have suffered from migraines since teen years. I found mine were mostly triggered by diet. I have found after some runs if I have pushed myself that I too get the beginnings of a headache; but they never developed that soon after a run. You may want to check with your physican or talk to one of the Clearwater docs next Saturday. Migraines can be triggered by some unusal events. I wish I had an answer for you, as I know how brutal these headaches can get.

Biscuit, I feel for you! I don't know what triggered your migraine, but I know that one of the things that sometimes helps me short-circuit on is caffeine. I usually have an Espresso Love Gu packet or two on me; they're advertised as double-caffeinated and I hope they'd help.

If your hydration was good, is it possible you ran out of fuel? Or do you have trouble sleeping the night before a race? If I've had less sleep than I should, then get over heated in glare-y weather, it sometimes adds up to a migraine.

Thanks Robin. I did have a not so good nights sleep on Friday night, nervous I guess. Have not heard about the caffein one before. I'm going to my docotor today (getting shots to go out of the country) and I will talk to her about all this as well.

Thanks for the input.

As someone that gets a few migranes a month, I have learned to keep a log as a method to track triggers. If migranes are a frequent issue, I would suggest the log ... and carrying medication in your hydration pack to be on the safe side

I started a migraine (visual aura) during Sunday's walk in Vancouver. I didn't have any meds with me, but a large coffee with an extra shot of espresso short-circuited the headache so I was able to finish without problems. I'm pretty sure it was due to the magical synergy of not enough sleep and too much glare (left both my sunglasses and hat at home).

I hope the rest of the migraineurs have had similar experiences!

Caffeine causes blood vessels to dilate so you bring blood flow to the area, great for people with asthma and migraines but can be dangerous for runners/walkers since coffee can cause dehydration which is not only bad for its obvious reasons but it can make the headache worse. Ever tried green or black tea and seen if you get the same results? It is also helpful to look at why you get migraines to begin with. Sleep and stress are definitely big and blatant causes but more subtle causes can be hormonal, food allergies and triggers, genetic, and structural. I would try exploring what the cause of the migraines are so you can find the root cause and treat that vs. suffering and treating only the symptoms.
Come by the tent this week if you have any questions or need suggestions,
Dr. Lindsey