Near the last 800 meters of my distance runs I push myself to a 6/min mile pace or faster to shave off about 30 seconds or more at the finish line. (It's a habit from cross country)

I develop a gag reflex near the end of my run like I need to throw up, and some times do throw up after finishing running my course.

I don't eat or drink for an hour or more before my runs, so I'm really lost on why I feel like I need to throw up at the end? I’ve heard of over working yourself, but I really don’t think I push myself that far considering my running partner seems just fine at the end of the run.

(btw... I wonder what the punishment is for throwing up on the instructor cadres track)

I'm not an expert but I was always taught that "if you have enough to sprint at the end that your not giving it enough during the run." Who knows? From the details you gave you are running 7 minute miles and switching to 6 minute mile pace for the last 2 laps. That seems a little crazy to me. If I was you I would try and better your times on specific intervals. For example If you are shaving 30 seconds off a 3 mile run you only have to shave 2.5 seconds per lap rather than 30 seconds the last 2 laps, and hopefully avoid the sickness you get. This kind of reaction could be as much psychological as physical. I would save the sprinting for your interval training and finish a race as strong as you start. The sprinting can make your pace irregular. When you are running in training you are most likely not going to have a watch, so you need to depend on your pace and the regularity. Sorry for rambling I'm sure many will say the exact opposite.

The reason you feel nausious (sp?) at the end is because, with your increased pace, you are crossing what is called the "anaerobic threshold." In other words, you are demanding from your body a greater amount of energy than can be provided through oxidative metabolism and your muscles are begining to burn glycogen instead of fat for fuel. Than is all well and good except that the by-product of gylogen metabolism is, you guessed it, lactic acid. When too much of it builds up, the body frantically tries to reduce the acidity in your bloodstream. It has been said that one of the ways it does this is by making you puke so that it can then divert the excess acid to creating new stomach bile. Try taking a calcium suppliment before you run. Also, Norm's advice has merit. You should be pushing your pace to just a smidgeon below the anaerobic threshold throughout your run. If you cross it, you will notice your breathing becoming labored (glycogen burns a ton of oxygen) and, should you continue, you will be forced to stop. The only thing that keeps a distance runner going indefinately is staying within the aerobic energy pathway. It is fine to go anaerobic at the end, however, it may give you little added benefit in the long run (no pun intended) since the way you are going to hit that 7:00 min. pace is by pushing the upper limits of your aerobic capacity, not your anaerobic.

if you feel the need to vomit after a run...so be it. I don't think there is any thing wrong with that...I do it on my fastest runs for record. Always at the finish line.

All it means is that your digestive system is freaking out from the wrenching from the speed and intensity of the run and the torque created by your diaphram heaving air in and out.

All Cadre I have dealt with in the Army think it is Hooah! Saw a guy do 100 plus sit-ups and puke...everybody thought that he was a freakin' MAN!!! Dude pushed himself to the limits.

That is what you are supposed to do...if you are doing it on a training run though...slow down...vomit eats the enamel off your teeth <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

In a past thread, we were told of one cone who used to puke on almost every run. Finally a cadre member trotted up to him and told him he didn't want to see an ounce of puke, so the guy was just heaving and swallowing, heaving and swallowing the entire run. So, once in a while is good, but often will get you trouble.

Aww man, I feel sorry for that guy, that's extra motivation to quit right there!

Thankfully I'm not like that, I can still count how many times I've puked on one hand in the past months, however its the gag relex that bothers me sending off a little signal in my brain going "this isn't right, what's going on? better ask what this feeling is on the ST forums."

osinskird: after reading your posts a few times with the dictionary by my side <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> I believe you are correct, but thats expected of a personal trainer, hehe. do you have any ideas of what to take on that calcium suppliment you suggested? I think I'll also take Norms advice. Thanks!