Everyone knows that exercise is good for you. Though there are risks associated with any sport, when done correctly running will improve overall endurance (meaning the more you run, the better you will be at other sports) as well as boost the health of your heart and help tone other areas such as your hamstrings and glutes, as well as helping to create more toned legs. Anyone interested in improving their health has probably considered incorporating running into their exercise routine and may even begin running a few miles a week in order to improve their health. To these people, running posses no obvious risk or danger.
However, running for copious amounts of time and on a regular basis may lead to a surprising risk you may not have considered when planning an exercise routine. You see, running can cause what is known as “runner’s diarrhea” or what can be more easily explained as the sudden and intense need to move your bowels. Basically, running can cause someone to need to poop unexpectedly and urgently.
Why would running make someone need to poop? After brief consideration, this may seem like a case of weird or freak science. However, if one is to consider the mechanics of running and the stress it causes onto the body, the intense need to poop seems less mysterious. While one idea is that running causes blood to flow away from intestines (which can lead to the need to poop or relieve diarrhea) another theory is that the vibrations and impact of repeatedly slamming feet into the ground, which is obvious unavoidable while running, primes the body to poop.
Obviously, having to poop is not something you want to worry over while you’re running. Fortunately, there are preventative measures anyone may take to decrease the need to suddenly need to poop while or right after running. Firstly and perhaps most predictably, someone who takes up long distance running should be conscious of the fiber and sugar alcohols contained in the foods they consume. To avoid a random need to poop, fiber-rich foods or food containing sugar alcohols should not be eaten at least a day before running. Clearly, if someone wants to incorporate running every day they cannot make the decision to avoid these types of foods every day. To diminish the likelihood of needing to poop while running, you can simply eat these foods after you’ve finished your routine for the day. In this type of situation, it may be best to eat these sorts of foods right after you have finished your run, as this will give your body the most time to process the food before you begin running again.
Other causes for runner’s poop or diarrhea can be the intake of caffeine or dehydration, and for this reason caffeine should be avoided for at least three hours before running and a runner should drink plenty of liquids while they exercise. Furthermore, high-fat foods and energy foods may contribute to the excessive need to poop, so experimenting with these types of substances should always take place on a trail near restrooms.
Ultimately, you should not become discouraged if running has caused you to need to poop or has given you diarrhea. A quick google search will show you that the need to poop while running is very common amongst professional runners. If you have taken the above precautions and continue to need to poop because of your running habits, consult a doctor and see if you have a different reaction to foods or if you possibly have an allergy.
WORKS CITED
Laskowsk M.D., Edward. “Runner’s Diarrhea: How Can I Prevent It? – MayoClinic.com.” Mayo Clinic. 11 Sept. 2010. Web. 02 May 2011. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/runners-diarrhea/AN00376.
