Why Some Athletes Poop Themselves During a Marathon?

The world of sports is full of unusual stories, many of which you read here at our news section, full of legends and heroes, but one truth is absolute: Everybody poops.

An Embarrassing Moment

The problem is when the urge to answer the call of nature happens in the middle of a marathon. Many athletes have experienced the shame of soiling their clothes in front of crowds of people, and with hundreds of cameras to record the drama. Paula Radcliffe, winner of the 2005 London marathon, shocked many people when, on her way to get the gold medal, she stopped to relieve herself while TV cameras recorded the moment. To the reporters, the medalist said that she had eaten a bad salmon the night before. Of course, bad food is never a good idea, but there are more factors involved.

Pooping in the Racetrack

There is nothing definitive in medical circles about what causes the urge to go to the bathroom in running athletes, but there are some theories about the origin of the problem:

Decreased blood flow in the intestines
Changes in the secretion of intestinal hormones
Physical pushing on the organs
Pre-race anxiety

In addition to diarrhea, many runners experience other health problems during or after the event, such as signs of asthma, hoarseness, coughing, indigestion, and heartburn.

Avoiding Brown Pants

There are several recommendations to avoid such problems when playing sports. Among them, experts recommend that athletes avoid possible triggers, such as eating lactose or eggs. Caffeine also requires caution: on the one hand, many athletes consume the substance to combat fatigue and improve performance, but on the other, it can cause the intestines to work at a faster pace. One way or another, we all must answer to the call of nature sooner or later, and we can only take precautions and prepare ourselves so it won’t happen at the worst of times. We hope you enjoyed this article, the year is almost over but you can still make your bets with the best limits and odds by opening an account on the best betting platform!
Happy Christmas and see you next time!