Oops! Intestinal complaints while running

Do you sometimes suddenly have to go to the toilet halfway through your run? It's not a sexy topic of conversation, but it's not crazy at all. While running you stimulate your intestines.

The cause

The main cause is the jerking movement of your body while running. It puts pressure on your stomach and intestines. You may experience abdominal pain, or you may feel that you suddenly need to go to the toilet. The blood flow probably also plays a role in intestinal complaints while running. During running, the blood flow in the gastrointestinal tract decreases, so it can do its job less easily.

Read also: 'This can cause back pain while running'

What can you do about it?

• Make sure you stop eating right before your run. Eating a little longer in advance gives your body more time to digest the food.
• Get to know your body. If you know which foods give you faster intestinal complaints while running, you can take this into account. So don't eat a kind of meal right before a race that you normally never eat before running.
• Drink enough water. Dehydration does not benefit your stomach and intestinal complaints.
• Try to empty your bowels before running.
• Beware of fiber-rich products before running.

Do you suffer from constipation?

Then exercise is a good tool to get your intestines to work in a natural way. Read our tips for a good bowel movement.