"The Unfortunate Reality of Runner's Diarrhea: A Common Challenge for Marathoners"
Long-distance runners and walkers, including marathon runners, often experience episodes of "runners diarrhea," with up to 90% of participants in endurance races reporting gastrointestinal symptoms. Factors such as reduced blood flow to the abdominal gastrointestinal organs during exercise and difficulty controlling the anal sphincters contribute to this phenomenon. Stress before a race and the constant jostling of the body while running may also play a role.