‘Runner's diarrhoea’ explained as Hyrox competitor sparks backlash for soiling herself during competition

A debate has been sparked online after Australian Hyrox athlete Joanna Wietrzyk continued to push through her race in Beijing over the weekend, despite losing control of her bowels.

Footage emerged of the 24-year-old, who currently holds the women's Hyrox world record, lifting weights, running, and making her way around the track, with faecal matter smeared on her legs.

The controversial move sparked a debate on just how far athletes should push themselves, as well as some backlash from people highlighting hygiene issues, as the Hyrox equipment and race areas are shared with other competitors.

In a now-deleted Instagram Story after the China race, Wietrzyk posted a photo of her hooked up to an IV drip, alongside the caption: “Go hard or go home ... a win is a win.”

She added: “In all seriousness, thank you for all the support. I'll be back soon x.”

Hyrox has since issued a statement, explaining that it has ‘clear biocontaminant and medical procedures in place’ but ‘in this instance, an unforeseen situation arose in which protocols designed for elite competition and mass participation became blurred, creating ambiguity in how they were applied and understood’.

The athlete has sparked a debate over whether she should have continued racing (Fred Lee/Getty Images)

But for athletes, Wietrzyk’s situation isn’t exactly a unique one, as some sportspeople will be all too familiar with ‘runner’s diarrhoea’.

Whether you’re a fully-fledged competitive athlete or simply someone who runs as a hobby, it’s something that, unfortunately, most people need to be wary of.

What is 'runner’s diarrhoea'?

Essentially, ‘runner’s diarrhoea’ is exactly what it sounds like - the urgent need for a bowel movement mid-run.

And runners who are faced with the sudden urge to poop don’t want to add precious minutes to their PB.

While an exact cause hasn’t been pinned down, sports dietitian Renee McGregor explained to Runner’s World: “We know that, generally speaking, we are at rest most of the time, sitting and being fairly sedentary. But then, as soon as you start the actual motion of running, you’re jiggling around the food and everything else in your gut.

“So, that can be one cause – particularly if you have quite a high-fibre diet, as it then takes a bit longer for food to move through the gut and the pull of gravity can cause the gut to loosen.”

'Runners diarrhoea' is unfortunately something many people are familiar with (Getty Stock Image)

Dehydration is another major factor, as if you’re not drinking enough while out on a run, any energy taken on board, such as gels, will concentrate in the stomach and ‘want to come out’.

Mayo Clinic outline that other causes include decreased blood flow to the intestines, changes in intestinal hormone secretion, an increased amount or introduction of new food, and of course, pre-race anxiety and stress.

As per Healthline, the symptoms of ‘runner’s diarrhoea; will typically begin during your workout and may continue in the hours after you’re done running.

Sadly, avoiding it isn’t an easy task, and experts say your best bet is simply to experiment with what you eat and what time of day you run to work out what’s best for you.

You can also make sure to drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration and avoid high-fibre foods or wearing anything too tight around the waist, to help prevent any bathroom emergencies.