[Bret Turner]

Bret Turner  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hello fine Naked Scientists,

I absolutely love your podcast, and usually listen while I'm jogging.

I have noticed something about the psychology of having to use the bathroom during a run, and wondered if you knew anything about this or had some insights? I find that no matter how long I've been running whether it's 25 minutes or 2 hours, I often find myself having to poop just as I'm approaching the end of my run, and rarely earlier. It's as if psychologically I realise I'm close to home, which has a toilet, and my brain tells my body that it's about to be able to... relieve itself. This actually also happens when just walking around sometimes, too.

A listener from California,

Bret Turner

What do you think?

[Chemistry4me]

It's as if psychologically I realise I'm close to home, which has a toilet, and my brain tells my body that it's about to be able to... relieve itself.

Yup, I agree!

[Don_1]

I have this trouble after a few bevvies down the boozer.

I find going into military mode a good idea.

RIGHT then you 'orrible little thing! Prepare to relieve yourself : w-a-i-t for it........ On my command, by the left........ Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[LeeE]

I've wondered about this too, and one possibility that occurred to me was that it might be linked to scent-marking.