# “Defecation… delays fatigue in elite triathletes“ **URL:** \ **Category:** Training\ **Created:** [April 29, 2023, 3:04pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359 "2023-04-29T15:04:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dmetz39](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/dmetz39/32/133943_2.png) [@Dmetz39](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Dmetz39)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 3:04pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/1 "2023-04-29T15:04:02Z")
Holy sh\*\*, you shouldn’t be flushing this marginal gain down the toilet. > **[Defecation enhances cerebral perfusion and delays fatigue in elite triathletes](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15502783.2023.2206380)** > > Rectal distension increases regulatory burden to autonomic nervous system in the brain.To determine the effect of rectal defecation on endurance performance and blood supply to the prefrontal brain... ---
**Author:** ![Simo429](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/simo429/32/1784_2.png) [@Simo429](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Simo429)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 5:06pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/2 "2023-04-29T17:06:56Z")
What about people who have no rectum? ---
**Author:** ![Pipipi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/pipipi/32/157705_2.png) [@Pipipi](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Pipipi)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/3 "2023-04-29T20:00:17Z")
Are they more full of crap than I expected? ---
**Author:** ![Dmetz39](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/dmetz39/32/133943_2.png) [@Dmetz39](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Dmetz39)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/4 "2023-04-29T20:48:38Z")
Revised title: Pooping delayed feeling pooped. Sorry… ---
**Author:** ![KWcycling](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/kwcycling/32/72152_2.png) [@KWcycling](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/KWcycling)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/5 "2023-04-29T20:50:19Z")
Does it work if you poop your pants while riding? I wonder why more athletes aren’t trying this! ---
**Author:** ![Brennus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/brennus/32/1318_2.png) [@Brennus](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Brennus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 10:00pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/6 "2023-04-29T22:00:50Z")
I didn’t know that about cerebral oxygenation Very interesting. ---
**Author:** ![jesse\_v](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/jesse_v/32/74675_2.png) [@jesse\_v](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/jesse_v)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 11:25pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/7 "2023-04-29T23:25:02Z")
Finally a scientific basis for my enjoying how I feel after I poop. ---
**Author:** ![konradkowara](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/konradkowara/32/93929_2.png) [@konradkowara](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/konradkowara)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2023, 5:46am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/8 "2023-04-30T05:46:58Z")
I’d love to hear a deep dive on this! ---
**Author:** ![carytb](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/carytb/32/23710_2.png) [@carytb](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/carytb)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 2:10pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/9 "2023-05-01T14:10:27Z")
No shit Sherlock ---
**Author:** ![jfranci3](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/jfranci3/32/12908_2.png) [@jfranci3](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/jfranci3)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/10 "2023-05-01T21:04:48Z")
But only in Triatheletes. The actual sports don’t matter as long as they do three of them… and they’re elite. ---
**Author:** ![Dmetz39](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/dmetz39/32/133943_2.png) [@Dmetz39](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Dmetz39)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2023, 10:50pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/11 "2023-05-03T22:50:11Z")
![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/original/3X/b/7/b755e3d597e1a8ac393a4ce9cfb1e2f0a084b4f5.gif) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/original/3X/0/1/01eba54850c02b55734198d52696dca7125c05b9.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![NotRailingTurns](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/notrailingturns/32/71022_2.png) [@NotRailingTurns](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/NotRailingTurns)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:14am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/12 "2023-05-08T11:14:12Z")
Without reading the study I would call bullshit. Or perhaps horseshit. But then I thought “Wow, that’s not some piece of shit research, these researchers actually know their shit. This is _the_ shit, it changes everything! I would go as far as calling it hot shit” And taking a shit as part of all the shit I have to get done before riding isn’t that big a deal. ---
**Author:** ![Deleteme](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/deleteme/32/12895_2.png) [@Deleteme](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Deleteme)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 12:06pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/13 "2023-05-08T12:06:58Z")
Running and not pooping leads to some pretty painful consequences. Riding and not pooping can lead to an embarrassing situation, or finding out that the furry leaves shouldn’t be used for wiping. I laughed at how common it was for some people to have to stop at the rest stop and poop. To me, once I start riding, it’s like that part of my body shuts down, but ‘riding full’? I’ll pass if I can… ---
**Author:** ![toribath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/toribath/32/34696_2.png) [@toribath](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/toribath)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 12:08pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/14 "2023-05-08T12:08:49Z")
These are marginal gains at best, compared to the far greater performance-enhancing power of trying to make it home in the uncomfortable absence of defecation. Forest for the trees, people. ---
**Author:** ![Deleteme](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/deleteme/32/12895_2.png) [@Deleteme](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Deleteme)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 12:11pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/15 "2023-05-08T12:11:16Z")
Pooping can also raise the blood pressure. Elvis died on the can trying to pinch out a loaf. Pooping has a wide effect on the whole body. Are triathletes going to switch to an ultra high fiber diet to increase their ‘pooping performance boost’? Pooping preps the body for higher performance in athletic endeavors? Hmm… ---
**Author:** ![toribath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/toribath/32/34696_2.png) [@toribath](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/toribath)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/defecation-delays-fatigue-in-elite-triathletes/83359/16 "2023-05-08T13:25:16Z")
All I can say that if the Norges Triathlonforbund isn’t investigating this exciting scientific development then they’re full of sh\*t. Forget public strava data, I demand poop logs. For my complete thoughts, see the slowtwitch thread ‘I just sh\*t myself on the run’, which is perhaps the only thread on the internet which justifies it’s longevity and impressive detail.