Pooping on the Lawn: The Marathon Miscreant and Running’s Dirty Secret

A visitor on the lawn

About five years ago, the writer noticed a woman defecating outside the family home in a Connecticut suburb. The location was visible from nearby houses and close to a road used by dog walkers and parents with strollers.

The woman left behind human waste and wet wipes. After another incident, the writer’s mother spoke with her; the woman pointed to the tree and said, “it will go away,” according to the mother. The family remained divided over what should be done.

Urgency during a run

The writer’s reporting found accounts of runners relieving themselves on trails, in backyards, graveyards and beside roads. Some say they have no alternative when the nearest public bathroom is miles away.

Exercise can increase the urge to defecate, said Patrick Wilson, an exercise science professor at Old Dominion University and study author. He said running appears to cause more problems for people, and that long-distance runners report more gastrointestinal symptoms than those running a few miles.

Runners disagree on cleanup

Opinions in the running community vary. Some accept the practice if people are discreet and clean up afterward, while others consider it unacceptable. One TikTok user described pooping beside her car in a residential neighborhood, using the open doors for privacy, then bagging the waste and rinsing the spot with bottled water. In an ultramarathon discussion, a user objected that human waste can harm ecosystems and invoked the principle of Leave No Trace.

Legal questions and past cases

In Colorado Springs, an unidentified female jogger went viral the previous year after repeatedly leaving feces on neighborhood lawns. Police investigated, but nobody was charged.