Best way to “wipe” on a run

Sorebum wrote:

Hands down, the best is a smooth rock. Also a smooth branch or stick.

Leaves are considered the go-to object, but they are wrought with issues.

Also, one sock, which should be buried afterwards.

Hand if you’re by a river or water source to clean up.

Tree bark for lumps, but not great for finer cleaning.

Fluffy moist moss beats all that and TP too.

Also your own underwear works very well. But should probably bury it or plan for its disposal somehow.

I have been running for 20+ years and have never needed to crap on a run. What is up with you people? Are you the same guys that can't pee if someone is in the same room?

Stopping is always the best method.

It loosens thebowels. Same thing happens to my dog when I take her on a walk. A couple of times and your body begins to expect it. I always made sure there were available restrooms when I ran or hidden places with large leaves.

Tryit wrote:

Also your own underwear works very well. But should probably bury it or plan for its disposal somehow.

Agreed, underwear works. But I don't bury it, I just carry it home and wash it.

Underwear?!?! NO!

As someone with tummy issues, I can tell you that A) if you wear undies under your running shorts you are strange and B) if you run in shorts without a liner or undies that is a bad idea.

Socks are the key to wiping.

You shoes should fit well enough for you to finish the run and be fine without blisters/bad rubbing.

Front to back. You're welcome.

Front to back. You're welcome.

This makes a lot of sense to me. I love this forum.

Another option, if wearing a shirt, is to take that off and wipe with it.

Forget the leaves, a good smooth rock is much better. More inert. Less likely to cause rashes or irritation. Gets a great wipe. Dry leaves are particularly fragile and don’t get a good wipe.

Snowballs

First the left sleeve, then the right. By afternoon Dan was tearing strips of shirt from his waist. He never ate at the Stardust hotel again.

If you don't need to drop a load quickly without being seen, a sock makes no sense because that would involve taking off a shoe and then putting back on. That increases your chances of being seen. Just look for a tree, do your business, pull your shorts back up, then rinse your shorts in the shower when you get back if needed. (you do wear black shorts, right?)

If this is such a regular problem, carrying some TP in plastic bag on a run is pretty darn easy to do.

You can also not wipe and just clean up when you get home. I’d say this should only happen if you have less than 2 or 3 miles left on the run and if it’s not runny and going down your leg.

Run n wrote:

Snowballs

I’ve had good luck with snowballs but if there’s no snow (or toilet paper, obviously) then I usually just skip the wipe. I do like the rock idea and may try that. Socks are good but i crap so much I don’t want to start sacrificing good socks, plus you have to take off your shoes and then run sockless. That’s gross. Hands and leaves are non-starters, what’s wrong with you people?

You think running sickness is gross, but skipping a wipe is ok? Whuuuu?

Try to hold it in until the run is done. That’s part of the training. But they if you have to go, then wipe with the top of a fire hydrant (as long as it’s not too rusty or you’ve had your tetanus shot. )

A freshly dead squirrel’s tail would probably work and might feel soft. I wouldn’t recommend a long dead one with flies around it.