Tips and Tricks to Keep Running with Crohn's and Colitis

Staying active is one of the best ways to do good for the body. But when an inflammatory bowel disease is thrown in the mix, being active can become more challenging.

It’s easy to feel lost when hobbies and pastimes become activities of the past due to chronic disease. This can be especially true for those who love the outdoors, like avid runners.

It's more than just a jog when you live with inflammatory bowel disease

Running with Crohn's or colitis can be a challenge, to say the least. When you can have an urgent need to use the restroom at any moment, going for a 4-mile jog becomes much more complicated for you compared to most active people.

Somedays you just won't have it in you

There are going to be times you might have to turn around or call it quits. There might be some days that you just might need to take a break despite your every urge not to. But that's just how it is when you suffer from a chronic condition like Crohn's. It's incredibly important that you take care of your body first, and that includes knowing where your limits are going to be.

You can still enjoy running if you have Crohn's or colitis

The great news is that you can still enjoy the things you love despite these difficulties and limitations. Believe it or not, you can run a marathon while living with Crohn's. We've put together some tips for those who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease and want to continue what they love most - running.

Take note of where the bathrooms are and make sure there are plenty available on your running route

If you're going to run outdoors, one of the first things you need to do is plan ahead. Make sure you know where you have bathrooms! Try to pick a route that has many bathrooms available throughout. On top of that, make sure you know that they are open during the time you're going to be out exercising. The last thing you want is to be out there at 6 am needing to go and the bathroom you had planned for is locked. Some good options to use are restaurants or cafes, including Starbucks Coffee. If you're going to plan on using a Starbucks restroom, check to see if there is a code on the door and take note of it ahead of time.

Stock up on some paper towels to take with you when you go out - you won't regret it

Keep some paper towels with you when you run. Fold a couple of them up and store them in a plastic zip-top bag. Toilet paper isn't as sturdy and if they get sweaty at all they become useless. Paper towels are the way to go to clean up any accidents that may happen along the way.

Read on to learn even more tips and tricks to run with Crohn's or ulcerative colitis.