A runner has received an outpouring of support after she refused to stop to use the bathroom during a marathon, but earned herself a new personal best in the progress.
As reported by Insider, athlete Tamara Torlakson is used to running long distances for long periods of time - so usually makes sure her bowels are clear before lacing up her shoes and starting a race.
However, that wasn't the case when she took part in the Mountains 2 Beach Marathon back in 2018.
At the time, Torlakson had just given birth, and the 26.2-mile marathon was her first race back post-partum. The race starts in Ojai, California, and ends in the coastal city of Ventura, west of Los Angeles - and the then-31-year-old wanted to see if she was even faster after having her child.
Roughly halfway through the race, Torlakson was on-track to hit a new personal record - but then nature started calling.
Determined to persevere and smash her PB, Torlakson opted to poop in her shorts rather than stop to use the restroom - a brave decision she stands by to this day!
Speaking to Insider, she revealed: "I thought, 'I don't know if it's possible to poop while running, but I will try.' I didn't want one poop to mess it all up."
And despite running with soiled shorts for another 13-or-so miles, Torlakson says she felt much better after and even went on to hit a new personal best - 1min and 12secs faster than her previous, and all while 13 months post-partum.
Sharing her story to Instagram, she says: "I guess I like to PR that badly that I won’t let much stop me in my tracks, it worked, I ran a 3:07 that day! Also it’s just poop, I don’t find it to be gross or a big deal lol."
She added: "Also, this was the first and only time this happened, let’s keep it that way!"
Torlakson also pointed out in her caption that it wasn't "a log".
Speaking to Insider, New York City dietitian Tamara Duker Freuman revealed that people can sometimes have their bowels triggered by running due to the fact that their "organs are jostling around".
Torlakson told the publication that "marathoners don't judge" - and neither do we! In fact, people on social media were quick to praise her for her dedication to setting a new PB, with some people even branding her a legend:
Dedication at its very best! Torlakson, we applaud you!
Featured image credit: Rob Wilkinson / lifestyle / Alamy