16 Most Embarrassing Running Questions… Answered!

From your sex life, to flatulence, to black toenails… there are some things you just can’t ask a friend. And to make sure you don’t have to, we’ve found experts to answer your most awkward running questions.

1 DOES RUNNING AFFECT YOUR SEX LIFE?

Runners may have endurance on the road – but what about between the sheets? Do long workouts sap your energy for… another kind of workout? And how do elite runners manage to make babies while running more than 100 kays every week?

According to experts and runners, it turns out that running can improve performance, and not just at the races.

Many runners report that running increases their desire for a roll in the hay. “Being active is a potent aphrodisiac for both women and men,” says Tina Penhollow, an associate professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion at Florida Atlantic University.

What explains that connection? Confidence, for one thing.

In an annual survey of runners by Brooks, 41 per cent of respondents said they feel frisky after a run, with 54 per cent being turned on by the energy boost, and 51 per cent saying it makes them feel strong and confident.

“You tend to have a heightened libido when you’re proud of yourself,” reports obstetrician, gynaecologist and marathoner Julia Levitt.

Running boosts self-esteem, and research shows that people who exercise have a more positive body image and feel more desirable and confident in the bedroom. “They feel good in their bodies,” says Ian Kerner, a sex therapist. “They’re really able to translate that into sex, where they feel free and comfortable and uninhibited to a greater extent.”

Physical activity makes women more sensitive to touch, and men report better orgasms and greater levels of satisfaction. And of course, being in shape means more stamina. “Certainly, exercise and training for exercise will benefit the exercise of sex,” says Kerner. – Teal Burrell

2. IS IT OKAY TO HAVE SEX THE NIGHT BEFORE A BIG RACE?