Run on Periods

Category: Health

You are a runner. The customary weekend long run is underway, when suddenly it dawns upon you at the 20th kilometre that you were supposed to get your periods today. Hmmmmmm. May be you are getting it right now, but you are sweating, your nose is running and the body is complaining, so you don’t know for sure if it is the monthly disaster that has commenced (so soon?) or whether these are the aches and pains of a long run. If you have never found yourself in the above scenario, you are likely to be a man. Even if you are, there is no need to skip to another article in haste. Please continue to read and enlighten yourself on the added challenges faced by women runners and also how they can be overcome. Ah, the challenges of long distance running and the prospect of menstrual blood trickling down your legs! Most women I know would skip exercise on their period days or opt for easier effort workout. But for someone training for a big race following a bare minimum running schedule, clocking *just* enough mileage to train for the next marathon, skipping of workout days may not be desirable. While it is alright to skip your workout on a really uncomfortable day of your periods, it is also perfectly fine to exercise on the day of your period. Exercise often does not make your period any worse and gives you the same physiological benefits as any other day. Often, once one starts running, one gets immersed in the workout and forgets the discomfort of periods. Unless, of course, you are using a sanitary napkin! It constantly reminds you of its presence by shifting, bunching, leaking, rubbing against your inner thighs and sometimes getting shredded into pieces on the job. Many women runners go for tampons but tampons aren’t great for heavy bleeders or those with low cervix and tend to slide down when fully soaked. Also, tampons are associated with toxic shock syndrome which is rare but deadly when it strikes.