Of Women Runners and That Time of the Month

Note:  If you're a man who happens to land on this article, I suggest you skip off to my other articles since this is something men can't really relate to.  

With that, let's get on with the topic.

Women's Mini Marathon

Ever wonder how that time of the month affects women who are into running or other kinds of sports? I am sure that a woman at some point, even if she's far from being an athlete, has noted subtle or not so subtle symptoms before or during her menstrual cycle.  As a runner or a sports woman, this monthly cycle may be of significance to one's performance.  On the other hand, it can also be inconsequential to some women.  

I've read these articles and they may shed some light to better understanding your own body.  (Now if you're a man and you're still reading up to this point, don't say I didn't warn you).  These may not necessarily be about running only .  You could also consider these facts during your workout schedules.

• Running and Menstruation
• Running on Your Period: How It Impacts Training
• Biomechanics, Periods, and Pregnancy
• How Menstruation Affects Your Running

There's really no absolute rule to holding off running just because of a woman's monthly period.  Even pregnant women still run! I've read blogs of pregnant women runners and I am inspired by them. Still, I am not playing the hero here.

I was supposed to have my first 5-kilometer run for this year, this coming Sunday. I had to beg off from signing up simply because I saw in this nifty app I am using, the period calendar, that the run would coincide with that time of the month. I wouldn't have minded that, except that it's also the projected day I would expect severe abdominal cramps for at least a couple of hours.  And with the cold weather during early mornings, that would be double-whammy for me.  So, instead, if I am feeling up to it, I will just jog this Sunday with friends.  If not, then I'll just take my sweet time to sleep some more and wake up a little later.

  

Linda Byrne at Women's Mini Marathon

So why am I being a sissy this time just because of this monthly thing?  For seasoned athletes, the monthly period may not even matter.  For a newbie runner like me, I would much rather not risk passing out on the running track.  I am well aware that there is a high probability of me ending up lying in a medic's vehicle while others are running about.  It is something I don't look forward to.  I'd rather suffer in silence in the comfort of my own bed. 

Knowing your body and how it performs at different phases and at different levels of exertion is of utmost important.  There are perfectly good reasons to not run or workout or engage in sports temporarily, and then, there are also just plain excuses.   You know your body and it is your call to decide what to do and what to skip for a while.