Running And Periods

A fitness routine you've actually started to love, a race you've given your all to prepare for, or a tournament you're off to. There's this fantastic momentum that builds up. Does an athlete let her monthly period get in the way, or does she take it in her stride? It surely got us curious and we decided to chase the question. As we spoke to sportswomen, doctors, and physical trainers, here's what we found.

We started out with Shalaka and Sayuri. Shalaka recently finished the Turkey Half Ironman, and is well on track to becoming a serial achiever in that sport. Sayuri needs no introduction for those who aim at a podium finish at marathons, because she mostly makes one. As we talked we realized, striding over periods is a milestone they’ve left far behind.

“It’s all in the mind” says Sayuri

"I have been running for over a decade and it was only in 2016 that I ran a marathon while on my periods. The experience made me confident that I can handle it. Until then, I would either not sign up for races around my expected date, or I would take pills to alter the date. However, taking pills and not allowing the body to take its natural course felt like abuse of the body and I stopped it.

The pain and the discomfort needed some mind work. I told myself, I won’t allow that to make me miss my races or compromise on my training schedules. And I was fine after that! Like most things, it’s all in the mind.”

“Don’t make a big deal out of it!” says Shalaka

“Some simple planning helps”

Sayuri started to chalk out her fitness routines during her periods, to get over her apprehensions. “To start with, I planned training runs closer around home. I understood the logistics to be kept in mind, and trained myself to overlook the pain.” Shalaka avoids long runs on the first two days of periods, and makes up for it in the gym schedule. For marathons, they run super light, with just one change of napkin/tampon at the end of the race.

“Facilities don’t need to get better, they need to start!”

Sayuri feels, "The loo facility is grossly underprovided for at marathons. The cubicles are far too few, and there is no separate section for the specific purpose of changing or disposing off sanitary napkins. Race organisers could get more sensitive towards this specific need. At the end of a 42.2 km long run, it’s a tough choice whether to head to the podium and medal, or to queue up for the loo!"

“I have found it no better abroad either,” says Shalaka. Sayuri feels that the insensitivity of the people only makes it worse. “People mess the toilet seat, the floor, recklessly fill up the bin with tissue, and just don’t care how they leave the space for the next user".

At the end of a 42.2 km long run, it’s a tough choice whether to head to the podium and medal, or to queue up for the loo!”

Nothing like a fitness regime to reduce PMS

A fitness routine is great for the body and mind, especially during periods. Here's why - while exercise is a good distraction from the physical pains, the thrill of achieving a target releases more endorphins, which is good for the state of mind. “Fitness training can actually change the spectrum of PMS. You could move from acute PMS to mild, to no PMS!” says Sayuri. “Plus, muscle building reduces abdominal pain.”

Lower the gear, but do not screech in the breaks : fitness instructors

In a discussion Shruti had with her yoga teacher regarding periods and yoga, this is what she gathered: “The unwillingness to exercise during periods is very understandable. The body needs some rest. However, rest is not equal to a complete stop of physical activity. In fact, there are asanas in Yoga that relieve premenstrual pain.”

Pilates and dance instructor Ankita Kalsi had a smiliar point of view. Ankita is used to her female students complaining of cramps, back pain and soreness in the pelvic floor during their periods. For this, she tweaks the training set to include low impact, lying on the back mat exercises. Also, she skips inverted position and heavy cardio exercises. Besides, Ankita feels,“Due to the hormonal changes during periods, the muscles tend to feel tight and the mind tends to be irritable. Therefore, it is infact the body which should be kept active, and the mind which should be relaxed.”