Yup I am talking about periods today. We are all mother runners here and we all have them but no one really talks about them. Throughout adulthood, our cycles can be so erratic it’s darn near impossible to plan out your race schedule around them. So many races require registration way in advance and you just have to hope it’s not “that day”. This happened to me recently right before my last tri race and I was in quite a tizzy. I went to some of my favorite mother runners for advice on what they do. While we can’t avoid it happening at some point, perhaps we can help each other out. I offer you a few tips on what to do when you get your period on race day.
Hydrate
A few weeks ago I found myself at the grocery store buying tampons, coffee & Hershey Kisses. If that is not a walking cliche, I don’t know what is! In retrospect, probably not the best cure for my PMS. Hydrating with non caffeinated beverages and eating less salty foods are the better bet even if that is not what you crave.
Heating Pad
Whether you have cramps or not, using a heating pad for a few minutes on your abdomen can (in my experience) ease some of the discomfort you are feeling.
Light exercise
As counter intuitive as it may seem, moving around or doing some light cardio seems to really help ease cramps. This works for me every time.
Give into the fatigue
Many women report feeling exhausted in the day or so leading up to the start of their period. Giving into the fatigue and allowing yourself and extra rest day, quick nap or snooze button can do wonders.
Rethink it
Also a little cliche but my emotions can get really exaggerated and have me in tears over things that I would normally brush off. It’s certainly hard to when you are in the midst of “PMS-y” thoughts, but taking a step back and rethinking it helps. If that fails go back to the chocolate and coffee or wine LOL.
Wardrobe change!
That cute race day outfit might not be so practical anymore. Wearing dark bottoms can give you peace of mind just in case and one less thing to worry about.
Extra Porta Potty time
Having your period on race day, can wreak havoc on your GI system. Leave yourself some extra time to hit the porta potty and bring extra supplies (tampons etc). Panty liners & pads do not mix well with sweating and running.
Be prepared
A few life saver items my mother runner friends swear by are:
–feminine wipes in individual packages
–sport sized tampons
–ThinX – I have not tried these yet but lots of running mamas apparently love them as a backup. They have a sport model.
I personally have not tried this either and not sure if I would but I hear it is “life changing”.
While none of these fully take away the inconvenience of having your period on race day, perhaps some of these tips will help you make it suck less. Being a mother runner does have it’s challenges.
Tell me: What tips do you have? Have you tried any of these products? Any funny or embarrassing stories to share?
Linking up
AnnMarie, Nicole, Jen
So true no one talks about it! Luckily, somehow I managed to run most if not all of my races while not on my period. I’ve heard of the diva cup. I just can’t imagine using that!
You are lucky! I don’t think I will use the Diva cup either but people swear by it
I am SO glad I do not have to worry about this anymore- it was such a pain! I always went for a running skirt- I liked the idea of having a skirt over the bottoms plus skirts just make me feel better!
Yes that does give a piece of mind to have that extra layer there
What horrible timing if you got your period on race day. These tips are great! Will be passing along to my running friends. Thanks!
It’s never fun to get it but race day makes it worse for sure
Yikes! That’s one thing I don’t have to worry about. I had a hysterectomy about 10 years ago. Best.thing.ever. My periods always messed with me both on and off the road.
It is challenging at times!
Not a problem anymore for me, but I do remember the day! Especially the last couple years before my hysterectomy, when my period was so heavy because of fibroid tumors. It was hard to do anything let alone wear brief shorts and bounce around for an hour!
ha it can be challenging for sure
Ugh. Periods on race day are the WORST. Fun story: my first race DNF coincided with the first day of my period. Thankfully I was taking a DNF because I wasn’t recovered from a hard race the week before, but if not, I might have DNFed just on the period alone. Day 1 is the worst for me.
I have the DivaCup and MeLuna. MeLuna fits me better but I don’t use it exclusively because I’m just not confident in my abilities of proper placement.
Thanks for these tips!
It’s ironic how it seems to pop up right on race day! I have not heard of MeLuna but like you, I am a little worried about using something like that too
Sometimes being a woman stinks! Great tips to get through that day! 🙂
It’s sure not easy at times
These are such good tips. Sometimes I’m not good at being easy on myself when I have my period, but it totally drains my energy, so I love your tips about going easy on yourself and planning extra time. I’m not sure if I’ve ever had my period on a race day! But I haven’t raced for a long time, so…. maybe it will happen the next time I race, so this post can be a good reference.
It’s so easy to beat ourselves up and not cut ourselves slack when we need it. I am so guilty of this myself too
Good tips! The heating pad thing always helps me out. And giving in to the exhaustion since I never sleep well when I have my period. I’m on the pill for medical reasons but one of the benefits of that is that I never get my period on weekends, which always helps.
Yes that is a big help to not have it on weekends!
I’m on the pill, so I can skip it if I want to. I got mine “friend” my sophomore year in college on vacation (thankfully I wasn’t running) at WDW, and had to leave the park due to cramps. If I had been back in the dorm, I would’ve gotten it and done with it even before flying down for vacation. When I got home, I went to my doctor to be put on the pill. Now I know when I’ll get it (early in the week) and the cramps aren’t as bad.
That’s great-I was on the pill before having kids but now it doesn’t really work for me. It’s not always easy to be a woman!
Oh, man. This is perfect!! I always notice my pace drops and I’m generally more sluggish when I get my period. I was in the middle of it when I had my last race and I was so worried. It ended up being one of my fastest and I think that’s because I focused so much on hydration in the days leading up to it!
I agree extra hydration really helps a lot. The worrying not so much but I do that too
The heating pad is always my best friend during that “time of the month”. It definitely helps with the cramping.
It does help a bit cramps are the worst
Oh, these are great tips! Fortunately, I don’t have cramp issues…but I do bloat like a crazy gargoyle. YUCK. Men have it SO easy.
Oh the bloating is seriously horrible. Men do have it easy they have nothing to worry about at all
Ugh. I swear the last few races I have ran I got my period the night before or day of! These are great tips!
Isn’t it just crazy how that always happens?!
I got my period right before the last Ragnar I did. 36 hours in a co-ed van with Aunt Flo, plus the joy of changing tampons in a port-a-potty (and potentially in the dark)??? No, thank you! I did a combo of Diva cup and Thinx. The Diva cup wasn’t fool proof – I didn’t get as much time to experiment before the race – so the Thinx gave me some peace of mind.
OH like you really needed that extra challenge! People seem to rave about the Thinx I may try them
I was nervous that I’d be on my period during Ragnar but I lucked out and it came a week earlier!
I remember seeing ThinX ads ALL over NYC when I was there. It’s good to know they work!
People say they really do! I may have to try them
They are good as a back-up.
I got my period for each of my first 3 big races and my first marathon! I was lucky and was two days into it, so it wasn’t the worst part of the cycle, but it was still so. annoying.
Isn’t it just crazy how that happens!?
I have fortunately only had light period days land on a race, but I always go for loose shorts with a liner in that situation. And of course a pocket for backup feminine products.
Yes the pockets are always great! You have been lucky
Oh, this is a fun topic.
Since I’ve gotten older, my cycle has been merciless. It seems to find it even more hilarious to ALWAYS show up on race day, even when it’s not supposed to.
My marathon? Two weeks early. Showed up literally 40 minutes before the start. Mr PugRunner had to go to First Aid to get me tampons, because I wasn’t even close to expecting it. Hilarity.
It’s frustrating, but I guess it just goes with the territory. I don’t know if I can wrap my head around those Thinx, though…
Mine has also been really erratic it can be so frustrating. The cramps and fatigue ugh.
Really wish I had some tips but I’m sure I’ll be doing me research especially on products since my daughter’s soccer shorts are white. Yes white whose genius idea was that for teen girls?
That’s really just silly! That’s the worst age to have white shorts.
this is something i freak out when i sign up for races, esp big ones…and im one of those people who will take a day off sometimes. i will have to remember some of the tips you mentioned here.
It’s so hard when we have to sign up so far in advance!
Ugh, I feel ya!! I got my period a day or two before a race last year and I felt so much pain, which is unusual for me. It ruined my finish time. Wish this post was around 8 months ago for the reminders!!
It happens to all of us at some point for sure. The cramps and tiredness can really ruin your race for sure
Ugh. I’ve run 2 marathons and a 50K on my period. Inconvenient for sure. I was especially worried about the 50K since it was going to (obviously) take longer than a marathon. Super tampon did the trick and lasted the whole race. I keep thinking of trying Diva Cup, but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
I have not tried the Diva cup either but some of my friends rave about it
This totally happened to me for my first ever half marathon! UGH whyyyy!? All was ok and I didn’t have any mishaps but still…. hah!
I know it’s crazy how it happens at the worst time possible
I’ve definitely had a couple of races where I was on my period…it’s not fun but sometimes we have to deal with it! I would say definitely make sure in your gear check bag that you have everything you need and try to “freshen up” as close to the race start as possible for peace of mind.
Yes bringing extra supplies is a must
While I *believe* I’m past that I’m still not sure. In fact, my last shock was to get one right before PCB back in December — after more than a year without anything.
Thankfully at this stage they don’t usually last long (and there’s been nothing since).
I always found exercise helped a lot — and yes, I did have them during races occasionally.
Exercise does help feel better if you can get motivated enough to start it 🙂
I actually got my period a few minutes before my yoga session yesterday! It’s such a bummer!
There is never a good time is there?!
I have been there many times just like other female runners and it can be very frustrating…
It sure can!
I just don’t know about that underwear…
I have not tried it yet but people seem to like it. But then you have to wash it I don’t know either
One of the things I embrace about being an older runner is that I no longer get my period and I don’t miss it one bit! As for stories related to my period, there are just too many to share! LOL
The Diva Cup came on the market too late for me, but I’m sure I would have tried it.
I am hoping the day I no longer need to worry is very soon!