Outrun your cramps

Are your periods clashing with the marathon date? There’s no need to fret because records have shown that many women runners have achieved gold medals and big marathon titles despite being uncomfortable.

Take, for instance, 1984 Olympic marathon champion Joan Benoit. In her autobiography, she says she carried a tampon stashed in her shorts. Another popular American marathoner, Uta Pippig, was  had heavy bleeding when she won the 1996 Boston Marathon.

Last year, when techie Richa Sharma (name changed) took part in a corporate marathon, she had heavy periods. “Earlier, my life used to be ruled by my periods. It affected my job, my field trips and even my exercise schedule.

Finally, I thought, come what may, I am just going to go on with what I want to do. I ended up participating in the corporate marathon, and it was not all that bad. I just used the right sanitary napkin. That marathon gave me lot of confidence boost. Today, my periods do not affect my personal or professional life. I feel more confident,” says Sharma.

If you have been exercising regularly or running marathons there is no reason why you should stop just because you have a period, says Dr Suchitra N Pandit, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Research Centre. “But take adequate protection so your clothes don’t get soiled. Tampons could be useful for those used to them, provided they remember to change them. You could start by stretches to relax your body prior to a marathon. It’s also very important to avoid dehydration. Keep analgesics or anti-spasmodics handy in case of an emergency. Period pain is common, but regular exercises actually improves your threshold for pain. Do consult you doctor if this still persists,” she says.

Pointers
Wear both a tampon and a sanitary napkin, if you’re planning a long run. This ensures that your clothes do not get stained. When racing shorter distances, change the tampon right before the race begins.

Drink more fluids. Most women bloat during periods. This results in less intake of fluid. Lack of fluid can make you feel weak and sluggish. Make sure you drink enough water during your period.

Many women suffer from aches and pains. But the good news is running will often alleviate the pain, thanks to the release of pain-relieving chemicals, endorphins.