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Jan 22, 2013

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.



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.
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.

  

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.





25 comments:

  1. this a informative post, this answer my question about going out to jog/walk when monthly period is up..-Singlemom Reviews

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  2. It is only you who can tell if your body is okay especially when we have menses. Though, we may say excuses, it is still good to listen to our body because if we overdo things, the consequences are not necessarily good!

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  3. Luckily my monthly period does not affect my physical activities. I have friends who beg off from badminton games or the gym because of their period though. There's an officemate who told me sometimes she collapses during her period.

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  4. well, i agree with your views; now that i do jogging, i have read an article that jogging while on your period can help to reduce PMS symptoms and it healthy.

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  5. Sound advice. Thank you very much for something very informative and interesting.

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  6. It really pays to listen to our bodies. In my case I do brisk walking when I am too beat up to do my weekend aerobic class at the park after my shift. With no sleep I am starting to realize it is one of the best way to start one's day wether I have menstruation or not. I forget my abdominal cramps plus the air is still not that polluted as there are few vehicles and commuters. Besides an 8 peso savings a day is not bad if you do it three times a week, don't you think ?

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  7. this post will surely help those who are into running...

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  8. Oh, i'm so thankful that you blog about this. I don't jog during that time of the month, though some of my friends would tell me I'll be fine. Thanks for the advice!

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  9. HI sis, I also made a short post on my weight loss blog regarding this topic. I'm a runner myself and when it's that time of the month, I sometimes wonder if it's safe to still run. ...and well, yeah.. the answer's yes. Just don't stress it.

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  10. It's safe to run of course, even when you have it. Just that symptoms vary a lot with us women. I played it safe because I don't want people to panic over me hehehe

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  11. You know your own body. So if you're not up to it, then just skip that activity for while. :-)

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  12. i get easily tire when my menstruation is coming, and so i opt not to do any heavy physical activities.

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  13. i do brisk walking every morning, sometimes if had my period i am so lazy to get up and don't want to walk hahaha...

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  14. Ay safe pala tumakbo kasi meron ka. I remember dati sabi ng matatanda wag daw tatakbo, wag magbbike or tatalon pag meron kasi baba daw ang matres. hehe.


    Mommy Maye
    www.momayescraft.tk

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  15. I hate to work out when it is the time of the month, seriously, and it is also that time when I can eat just about anything haist!

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  16. Yeah, you can still run, but you're right, up to the runner actually. Besides, if you're like me who feels really lethargic when I have it, I can't move much or I don't want to move about. LOL

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  17. 5 years back when I was still active in badminton, I still play in tournaments even with monthly period. I consider myself lucky because I don't experience abdominal cramps during menstruation. :)

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  18. I never had abdominal cramps until age 26...from then on it's been like hell during that time of the month hehehe

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  19. I'm not sure if the running helps...because I take mefenamic acid about the time the cramps are starting....Because when it has kicked in full time, the medicine would be no good anymore and I would be writhing in pain for 2 hours.

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  20. I have observed that about the appetite. I crave for food hehehe...as if you're not bloated enough because of water retention....

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  21. Students even use that as an excuse to PE class right?

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  22. I do too. It's like you're not doing much but you seemed to be drained of energy

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  23. I could do almost anything naman but I refrain from going outside the comfort of home or office during that time because there's no telling how my body would act up. Yes, some women do experience those kinds of severe symptoms.

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  24. Wow! warm up pa lang yun? Super fit ang friend nyo Ma'am!

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  25. For some ladies it's really hard when their period comes and even made them productive. I know some ladies who experience worst when they have their period.

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