Period clashing with marathon

[Annoyedrunner]

Hi ladies - I’m running my first ever marathon this weekend and it looks like it’s going to clash with the heaviest day of my period 😭I get really bad stomach cramps and leg pain and just generally feel drained and lacking in energy.

Throughout the whole of my training i have managed to avoid this so I’m really worried about how it’s going to impact me on the day

. Does anyone have any tips on how to get through the race ? I’ve never taken the period delay tablets before and after reading the horror stories don’t want to risk it.

Honestly just dreading running now - I swear my period has an inbuilt sensor for the most inconvenient time to come !!!

You could get a pill to stop it. My daughter used it for holiday and even though it says you have to started it a few days before, she started it just before, got a little spotting the day after and then kept taking it and completely stopped it..she had no problems with it and stopped it after the holiday.

Northisterone it's called and can get it over the counter.

The period delay tablets are taken 3 days before the first day of the expected period, so will be too late now anyway.

Thanks for the messages - I’ve never taken norethisterone before and given the potential side effects I don’t think it’s an option

Aren't menstrual cups meant to hold more than tampons One of those plus period pants maybe?

I've used Norethisterone with no side effects though. I've also used it with less than 3 days before I'm due (although it's not quite as effective - some spotting)

Ive used Norethisterone before holidays, it's worked brilliantly. Maybe you could get some OTC tonight and start straight away? If the marathon is on Sunday it will be 2 and a bit days away so.might work.

If you've never used a menstrual cup before, I wouldn't say the day of a marathon is the day to start. The first few times I used one it was really tricky. To be honest, I never really got the hang of it.

Good luck!

Take whatever you normally take and run as usual. You'll fund running helps with the pain.

In her book Paula Radcliffe says she set the world record the day her period arrived. She also says there's no evidence that your period affects athletic performance, only that exercise eases the unpleasant symptoms.

Good luck!

Period pants and a thin incontinence pad along with your tampon. Try to pre empt the need for tampon changes by using the loos when you see them along the course. Ibuprofen every day between now and then as it might help lessen the bleeding.If you suffer from "period poo" take an immodium about half an hour before you start.

I couldn't tolerate Norethisterone. Made me bloated, heavy and uncomfortable then had period from hell.

I use menstrual discs, they hold a lot more and sit higher up than cups and don't have suction. Some also have removal tabs.

I would guess the running will help, plus the adrenaline of doing the marathon. You'll have people running around you and atmosphere keeping you going.

I assume you know not to use ibrobrufin, very dangerous with long distance running.

I have run marathons with heavy periods, not going to lie, it doesn't help! But it is manageable - carry tampons, obviously, but carry more than you expect to need. leap into any empty or low queue toilet you see to change, in case you can't find one when you are desperate. Carry lanacane, in case the santiary towel chafes. Wear dark shorts.

You got this!

@makingforwardprogress I've never heard that about ibuprofen what's the reason?

Not sure exactly, something to do with causing kidney failure maybe? I'm a long distance runner with many medical problems, and hospital consultants and running coaches have warned me many times over the years, I sometimes have to sign to say I am not taking it to join in certain events

PP is being over dramatic.Prolonged use of Ibuprofen can damage the stomach and this effect can be increased by intense exercise, but as a one off it's not going to do any harm.

Fwiw I've started using high strength turmeric as an anti inflammatory for injuries instead and I think it's more effective.

Thanks for all the tips ladies and I had no idea re ib-proferen @makingforwardprogress but will definitely avoid !

I’d suggest period pants.
I’ve run a marathon on my period before and it was fine but it affects everyone differently.
good luck!

How annoying for you. Have run a couple of marathons on my period and don't love changing tampons in Portaloos at the start! Definitely wear black shorts so you don't need to be too self-conscious about leaking. Good luck.

Almost every time I've done a long race I got my period early! It's really annoying but try not to stress too much. You could try tranexamic acid, can get it over the counter and no side effects, it just promotes clotting so lightens your bleed, although you might find that your body adjusts naturally anyway and doesnt bleed too heavily anyway on the day.

Good luck with the marathon!!

It is definitely nothing to do with the stomach, and it is definitely very much a danger in a one off event, hence the events that get participants to sign to say they won't take any ON THAT DAY

Well I've Googled extensively because I generally do fact check and I can't find anything other than references to chronic use.

I always thought it was more due to the fact that taking painkillers before /during a hard race could mask the start of an injury that might occur during it and keep you running when you should be stopping.

I'd run it anyway and only revise recovery plans to account for extra fatigue/pain sensitivity.

Do you have friends/family supporting you at the event, will you run with your phone? I'd want to know that I had the option to suddenly quit and be picked up if I needed to.

Nothing to do with painkillers in general, just ibobrufin

I do ultra running and there is definitely recently new advice that it is dangerous to use ibruprofen during endurance events. As pp said, it is now routinely in race notes that you must not take it.

I have just googled “risks of using ibruprofen during ultra events” and the top result said “Two major risks of NSAID use during an ultra-endurance race are the development of renal complications and exercise-associated hyponatraemia”.

All the best with your marathon, Op. I had a competition (similar to CrossFit) on my heaviest day recently and had similar concerns. It was actually fine. It didn’t impact my performance and did actually ease my usual symptoms (as pp mentioned). I wore modibodi 24 hour period pants - they’ve even held in a release of a full bladder for me when I slipped and banged my coccyx on a rock.

Magnesium glycinate for cramps. Fuel up on carbs the night before and try and get a good night sleep. Take chocolate (also has magnesium in it). Epsom salt bath before. I think a lot of it is mental, I've done very intense workouts on my period, but the recovery and exhaustion after is just a bit harder so give yourself a week before you demand anything of your body. You will be fine.

Ibuprofen does lighten the flow but I don't know about risks.

I used northisterone so I could get through my A-levels. I did have the withing on the filthy stock room floor at work period afterwards, but I'd been taking it for weeks because my periods were unpredictable and I wasn't wanting to waste 2 years of study to end up writhing under an exam desk. For a few days to dodge a fixed date, I would consider again.

It's hard when it goes beyond normal levels of pain relief and into soul-sucking energy drain. I used to struggle to walk when my periods came. Ultimately I spent the rest of my time pre-children on hormonal contraceptives so that I wasn't randomly incapacitated for 36 hours by my period when it deigned to arrive.

On a logistics level, I favour period pants for distance running and minimising chaffing. I'm a cup user, but sometimes it can shift and start pinching me which isn't ideal.

I'm due to come shortly before my next half and should be past the worst. I haven't forgotten how depleting periods can be though.