For the female runners-- what to do

bobbijodmb
bobbijodmb Posts: 463 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So question for some other female runners- Today was the first time I have experienced in and sorry if this is TMI-- but as I was about a mile and a half into my 3 mile run (and a mile and a half from my car) I got really bad cramps from my feminine time of the month. It was awful-- i ran/walked the rest of the way back because I was in so much pain.

I have pushed through this during other workouts, but I felt like it was awful with running and wasn't sure if it was because this is new.

So any tips that work when running and having it be your time of the month ??

again sorry for the TMI but I am not really sure what to do.

Replies

  • papyapa
    papyapa Posts: 24 Member
    All I can say is WATER WATER WATER!!! You can not drink enough of it especially during that time of the month! I drink way more, and find it helps tons.
    Good luck! Some months will be better then others!
    If you find it happens again, maybe take the first couple days of starting off. ( I find the first 2 days the heaviest and most painful ) So i generally will not run those days. Or take an Advil and go at least 30 mins after popping that!
    Good luck!
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    You'll just have to feel it out, I think. If you have cysts or a bit of endometriosis you didn't know about, the jostling really might make it act up. But try it more than once, of course, to see :)

    Do runners have extra need for magnesium? Low magnesium can make cramps much worse, and taking it helps most period cramps of any sort. But it can cause diarrhea! Take it with Pepto Bismal, lol.
  • bobbijodmb
    bobbijodmb Posts: 463 Member
    Thanks Ladies I appreciate the suggestions and will try them out! maybe it was just a fluke, but I will monitor it and try out the different things
  • rainwalkerSK
    rainwalkerSK Posts: 81
    Every single woman experiences her period differently. Some women can drink some water, or pop an ibuprofen and keep on going. Some women are debilitated with cramping. It's not that some women are strong and some are wussy, it's just that truly, everyone person's body is different. So yes, staying hydrated may help. Taking some ibuprofen 30 minutes before you head out may help. But if you're in pain, there's absolutely NO SHAME in taking a couple of days a month off-- either for something lower impact, or for sitting on the couch with a heating pad. Take care of your body.
  • meritage4
    meritage4 Posts: 1,441 Member
    when I ran regularly-and had very painful periods I used Naproxen. A prescription from my doctor. I didn't need it every months-but did use it often. It would work in 20 minutes or so.

    Even being sedentary my cramps were very severe. Running didn't make them worse or better. Naproxen just helped me get on with whatever needed doing.

    and just FYI Painful periods seemed to disappear after I had my 3 kids.

Categories