Female Runners- Help Please

pigeonhugger

Hello, First off sorry that some of this is too much information.
I am by no means new to running, I run every morning on a treadmill, barefoot for between 30mins- 1 hour with longer sessions on weekends/ when have time.
HOWEVER, I have been looking into doing competitive races so have recently started running outdoors, in very expensive trainers that were picked out for me after having my stride analysed.

I am having SERIOUS lower abdominal pain when I run outdoors. I always starts after about 10mins of running and wont go away unless I walk for about 10mins and then when I start up running again it comes back. It comes on gradually and feels a lot like period pain. that agonizing first day crampy like pain. I even get small amounts of bloody discharge. It happens regardless of what stage I am at during my cycle. What the hell can this be? I never got it when running on a treadmill

126siany

I don't think this is caused by the running, per se. It sounds like a gynecological issue that you noticed while running. I'd make an appointment with your gynecologist.

dad106

I don't think this is caused by the running, per se. It sounds like a gynecological issue that you noticed while running. I'd make an appointment with your gynecologist.

I'm with her... Remember that correlation does not equal causation.

I know that when it's around that time of the month, exercise can cause me to start my period... but during other times of the month, I don't experience anything like that.

pigeonhugger

I don't think this is caused by the running, per se. It sounds like a gynecological issue that you noticed while running. I'd make an appointment with your gynecologist.

I think I will just have to make an appointment. Its just I dont get the pain at any other time during the day or with running on the treadmill or even dance aerobics or any type of exercise apart from running outside. But you may be right.

pigeonhugger

could running outside be putting a different sort of strain or stress on my body? compared to treadmill running that is.

LorinaLynn

Are you running significantly faster outside? Last fall when I was doing speed intervals on a treadmill, I'd get "I think my uterus is going to fall out" cramps, but only if I was running at 9mph for more than a minute or two. But I haven't had any spotting as a result.

dad106

could running outside be putting a different sort of strain or stress on my body? compared to treadmill running that is.

Thats a possibility.

Running on a treadmill means running on a soft surface and the treadmill helps propel you forward.

Outside running on the other hand means that you are running on a hard surface and there is nothing propelling you forward besides you.

Remember that you have to run much slower outside then you ever would on a treadmill.

pigeonhugger

Okay this could be it. I havent been monitoring my speed when running outdoors and may have been overdoing it. THANK YOU. I am going to try this.

saschka7

I am new to running myself--and I've only tried running on a treadmill once (as opposed to the dozens of times running outdoors) but this might possibly be some insight....

I tried last week running on a treadmill and I HATED it because my calves and overall legs cramped up in 30 seconds--it was as if my legs were not able to "stretch out" or extend their full length so it was an unnatural gait.. After talking with my sister who runs marathons and runs on both treadmills and the ground, she said in addition to the different gait, I was also probably running at a different (much slower pace) on the treadmill than I do on trails (which I definitely was).

Is it possible that you are so used to running with a certain gait/pace on a treadmill that running outdoors is putting entirely different strain on your body? Mentally, you would think that the 2 types of running wouldn't be that different, but depending how you do it, outdoor running may be putting an entirely different strain on your body, causing it to react like a newbie's.

Also, you stated you ran barefoot on the treadmill--do you do your outdoor running barefoot? Again, those differences may be affecting parts of your body in a whole new way....but it never hurts to get a gyno exam, of course. That was the only way I myself found out I had an underactive thyroid.

pigeonhugger

Thats a possibility.

Running on a treadmill means running on a soft surface and the treadmill helps propel you forward.

Outside running on the other hand means that you are running on a hard surface and there is nothing propelling you forward besides you.

Remember that you have to run much slower outside then you ever would on a treadmill.
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THANK YOU.

126siany

could running outside be putting a different sort of strain or stress on my body? compared to treadmill running that is.

Thats a possibility.

Running on a treadmill means running on a soft surface and the treadmill helps propel you forward.

Outside running on the other hand means that you are running on a hard surface and there is nothing propelling you forward besides you.

Remember that you have to run much slower outside then you ever would on a treadmill.

Agree with this. Your core muscles are working in much different ways to keep you upright and to hold you steady against the stronger swinging of your limbs.

But again, this might make you see your period a few hours earlier than normal, or discharge during ovulation. It wouldn't cause month-long spotting.

pigeonhugger

thank you all for your help. I think I am going to have to treat myself like a newbie when it comes to outdoor running and I think that I am going to alternate between the two so I can get used to both.

Speed monitoring and gait will have to be focused on when outdoors.

YOUR ALL STARS

macdiver

If you are running barefoot on the treadmill and using shoes outdoors, make sure that you have not started heel striking when running in shoes. A heel strike signifantly increases impact forces on your body.

marycmeadows

could running outside be putting a different sort of strain or stress on my body? compared to treadmill running that is.

YES! Running outside is very different from running on a treadmill. I'm currently training for a half marathon.... I do some of my runs during the week indoors on the incline trainer at the gym.... BUT I do all my weekend long runs outside (since that's the closest to the actual race terrain).... it's VERY different, and much more jarring on your body.