How does your menstrual cycle affect your training? Have you ever considered this before? Got any questions about anything in this video? Tell us in the comments 👇
This doesn’t really apply to me since I don’t get my period due to my birth control shot. I used to be anemic and have frequent fainting spells before starting depo. I’d be really interested to know how birth control changes things. I have noticed a big increase in energy about a week after my shot. Almost makes me wish it was more than once every three months, so I could schedule races around that time :p
Significant amount of blood Anna? Don't want to sound harsh but donating blood is a lot more! Not sure there's a link there but iron levels can be a problem at any time.
@@lucyaris9339 what's your issue here? That I'm a man? The information I've had before this tells me that it's not that much blood compared to your total volume. Particularly compared to blood donation. I believe that women who have problems with iron levels have them all the time. If you have evidence to the contrary, please share it.
This is the best explanation of the menstrual cycle and physical activity I have ever seen. Every cross country coach should learn this, play this video for all of their runners (because there is no excuse for half of the species being ignorant of the basic biology of the other half.)
Thank you Kay! We're so pleased to hear you've found it helpful and it was absolutely our objective to make sure this information is accessible to everyone 😊
Would be cool to have more ideas on a cycle adjusted training plan, like how to structure your training by cycle phase. But super important topic and should absolutely not be taboo. Some of us really suffer terribly and then having to perform at high level professional sports must be torture.
I found that while running on my period, my times are longer and a bit tougher.. I have been wearing diva cups for years now and they are wonderful! When running, you don’t even notice it, you don’t need to worry about cleaning it depending on your cycle. I clean mine once in the morning and at night! Also, you save a lot of money!
I only heard about and got a diva coup just a few months ago, I wish I would have known and used it a loooong time ago. Me too, clean it out once in the morning and once at bedtime, so simple, so low maintenance. A perk I really like is never have to carry 'girl supplies' on long runs ever again!
@@lauren7923 I know right?! Because of it, I forget I'm on my period! Also, tip, if your cup gets discoloured, soak it in hydrogen peroxide and water! Only do it once in a blue moon though!
@@realgoodenergy5223 there are cups specifically for teens, your are not too young to try them, I assure you. It might take some tries in the beginning to get it right, just so you know. I have tried 3 different cups to find the one that works for me
Fantastic video, hugely important issue. I’ve been thinking allot about the impact my cycle has and how no one ever talks about it. Well done the running channel!!
Ran my first ultramarathon on my period. One point while waiting for a porta potty 🚽 I accidentally pulled out all my tampons from my hydration vest and they went flying everywhere 🤦🏻♀️
Loved this. I am very aware of my menstrual cycle and how if affects my training, almost hate being a female because of it but hearing stories of how Paula had to cope with her cramps in her marathon just reminds me that we're only human. Guys, you have no idea how easy you have it!!
Worrying about bleeding through my running clothes on heavy days is such a mental drain. I know the migraines, cramps, exhaustion, back pain, and irritability will pass in a few days, but that kind of embarrassment will last for much longer!
Thanks so much for watching Kelly. Our advice would be wearing dark clothes on the bottom that you feel comfortable in and aren't super tight (nothing worse than tummy pain/bloat and leggings cutting off all movement). If you are worried about a heavy bleed, try and double up on what you wear for a run. Period underwear + a tampon and then plan routes with toilet stops along the way, so if you are worried whilst out on your run you can stop to check. And always carry a spare tampon in your running belt / pack. Hope this helps 😊
@@runningchannel Such simple advice but so good, Thank you!! I often look for patterned running pants, as I still love colourful clothes, I find the pattern is good for camouflage in case you have period leakage mid run, and there's no toilet. Thank you so much for this video. It was so informative, no nonsense, but so helpful as I want to know these things, but don't know who to ask!
Thank you so much for this video!!! When I was training for marathon last year I unfortunately constantly had to change my runs due to my period. I don’t mind running on heavy days depending how far I go and how bad is the cramping. But since COVID bathrooms are not easy to find on your routes lol. It so important for this topic to not be taboo. I feel a lot of people can’t relate to how complicated it is to be a women sometimes. Women ALL of you are badasses in my eyes. Keep it up
I don't have a menstrual cycle because of my birth control and I have definitely thought "I shouldn't take this for granted. Maybe I should do an ultra."
A PT once tried to mansplain how periods would affect you, I unfollowed them that second. When a client tells you they can’t exercise because of their period just accept it (t&cs applied), because they probably know best as they’ve had their periods since early teens. Some months I can do cardio for 2h on the first day of my period and sometimes I have debilitating cramps for 3 days. You may as well toss a coin to predict how it will go.
This. My PT on the other hand told me I should have told her that I was on my period as she would have changed the session drastically. I had stop in the middle of my squat set to bend down and breathe because my cramps were so bad. After that she changed that session on the fly. :D
Absolutely and it's really important to listen to your body. Being active can help with the pain, so light exercise like walking or stretching can be really beneficial 😊
Thank you for making a video about this!! I have wanted to ask for a video on this topic and honestly was so excited to see it pop up in my RUclips notifications :)
Thank you for talking about this and bringing it into the open! Unbelievable that that Strava survey was one of the first surveys done !!!??? Let's hope all the guys didn't switch off!
Another really informative video! I always try to get a long run in on the first day of my period because I've found it really helps lighten the flow. I had a couple of years after I left uni when I was very inactive and I noticed my periods became much heavier and with WAY worse cramps. Once I started running regularly they got much better again.
Great topic to cover! My garmin app keeps nagging me to record my cycle and I havent bothered- I will now- had no idea about the different diet intake benefits at different times. Im shocked that the first study focussing on this was only last year! Thank you for covering an important womens health and fitness issue.
Thank you for covering this topic! I have endometriosis and have extremely heavy and painful periods. I can't train at all for the first 2-3 days of my period. If I'm lucky I can manage some light stretching or a leisurely walk. Also, I have noticed that in the week leading up to my period my energy levels take a massive hit and even running shorter easy runs feels absolutely draining and I have to push myself through them. Just last week I dragged myself through an 8k run and was beyond frustrated by how difficult it felt because that distance is usually a drop in the bucket for me. Then two days later I got my period and had an aha! moment. I went back over all my data and can clearly connect all of my "off" runs to where I am in my cycle.
I feel you Kate! Some days I feel like the energizer bunny then all week last week my energy took a nose dive. I had to choose saving my energy for work than training. I suffer from endometriosis too and holy shwomolly does it affect our whole being! So yes, tracking our symptoms are great so we can at least plan in a way what type of training we CAN do.
Same here, all throughout my 40s it was like that. The only difference is that I've moved over into menopause and can't tell in what part of my cycle (yes, it still exists) I am in because I could easily track my menses, but struggle to track it otherwise. I know that you can use the differences in vaginal fluid to do so, but it is not as easy and I often just give up. I still have endometriosis, but I'm not menstruating, and I'd like to incorporate the training ideas here. I'm just not sure how without an obvious indicator like menses to know where in the cycle I am.
Thanks for sharing this Kate. We're so sorry to hear this, but it's good to know that you have been able to make that connection from the data to hopefully help you in the future. We hope you found some helpful tips here 😊
Hey! I disagree with some things you said, but I'm soooo happy that you address this issue and help make it less taboo in society and in the running world. Thank you!
Thank you so much for discussing this! Many a time have I packed period pads and pain meds on my running belt during races instead of hydration and nutrition gels. I always worry that the races I sign up for will fall on my menstruation period because I suffer from heavy bleeding and bad cramps. It just takes the energy out of me! I have Garmin Connect. Great tool for tracking the menses and symptoms.
Thank you so much for covering this. I was on contraception for so long (15+ years) and I stopped a couple of months ago because I wanted to know how it influences my body and running. Too early to make any conclusions but it does feel like I feel the 'boost' more during the follicular phase. I find it really exciting to rediscover my 'natural flow'. Such good tips in here, thanks!
Great work Anna, feels like it's a topic no other video has covered. And I've watched tons and tons of vids on running. Now just need to remind myself never to mansplain things I don't (can't) fully understand...
An excellent post. It’s so important to have clear, unambiguous advice like this so I can support my wife with her running. One question though, what sort of foods are high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories?
Thanks for watching Paul and it's wonderful to hear you found it helpful to support your wife with her running 😊. Some examples of healthy foods high in antioxidants are: Pecans, Blueberries, Strawberries, Goji Berries, Raspberries, Kale, Red Cabbage, Beans, Beetroot, Spinach and Dark Chocolate. Hope this helps.
Very well explained! I wanted just to say that even if you are not anaemic... having less iron gives you symptoms such as tiredness and less exercise capacity. So we don't have to wait to be anaemic to supplement with a bit of iron or taking foods rich in iron. And spot on to mention that it should be taken with vitamin C. So if you it greens or meat make sure you eat an orange, kiwi or strawberries after for example. Thank you so much and well done!!!
Thanks for the video! It’s really important to remember that it’s not only women who have a menstrual cycle - lots of trans men and non-binary people also do too. And also not all women have a menstrual cycle.
Thank you for covering this. I mostly do only gentle exercise like walking, easy yoga & stretching during my menstruation. Can't do much else since my cramps are just that bad. Also depends on my PMS symptoms of the month what I can do week before. Bloating can be painful enough that breating hurts. Other months I can actually do a long run during menstruation and it feels easy. Really a roll the dice situation. I started taking these into account during this January as I came upon some information on the net somewhere. Then I started doing my own deep dive, but scientific information is sparse so it's mostly anectodal. Has worked for me so far.
So it happened that this was posted on my ovulation day, and the day before I got a little injured (R runners knee and L achy foot)... The 2 days later in my luteal phase I had a hard time running for 5 minutes at 4.5 mph.. I pushed it for another 20 minutes, but it was hard!!... I sometimes run 5.5 mph for 45 minutes. This video was posted at the perfect time and made me feel less discouraged!!
Thank you for covering this! Really nice and simple to understand. I've had some of my best runs on my period (some still current PBs) & other runs where even just moving my legs felt so hard like I was going up a massive hill... I guess it depends, every month is different but fuelling properly does make all the difference. Also as a woman who has lost her periods for months in a row, once I do get it it feels very empowering to move my body, like doing a workout in my undies yesterday haha, embracing the strength of women's bodies :)
Thats so beautiful, Jasmine! I love that you feel best on runs during your period. I can't say that I've heard of anyone who has reached a personal record! So cool and so inspiring!
As a man, I'd say half of the people I know are women... Hell, even my mother is a woman! This was a great video. Well done for not being afraid to knock down the social norms and speak honestly and openly. Keep it up!
Great video but there was nothing mentioned about endometriosis. A huge WARNING to women to educate yourself about endometriosis and be careful doing jumping and intensive exercises during your periods. Stay safe, stay healthy ❤
Ah, so that’s why I feel sick if I go on a run that is 10km or further when I’m on my period however well I fuel myself. Maybe I’ll swim during this point in my cycle instead,
Thanks. I reckon this video could have mentioned PCOS and endometriosis etc and a wider range of the symptoms. It's not all about cramps. There's so much else that affects running. I hardly ever have pain but I still can't run for 6-7 days per month. I do always speak openly about my periods because they 110% affect my training/life. You said the cycle is typically 28-29 days. Mentioning a cycle can be from 21-35+ days would make more sense.
I've found that tampons can be a better option than pads during run, especially during heavier flow days. Pads, especially full or wet, can be uncomfortable or chafe
Thank you for this.. I coach mostly woman..definitely content I will have to revisit to remember everything.. however, now I may need to change some schedules around to help.
Congratulations Karen! What lovely news! We do indeed. Rick’s wife Kate put this together with Professor Greg Whyte ruclips.net/video/l0fzfcWxq0Y/видео.html Hope it helps answer any questions you have. Happy running and stay healthy 🙌
This is a great video, thank you! Just a heads up that it's important not to forget that there are many trans men and non-binary people who menstruate :) it's super easy to talk about people who menstruate, rather than just women, and can make a huge difference to making sure people don't feel excluded from your excellent content! Thanks again, hope you have a great day :)
Absolutely Hannah-Rose - thank you so much for mentioning this! We want to make sure this information is accessible to everyone - thanks for taking the time to watch and comment 😊
At every major championships there are some, apparently, inexplicably bad performances from some female athletes. If the athlete comes from certain countries there are usually knowing sneers about not being able to use their usual PEDs at a big games because of testing. But could there not be a simple biological explanation? (As a man I found this post very interesting. Congrats on airing the issue.)
I find the first few days I need to ease off running and stick with pilates, walking and maybe resistance training. The impact makes the cramps 10x worse. Then when I do start again it has to be an easy run.
I stop running completely in period days. You dont feel hard work in red days affect your body when you're young, but getting older female's deceases will come.
Thank you for covering this topic. I thought it was very helpful the way the phases were related to training. I wonder do coaches consider the cycle females go through and how it may affect running? Either way the less taboo it is to talk about can only help female runners get better at training and ultimately perform at their best.
Get thee to a doctor...seriously, I struggled for most of my life until an episode sent me to ER in the middle of the night. God blessed me with a great OBGyn who took on my struggle and has stayed with me throughout the process. I have now entered menopause and the pain and heavy bleeding with so many clots are now over. Running helped me get my weight down initially, but I'm back at the top of my weight and am starting over in that respect.
@@skirtonbear1 period has stopped now this period did stop after 7 days but had covid jab at end of period had a day of no bleeding and then the clotting started Going to see what next period brings some other people had heavy period after the jab
Fantastic video, I don't think it is just me but does anyone feel that when they are in their first couple of days of the period go on a faster easy run because it still feels easy? I oddly feel the opposite to the Garmin app suggestion but I only used it for a week so am going to learn more!
What if on the marathon day you are on your period? Which product one should choose? Pads I think will be a bad idea because it will chafe. What about tampons and menstrual cups will they chafe or leak when you are running a full marathon ?
There is a comment about this above. Tampons are a great choice and period panties have worked for me (haven't tried running marathon with period panties yet tho!).
Unfortunately I have endometriosis so my cycle can totally take me out. Also, I love this channel and Anna so I want this comment to come across as constructive and not hateful. The language in this video is pretty trans exclusive. Otherwise, very informative.
Thank you for your comment, Janet. We always strive for inclusivity at The Running Channel and are constantly learning. Thank you for pointing this out - we will endeavour to do better next time for sure. Best wishes and happy running, Anna
Im on track to complete my first half. New runner here. But im also on track for my period to start on race day 😢😢 idk what to expect. It really worrying me
Thanks for watching Karla! Our resident physio, Manni, talks about shin splints in our recent monthly show. Check it out here: ruclips.net/video/hZnKtjezhBI/видео.html
Hey TRC! Could you do a video on how to vlog while running? How to use a camera when running, good stabilizing techniques and so on? Much appreciated! thanks;)
Hello, great video thanks. I've had a look for the widget you mentioned but can only see one that I have to pay for which doesn't seem fair. Can you advise which one it is you meant and if it is indeed payable?
Thanks for watching Bryony. The Menstrual Cycle Tracking widget is available via Garmin's Connect IQ. It should be free for Garmin Connect users (I've downloaded it and haven't been asked to pay). Hope this helps 😊
World Cup Winner biathlet Tiril Eckhoff's stellar performance this season comes also from building her training program around her menstrual cycle since 2020, she revealed in autumn. Google "Eckhoff menstrual cycle" for details! ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪🎿🏆🥇
If you've got a mother, sister, daughter, wife, or female friends, it's for you. Trust me, guys who aren't squeamish and understand a bit about female biology are far better men in our eyes. 😉
Maybe women feel like every other video isn't really for them, because other training videos never even mention or take into account the time of the month for a cis woman. Being a tad more aware, for the other 50%+ of the population wouldn't hurt you...
Almost every single female on the planet menstruates every month for 30+ years of their life. If you are related to, know, or are interested in girls, take some time to learn about them. It'll make you a better man in our eyes!
How does your menstrual cycle affect your training? Have you ever considered this before? Got any questions about anything in this video? Tell us in the comments 👇
This doesn’t really apply to me since I don’t get my period due to my birth control shot. I used to be anemic and have frequent fainting spells before starting depo. I’d be really interested to know how birth control changes things. I have noticed a big increase in energy about a week after my shot. Almost makes me wish it was more than once every three months, so I could schedule races around that time :p
I keep track of my cycle, but my app doesn't give me recommendations on what types of food to eat so this is really great, thank you
Significant amount of blood Anna? Don't want to sound harsh but donating blood is a lot more! Not sure there's a link there but iron levels can be a problem at any time.
@@hairyairey typical male response
@@lucyaris9339 what's your issue here? That I'm a man? The information I've had before this tells me that it's not that much blood compared to your total volume. Particularly compared to blood donation. I believe that women who have problems with iron levels have them all the time. If you have evidence to the contrary, please share it.
This is the best explanation of the menstrual cycle and physical activity I have ever seen. Every cross country coach should learn this, play this video for all of their runners (because there is no excuse for half of the species being ignorant of the basic biology of the other half.)
It's funny how easily you assume that the whole half is ignorant. 3d wave feminist eh? That would explain a lot
@@eastern2687 your words explain a lot. Lmao, meninist eh? Explains a lot
Thank you Kay! We're so pleased to hear you've found it helpful and it was absolutely our objective to make sure this information is accessible to everyone 😊
I'm a bloke but I still found this interesting and informative, always good to know what my lady running comrades are going through.
Thanks so much for watching and it's great you found it helpful 😊
Glad you guys covered this!
Thanks Kristen! Hoping you found some helpful information in the video 😊
Was about to switch off at the beginning until Anna begged me not to switch off. I can't refuse Anna so I watched the entire video, lol 😆
Would be cool to have more ideas on a cycle adjusted training plan, like how to structure your training by cycle phase. But super important topic and should absolutely not be taboo. Some of us really suffer terribly and then having to perform at high level professional sports must be torture.
Ex-gymnast here, this was never even talked about in my club except for you could wear shorts over your leotard for training if it was shark week.
Goes to show how much still needs to be done. It is just sad that we are 2021 and this stuff only starts to be talked about now.
Thanks for the suggestion Tatjana!
I found that while running on my period, my times are longer and a bit tougher..
I have been wearing diva cups for years now and they are wonderful! When running, you don’t even notice it, you don’t need to worry about cleaning it depending on your cycle. I clean mine once in the morning and at night! Also, you save a lot of money!
I only heard about and got a diva coup just a few months ago, I wish I would have known and used it a loooong time ago. Me too, clean it out once in the morning and once at bedtime, so simple, so low maintenance. A perk I really like is never have to carry 'girl supplies' on long runs ever again!
@@lauren7923 I know right?! Because of it, I forget I'm on my period! Also, tip, if your cup gets discoloured, soak it in hydrogen peroxide and water! Only do it once in a blue moon though!
Ive been watching alot of vids about diva cups, im 15 but i think i may be too young to try them😢😢
@@realgoodenergy5223 there are cups specifically for teens, your are not too young to try them, I assure you. It might take some tries in the beginning to get it right, just so you know. I have tried 3 different cups to find the one that works for me
Fantastic video, hugely important issue. I’ve been thinking allot about the impact my cycle has and how no one ever talks about it. Well done the running channel!!
Thanks so much for watching Catherine!
Ran my first ultramarathon on my period. One point while waiting for a porta potty 🚽 I accidentally pulled out all my tampons from my hydration vest and they went flying everywhere 🤦🏻♀️
Well done Alli! Haha on the porta potty queue though 😂.
What's worse is when a well-meaning chap comes to help you collect them up before they fully realise what you've dropped! 😂
@@KatieM786 why worry? I've gone out shopping for them for my female friends before. Doesn't bother me.
@@hairyairey and ?
Loved this. I am very aware of my menstrual cycle and how if affects my training, almost hate being a female because of it but hearing stories of how Paula had to cope with her cramps in her marathon just reminds me that we're only human. Guys, you have no idea how easy you have it!!
We are truly stronger together. And so many of us have similar menstrual cycle journeys and it's really great to share in community!
Worrying about bleeding through my running clothes on heavy days is such a mental drain. I know the migraines, cramps, exhaustion, back pain, and irritability will pass in a few days, but that kind of embarrassment will last for much longer!
Thanks so much for watching Kelly. Our advice would be wearing dark clothes on the bottom that you feel comfortable in and aren't super tight (nothing worse than tummy pain/bloat and leggings cutting off all movement).
If you are worried about a heavy bleed, try and double up on what you wear for a run. Period underwear + a tampon and then plan routes with toilet stops along the way, so if you are worried whilst out on your run you can stop to check. And always carry a spare tampon in your running belt / pack.
Hope this helps 😊
@@runningchannel Such simple advice but so good, Thank you!! I often look for patterned running pants, as I still love colourful clothes, I find the pattern is good for camouflage in case you have period leakage mid run, and there's no toilet. Thank you so much for this video. It was so informative, no nonsense, but so helpful as I want to know these things, but don't know who to ask!
Thank you so much for this video!!! When I was training for marathon last year I unfortunately constantly had to change my runs due to my period. I don’t mind running on heavy days depending how far I go and how bad is the cramping. But since COVID bathrooms are not easy to find on your routes lol. It so important for this topic to not be taboo. I feel a lot of people can’t relate to how complicated it is to be a women sometimes. Women ALL of you are badasses in my eyes. Keep it up
You're so welcome Tanya and we're so glad you found it helpful.
I don't have a menstrual cycle because of my birth control and I have definitely thought "I shouldn't take this for granted. Maybe I should do an ultra."
I think you still have a hormonal cycle on birth control no?
A PT once tried to mansplain how periods would affect you, I unfollowed them that second. When a client tells you they can’t exercise because of their period just accept it (t&cs applied), because they probably know best as they’ve had their periods since early teens. Some months I can do cardio for 2h on the first day of my period and sometimes I have debilitating cramps for 3 days. You may as well toss a coin to predict how it will go.
This. My PT on the other hand told me I should have told her that I was on my period as she would have changed the session drastically. I had stop in the middle of my squat set to bend down and breathe because my cramps were so bad. After that she changed that session on the fly. :D
Absolutely Elitsa - you know your body best 😊. Thanks for watching
Its such a relief and comforting to have this discussed without blushes and euphemisms
Goshhhh!!!! On those heavy days I usually ease back of my running and do active rest maybe walking or Stretching
Absolutely and it's really important to listen to your body. Being active can help with the pain, so light exercise like walking or stretching can be really beneficial 😊
I always say: when 2.5 miles feels like 7… it’s the luteal phase. 😅 great video!would love to see a part two to this with any more details and info.
Thank you for making a video about this!! I have wanted to ask for a video on this topic and honestly was so excited to see it pop up in my RUclips notifications :)
You're so welcome Iona! Hope you found it helpful 😊
Please do a video regarding menopause and running. Great channel!
Great suggestion! Thanks so much for watching 😊
Yes, I would like this too. I’m peri menopausal so would be really helpful.
Thank you for talking about this and bringing it into the open! Unbelievable that that Strava survey was one of the first surveys done !!!??? Let's hope all the guys didn't switch off!
Glad you found it helpful, Emma! Thanks so much for watching 😊
Another really informative video! I always try to get a long run in on the first day of my period because I've found it really helps lighten the flow. I had a couple of years after I left uni when I was very inactive and I noticed my periods became much heavier and with WAY worse cramps. Once I started running regularly they got much better again.
Ah this is interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Great video! I hope you will do more about this subject like: having your period on race day or what kind of protection is the best when you train.
Great topic! The more we discuss it, the less mysterious and taboo it will be. So important!
There is certainly one thing I have learned from this video.....I am pleased I don't have periods!!!!
If you're married you have them vicariously!
Great topic to cover! My garmin app keeps nagging me to record my cycle and I havent bothered- I will now- had no idea about the different diet intake benefits at different times. Im shocked that the first study focussing on this was only last year! Thank you for covering an important womens health and fitness issue.
Thanks so much for watching Naomi! Glad you've found it helpful and yes, set it up on Garmin Connect and let us know how you get on 😊
Thank you for covering this topic! I have endometriosis and have extremely heavy and painful periods. I can't train at all for the first 2-3 days of my period. If I'm lucky I can manage some light stretching or a leisurely walk. Also, I have noticed that in the week leading up to my period my energy levels take a massive hit and even running shorter easy runs feels absolutely draining and I have to push myself through them. Just last week I dragged myself through an 8k run and was beyond frustrated by how difficult it felt because that distance is usually a drop in the bucket for me. Then two days later I got my period and had an aha! moment. I went back over all my data and can clearly connect all of my "off" runs to where I am in my cycle.
I feel you Kate! Some days I feel like the energizer bunny then all week last week my energy took a nose dive. I had to choose saving my energy for work than training. I suffer from endometriosis too and holy shwomolly does it affect our whole being! So yes, tracking our symptoms are great so we can at least plan in a way what type of training we CAN do.
Same here, all throughout my 40s it was like that. The only difference is that I've moved over into menopause and can't tell in what part of my cycle (yes, it still exists) I am in because I could easily track my menses, but struggle to track it otherwise. I know that you can use the differences in vaginal fluid to do so, but it is not as easy and I often just give up. I still have endometriosis, but I'm not menstruating, and I'd like to incorporate the training ideas here. I'm just not sure how without an obvious indicator like menses to know where in the cycle I am.
Thanks for sharing this Kate. We're so sorry to hear this, but it's good to know that you have been able to make that connection from the data to hopefully help you in the future. We hope you found some helpful tips here 😊
I love that you mention hydration in the luteal phase. It's not something that I typically associate with the luteal phase! I love it.
Hey! I disagree with some things you said, but I'm soooo happy that you address this issue and help make it less taboo in society and in the running world. Thank you!
Thanks for watching Cristina 😊
Thank you so much for discussing this!
Many a time have I packed period pads and pain meds on my running belt during races instead of hydration and nutrition gels. I always worry that the races I sign up for will fall on my menstruation period because I suffer from heavy bleeding and bad cramps. It just takes the energy out of me!
I have Garmin Connect. Great tool for tracking the menses and symptoms.
Thanks so much for watching and glad you found it helpful 😊
Very important issues, I'm glad you are covering this and things like it. Big thumbs-up 👍
Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for covering this. I was on contraception for so long (15+ years) and I stopped a couple of months ago because I wanted to know how it influences my body and running. Too early to make any conclusions but it does feel like I feel the 'boost' more during the follicular phase. I find it really exciting to rediscover my 'natural flow'. Such good tips in here, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
This is the video I needed 😁🏃♂️
Thanks so much for doing this - really interesting and so important for all female athletes.
Our pleasure, glad you found it interesting!
Great work Anna, feels like it's a topic no other video has covered. And I've watched tons and tons of vids on running.
Now just need to remind myself never to mansplain things I don't (can't) fully understand...
Thank you so much 😊 Glad it was helpful!
An excellent post. It’s so important to have clear, unambiguous advice like this so I can support my wife with her running. One question though, what sort of foods are high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories?
Thanks for watching Paul and it's wonderful to hear you found it helpful to support your wife with her running 😊. Some examples of healthy foods high in antioxidants are: Pecans, Blueberries, Strawberries, Goji Berries, Raspberries, Kale, Red Cabbage, Beans, Beetroot, Spinach and Dark Chocolate. Hope this helps.
Very well explained! I wanted just to say that even if you are not anaemic... having less iron gives you symptoms such as tiredness and less exercise capacity. So we don't have to wait to be anaemic to supplement with a bit of iron or taking foods rich in iron. And spot on to mention that it should be taken with vitamin C. So if you it greens or meat make sure you eat an orange, kiwi or strawberries after for example. Thank you so much and well done!!!
Thanks for sharing this Maria, and thanks for watching 😊
Thanks for pairing it with the garmin super helpful and please make a longer video!!!
Thanks for the video! It’s really important to remember that it’s not only women who have a menstrual cycle - lots of trans men and non-binary people also do too. And also not all women have a menstrual cycle.
Thanks for watching Annie. Yes, it's very important to remember, thank you so much for mentioning this 😊
My rock climbing coordination goes completely out the window when Auntie Flo is visiting. So glad I'm not the only one who struggles here.
Thank you for covering this. I mostly do only gentle exercise like walking, easy yoga & stretching during my menstruation. Can't do much else since my cramps are just that bad. Also depends on my PMS symptoms of the month what I can do week before. Bloating can be painful enough that breating hurts. Other months I can actually do a long run during menstruation and it feels easy. Really a roll the dice situation.
I started taking these into account during this January as I came upon some information on the net somewhere. Then I started doing my own deep dive, but scientific information is sparse so it's mostly anectodal. Has worked for me so far.
Really informative and well-researched, thanks for this guys :)
Thanks Gabrielle 😊
This explains a lot and I am a bit overwhelmed/confused on how to apply this knowledge into my training. I think I have to watch it a few more times!
Hopefully it will be helpful to you Natalie! If you have any questions, just let us know 😊
Great video. Thank you 🤩
Love this!! Thank you so much!!
So it happened that this was posted on my ovulation day, and the day before I got a little injured (R runners knee and L achy foot)... The 2 days later in my luteal phase I had a hard time running for 5 minutes at 4.5 mph.. I pushed it for another 20 minutes, but it was hard!!... I sometimes run 5.5 mph for 45 minutes. This video was posted at the perfect time and made me feel less discouraged!!
Perfect timing Audra! Glad we could help 😊
It goes to show that we menstruating people go through NORMAL cycles and have to adjust our workouts to match it!
Thanks for covering this, it was really informative.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for making a video about this!
Our pleasure Amy! Hope you found it helpful 😊
Thanks fir great video!
Thank you so much for this video! It really helped me a lot to understand better the different phases :)
Glad it was helpful!
This was so detailed and informative. Thanks so much
Glad it was helpful!
Explains alot. Thanks for the video!
Love this feature in the Garmin App. I have run marathons on my period several times. Some great some not.
That's great to know you're finding it helpful Janice! Thanks for watching 😊
Thank you for covering this! Really nice and simple to understand. I've had some of my best runs on my period (some still current PBs) & other runs where even just moving my legs felt so hard like I was going up a massive hill... I guess it depends, every month is different but fuelling properly does make all the difference. Also as a woman who has lost her periods for months in a row, once I do get it it feels very empowering to move my body, like doing a workout in my undies yesterday haha, embracing the strength of women's bodies :)
Glad you found it helpful, Jasmine 😊
Thats so beautiful, Jasmine! I love that you feel best on runs during your period. I can't say that I've heard of anyone who has reached a personal record! So cool and so inspiring!
Great job on this video!
Thank you!
As a man, I'd say half of the people I know are women... Hell, even my mother is a woman!
This was a great video. Well done for not being afraid to knock down the social norms and speak honestly and openly. Keep it up!
Well said Ross! Thanks so much for your support 😊
Great video but there was nothing mentioned about endometriosis. A huge WARNING to women to educate yourself about endometriosis and be careful doing jumping and intensive exercises during your periods. Stay safe, stay healthy ❤
Great topic
Ah, so that’s why I feel sick if I go on a run that is 10km or further when I’m on my period however well I fuel myself. Maybe I’ll swim during this point in my cycle instead,
Thanks. I reckon this video could have mentioned PCOS and endometriosis etc and a wider range of the symptoms. It's not all about cramps. There's so much else that affects running. I hardly ever have pain but I still can't run for 6-7 days per month.
I do always speak openly about my periods because they 110% affect my training/life. You said the cycle is typically 28-29 days. Mentioning a cycle can be from 21-35+ days would make more sense.
I've found that tampons can be a better option than pads during run, especially during heavier flow days. Pads, especially full or wet, can be uncomfortable or chafe
Yes, great tip! Thanks for sharing 😊
I agree! I found that period panties work well for me too. They stay are surprisingly dry on my heaviest days.
First day of my period i ran 17km , i was exhausted 😁 on 3rd day i ran 21km i feel so good 😁
great timing, its my first day...
Thank you for this.. I coach mostly woman..definitely content I will have to revisit to remember everything.. however, now I may need to change some schedules around to help.
Great to hear this! Glad you found it helpful!
Do you have a video on running while pregnant? Just found out. Thanks for all the videos!
Congratulations Karen! What lovely news! We do indeed. Rick’s wife Kate put this together with Professor Greg Whyte ruclips.net/video/l0fzfcWxq0Y/видео.html Hope it helps answer any questions you have. Happy running and stay healthy 🙌
Congrats!
Amazing video - thanks for making this. Feel like I am now a little bit less ignorant.
Glad it was helpful!
This is a great video, thank you! Just a heads up that it's important not to forget that there are many trans men and non-binary people who menstruate :) it's super easy to talk about people who menstruate, rather than just women, and can make a huge difference to making sure people don't feel excluded from your excellent content! Thanks again, hope you have a great day :)
Absolutely Hannah-Rose - thank you so much for mentioning this! We want to make sure this information is accessible to everyone - thanks for taking the time to watch and comment 😊
I find that running helps distract me from cramps and I like period runs better than normal runs
Thanks for sharing Valeria 😊
Very interesting topic.
Hope you found the video helpful, Glenda 😊. Thanks for watching!
This is brililant, concise but very clear. How am I 48 and didn't know some of this??
Thanks Kim - and good to know that you've found it helpful 😊
At every major championships there are some, apparently, inexplicably bad performances from some female athletes. If the athlete comes from certain countries there are usually knowing sneers about not being able to use their usual PEDs at a big games because of testing. But could there not be a simple biological explanation?
(As a man I found this post very interesting. Congrats on airing the issue.)
Thanks for watching Mark
I find the first few days I need to ease off running and stick with pilates, walking and maybe resistance training. The impact makes the cramps 10x worse. Then when I do start again it has to be an easy run.
Thanks for sharing Helen 😊
I stop running completely in period days. You dont feel hard work in red days affect your body when you're young, but getting older female's deceases will come.
Thank you for covering this topic. I thought it was very helpful the way the phases were related to training. I wonder do coaches consider the cycle females go through and how it may affect running? Either way the less taboo it is to talk about can only help female runners get better at training and ultimately perform at their best.
Glad it was helpful Lauren and this is a great question! Hopefully coaches to take this into account 😊
I was just wondering about thiiiis!!!!
Great timing! Thanks for watching 😊
This cycle was was crazy period lasted 25 days lots of cramping and clots in week 3 still managed to excercise
Get thee to a doctor...seriously, I struggled for most of my life until an episode sent me to ER in the middle of the night. God blessed me with a great OBGyn who took on my struggle and has stayed with me throughout the process. I have now entered menopause and the pain and heavy bleeding with so many clots are now over. Running helped me get my weight down initially, but I'm back at the top of my weight and am starting over in that respect.
@@skirtonbear1 period has stopped now this period did stop after 7 days but had covid jab at end of period had a day of no bleeding and then the clotting started
Going to see what next period brings some other people had heavy period after the jab
Thanks for watching and hope you found the video helpful. As S Kirton recommends below, do think about speaking with your doctor if this persists.
I’d love a print out for this 😅
Thanks for watching Tiffany! I'll suggest this as it might be something we could do for the blog. Stay tuned 👀
Fantastic video, I don't think it is just me but does anyone feel that when they are in their first couple of days of the period go on a faster easy run because it still feels easy? I oddly feel the opposite to the Garmin app suggestion but I only used it for a week so am going to learn more!
What if on the marathon day you are on your period? Which product one should choose? Pads I think will be a bad idea because it will chafe. What about tampons and menstrual cups will they chafe or leak when you are running a full marathon ?
There is a comment about this above. Tampons are a great choice and period panties have worked for me (haven't tried running marathon with period panties yet tho!).
Most men probably think there's just two stages, one where your partner turns into a raging monster and the other where she's in pain for days.
when i workout at the gym i don't go around those days of the month...
Unfortunately I have endometriosis so my cycle can totally take me out.
Also, I love this channel and Anna so I want this comment to come across as constructive and not hateful. The language in this video is pretty trans exclusive. Otherwise, very informative.
Thank you for your comment, Janet. We always strive for inclusivity at The Running Channel and are constantly learning. Thank you for pointing this out - we will endeavour to do better next time for sure. Best wishes and happy running, Anna
All the women on my mom's side have endometriosis and extremely severe anemia so maybe my running helped me escape the worst effects!
Oh wow - hopefully! Do you take an iron supplement?
Im on track to complete my first half. New runner here. But im also on track for my period to start on race day 😢😢 idk what to expect. It really worrying me
love this video! any tips on shin splints and ankle pain while/after running? i don’t know if it’s my shoes or my form. please help.
Thanks for watching Karla! Our resident physio, Manni, talks about shin splints in our recent monthly show. Check it out here: ruclips.net/video/hZnKtjezhBI/видео.html
Hey TRC!
Could you do a video on how to vlog while running? How to use a camera when running, good stabilizing techniques and so on? Much appreciated! thanks;)
Thanks for the idea!
Anna - did I miss something - you mentioned you were injured! Hope all is ok and you'll be back at it soon ... sucks being injured :(
Thanks for watching Tracy! Yes, Anna has been on the injury bench, but is working her way back now 😊
@@runningchannel sending some healing vibes from Canada 🇨🇦
Hello, great video thanks. I've had a look for the widget you mentioned but can only see one that I have to pay for which doesn't seem fair. Can you advise which one it is you meant and if it is indeed payable?
Thanks for watching Bryony. The Menstrual Cycle Tracking widget is available via Garmin's Connect IQ. It should be free for Garmin Connect users (I've downloaded it and haven't been asked to pay). Hope this helps 😊
Hi I love ❤❤ your channel... Please tell how to gain weight with running🏃💨💨
World Cup Winner biathlet Tiril Eckhoff's stellar performance this season comes also from building her training program around her menstrual cycle since 2020, she revealed in autumn. Google "Eckhoff menstrual cycle" for details! ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪🎿🏆🥇
Oh wow - thanks so much for sharing this Conrad! We'll have to check this out 😊
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
I feel like this video isn't quite for me....
If you've got a mother, sister, daughter, wife, or female friends, it's for you. Trust me, guys who aren't squeamish and understand a bit about female biology are far better men in our eyes. 😉
Maybe women feel like every other video isn't really for them, because other training videos never even mention or take into account the time of the month for a cis woman. Being a tad more aware, for the other 50%+ of the population wouldn't hurt you...
This is why I’m considering going on a birth control so that I don’t have a period. That, and I don’t want another baby yet 😂
Hi mam I m indian follower I love guide
Welcome!
Can you do the leapfrog challenge
Swimming on your period!! How?
With a Mooncup in.
Can you do the backwards long jump challenge
That definitely sounds like a tricky one to do! Which presenter do you think would win?
Anna
Hello👋 ☺
Hello 😊
Hello mam i am from India. Love you all.
Hello Pakka 😊
@@runningchannel only 3 days ago i completed my 5 km police running in 19 minutes by your video help.
I’m a boy
Almost every single female on the planet menstruates every month for 30+ years of their life. If you are related to, know, or are interested in girls, take some time to learn about them. It'll make you a better man in our eyes!
Hi
Hi Augustus!