Female Problem/Question

Thanks for the response.

Basically any kind of tampon and cup are out of the question. So I guess it's just a case of restricting what I do over 'those' days to bike and running.

I suppose it's not too much trouble to just schedule around it, although it could potentially be a problem if I ever get to the point where I want to do a race (but that's a long way off).

Not sure if this is an option for you but have you ever considered birth control pills? I take a bc pill every day and haven't had a period in 2 years. (With my doc's ok, of course) I skip the placebo week and go right into the next pack. Just another option. Hope you find something that works for you!

Similar issues here. But I normally carry on as usual on "those days" with both training and racing. For bike and run, you can use pads--the super-thin maxi ones with wings work well. Wear dark shorts, maybe some compression shorts under regular run shorts if running to keep everything in place, black socks just in case. Biking should be less of an issue since there's a pad in the shorts anyway and you're sitting down. If using pads while training or racing, Body Glide or similar to prevent chafing is very helpful. As for swimming--many women naturally stop in the water, esp. if it's cold. Just arrange it so you have a very quick transition from changing area to pool. Occasionally if it's a very heavy day and the pool's warm, I might swap out that workout with a run or ride instead, out of respect for the pool, just in case!

Personally, in a race situation, I would just bleed and deal with it by wiping with sponges and throwing water over myself. (I usually race in the tropics, so a lot of that happens anyway!),Plus wear black tri shorts and socks! I spend way too much money and time on my races to pull out due to something short of serious illness/injury, and don't want to mess with my hormones simply for the sake of convenience. If you don't want to take the pill or be a bloody mess, most races have porta-potties in/near transition where you could put in a pad after the swim, and also some along the course where you could handle things as needed. Have never actually started a tri with my period, but have gotten it during a tri run and seconds before a marathon start,, and done all manner of other races, including a duathlon that took nearly four hours, and managed just fine. Everyone's body is different, but for me, it doesn't really affect performance. I do tend to be more sensitive to cold at that time and just before, but don't know if that's true for other women--I'm a cold-water wimp on the best of days. If you decide not to go the pill route, experiment in training and find what works best for you before it becomes an issue in a race.