General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Female question - tri with period Rss Feed  
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2015-09-14 2:59 PM

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Denver, Colorado
Subject: Female question - tri with period
Ladies,
how do you deal when you have a race on one of THOSE days of the month?
Mary

Edited by marysia83 2015-09-14 2:59 PM


2015-09-14 5:15 PM
in reply to: marysia83

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Alpharetta, Georgia
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period

I'll chime in. To be honest, it's no different than I would "deal" with it on any other given day. Take care of things as needed. Did you have a specific concern? The question was pretty vague...

2015-09-14 5:18 PM
in reply to: lisac957

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Seattle
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period

Originally posted by lisac957

I'll chime in. To be honest, it's no different than I would "deal" with it on any other given day. Take care of things as needed. Did you have a specific concern? The question was pretty vague...

Yeah, I would agree with the above.

I would also add that the diva cup has changed my life in terms of comfort and how long you can go. Which would probably cover most of your concerns I would imagine. 

2015-09-14 7:28 PM
in reply to: #5140723


71
2525
, Ontario
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
For anything less than a half, you should be able to wait until after to change. The risk of leaving a tampon in for too long isn't for more hours than most people would complete less than a half. Any leakage would go into the chamois which should prevent anything from being obvious. I've not had a problem and I have heavy periods. Based on what I've read I have tried to avoid taking ibuprofen or other pms meds as that can interfere with how your muscles cope with race and recovery or you noticing injury which is a bit bothersome but never a huge problem as I'm usually distracted by race packing and getting organized. I've never noticed cramps during the race, perhaps because of the endorphins or whatever fro, the exercise and effort
2015-09-14 7:41 PM
in reply to: #5140806

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1731
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Denver, Colorado
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
Thanks!
I gues my question was pretty general, because I was not sure what I was looking for, really. I am not that experiences with triathlons. And every time it gets closer the the race (this will be my third one) I am about to have a period and I am panicking.
I run 5k with tampon and it was fine. I guess if I need to I will go to p-potty during transition.
I think this is what I worry the most - changing it at every transition.
Mary
2015-09-15 11:32 AM
in reply to: 0

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Master
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Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period

Originally posted by Asalzwed

Originally posted by lisac957

I'll chime in. To be honest, it's no different than I would "deal" with it on any other given day. Take care of things as needed. Did you have a specific concern? The question was pretty vague...

Yeah, I would agree with the above.

I would also add that the diva cup has changed my life in terms of comfort and how long you can go. Which would probably cover most of your concerns I would imagine. 

Another reason for y'all to thank a Canadian!    I agree, the diva cup totally changed my life.  I forget I have my period.  It's a beautiful thing.



Edited by IronOx 2015-09-15 11:33 AM


2015-09-15 11:36 AM
in reply to: CarolynS

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Seattle
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period

Originally posted by CarolynS For anything less than a half, you should be able to wait until after to change. The risk of leaving a tampon in for too long isn't for more hours than most people would complete less than a half. Any leakage would go into the chamois which should prevent anything from being obvious. I've not had a problem and I have heavy periods. Based on what I've read I have tried to avoid taking ibuprofen or other pms meds as that can interfere with how your muscles cope with race and recovery or you noticing injury which is a bit bothersome but never a huge problem as I'm usually distracted by race packing and getting organized. I've never noticed cramps during the race, perhaps because of the endorphins or whatever fro, the exercise and effort
That is the other wonderful thing about the diva cup is that there is a much longer time before you ever reach the risk of TSS like you would a tampon.

2015-09-15 11:37 AM
in reply to: IronOx

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Seattle
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period

Originally posted by IronOx

Originally posted by Asalzwed

Originally posted by lisac957

I'll chime in. To be honest, it's no different than I would "deal" with it on any other given day. Take care of things as needed. Did you have a specific concern? The question was pretty vague...

Yeah, I would agree with the above.

I would also add that the diva cup has changed my life in terms of comfort and how long you can go. Which would probably cover most of your concerns I would imagine. 

Another reason for y'all to thank a Canadian!    I agree, the diva cup totally changed my life.  I forget I have my period.  It's a beautiful thing.

Man, poutine, hockey, and diva cups? Will you guys let me in? 

2015-09-15 12:12 PM
in reply to: marysia83


1

Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
Lunette cup! Lifesaver. You can wear it for 12+ hours depending upon your flow.
2015-09-15 1:55 PM
in reply to: Asalzwed

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Master
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Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period

Originally posted by Asalzwed

Originally posted by IronOx

Originally posted by Asalzwed

Originally posted by lisac957

I'll chime in. To be honest, it's no different than I would "deal" with it on any other given day. Take care of things as needed. Did you have a specific concern? The question was pretty vague...

Yeah, I would agree with the above.

I would also add that the diva cup has changed my life in terms of comfort and how long you can go. Which would probably cover most of your concerns I would imagine. 

Another reason for y'all to thank a Canadian!    I agree, the diva cup totally changed my life.  I forget I have my period.  It's a beautiful thing.

Man, poutine, hockey, and diva cups? Will you guys let me in? 

Ah, Salty, I'm pretty sure I made you an Honorary Canadian a couple years ago.  You like good beer, you are in!

2015-09-15 2:30 PM
in reply to: marysia83

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Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
I didn't read any of the thread. I have very little experience in this field :-)

But recently I was listening to a lady named Dr Stacy Sims and her work on hydration. She often spoke about hydration and nutrition in your "high hormone" period. I found it really interesting especially for the ladies doing long course

Google her name and you will find lots of really interesting stuff, mostly related to long distance. She is one smart cookie!!

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/08/women-are-not-small-men/
http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/understanding-your-cycle...


2015-09-16 3:00 AM
in reply to: marcag

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, Kronobergs lan
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
Diva cup convert here too! Ran my first tri (sprint) with anemia due to excessive bleeding in that aera. Although the lack of red blood cells had an impact on my time, the actual bleeding was not a problem!
2015-09-16 7:42 AM
in reply to: marcag

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Master
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Eugene, Oregon
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Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
Interesting--some (the nutrition part, and what I crave when) jives with what I've noticed from my body over 36 years of endurance sports, but some actually doesn't. Many of my best workouts/races are in fact in the last few days before my cycle starts, often even the day before. I may be an emotional, chocolate-craving mess otherwise, but I'm an animal on the road/in the pool then. It's almost like a PED, or turning back the clock 20 years. The next day, not so much. It has to be something hormonal or at least a result of that. Wondering if it has to do with blood volume--people living/training in the tropics typically have unusually high volume as an adaptation for cooling and can be functionally anemic (blood too dilute). If it blood volume goes down then, maybe it just puts me back to where I'd be with hemoglobin in a temperate climate, albeit at the expense of heat tolerance/ getting more easily dehydrated. I can't remember having this effect before moving to the tropics, so kind of wonder about it. Or maybe I just forgot--didn't train very seriously or consistently in the decade before moving here.

To be honest, other than that, research or no research, I really haven't noticed much of any correlation between stage of cycle and race performance. I train and race in pretty brutally hot conditions most of the time but haven't really noticed a strong correlation with heat tolerance, at least when racing. Maybe will have to track that and see if I struggle more with heat in training at certain times of the month. Certainly it isn't consistent run to run but I usually attribute issues to weather conditions or the nature of the workout that day.
2015-09-16 8:46 AM
in reply to: Hot Runner


65
2525
, Tennessee
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
I am glad to hear that it is not only doable but that it might not even effect performance negatively. I am new to this and was wondering what will happen when a race inevitably falls at that time. Have any of you dealt with excessive cramps though? Some months it doesn't bother me at all, but others I am doubled over in pain. Someone mentioned avoiding ibuprofen which I understand is best but how would you deal with them? I would hate to have a race ruined by something like that.
2015-09-16 9:55 AM
in reply to: marysia83

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1731
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Denver, Colorado
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
Thank you all for your feedback.
I think I would be able to go with pain (as an additional motivator to finish quicker ) My only concerns are - one is silly - that it would add the time to my transition time, if I have to change, and two - that something eventually get out and it would be embarrassing. I have not tried diva cups, but I see more and more athletes talking about it and I am definitely giving it a try
Mary
2015-09-16 9:56 AM
in reply to: marcag

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1731
100050010010025
Denver, Colorado
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
Originally posted by marcag

I didn't read any of the thread. I have very little experience in this field :-)

But recently I was listening to a lady named Dr Stacy Sims and her work on hydration. She often spoke about hydration and nutrition in your "high hormone" period. I found it really interesting especially for the ladies doing long course

Google her name and you will find lots of really interesting stuff, mostly related to long distance. She is one smart cookie!!

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/08/women-are-not-small-men/
http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/understanding-your-cycle...


Thanks! This is great to know - I will definitely read through those.
Mary


2015-09-16 10:02 AM
in reply to: marysia83

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Master
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Rio Rancho, NM
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period

Originally posted by marysia83 Thank you all for your feedback. I think I would be able to go with pain (as an additional motivator to finish quicker ) My only concerns are - one is silly - that it would add the time to my transition time, if I have to change, and two - that something eventually get out and it would be embarrassing. I have not tried diva cups, but I see more and more athletes talking about it and I am definitely giving it a try Mary

As with everything else, nothing new on race day. It takes some getting used to. I kinda go off and on using one (currently off) because sometimes I have trouble getting it to set right and still end up with leakage. This is not to discourage you from trying it, just saying practice it before race day.

2015-09-16 11:28 AM
in reply to: marcag

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Seattle
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period

Originally posted by marcag I didn't read any of the thread. I have very little experience in this field :-) But recently I was listening to a lady named Dr Stacy Sims and her work on hydration. She often spoke about hydration and nutrition in your "high hormone" period. I found it really interesting especially for the ladies doing long course Google her name and you will find lots of really interesting stuff, mostly related to long distance. She is one smart cookie!! http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/08/women-are-not-small-men/http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/understanding-your-cycle-and-performance

Thank you for posting this. It's really pretty fascinating!

I have tried to monitor my cycles but have failed to see any kind of consistent patterns. It seems that every study I have read has produced different results as well as data collected from event winners which has been all over the board in terms of what phase of their cycle they were in.

I have decided that like everything, it's quite personal and there are a lot of variables. I guess I just try and take everything in stride and it is what it is. Especially because I'm not going to plan events around it.

2015-09-16 3:11 PM
in reply to: marysia83

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1731
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Denver, Colorado
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
I actually decided to monitor my cycles - the temperature and all the changes. I used to do that as family planning tool and I liked it. I would love to see how the hormonal changes affect my training. And vice-versa.
Of course, it will take at least 12 cycles to have any conclusions, but sounds like some interesting observations I could have
Mary
2015-09-16 7:31 PM
in reply to: marysia83

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Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
I don't think the Diva Cup would have worked for me. I always had very heavy periods and would definitely need to stop in a race longer than 2 hours. But it eventually got to the point where I was bleeding non-stop for weeks (peri-menopause, likely) and I started using the Mirena IUD. It's been a life-saver for me.
2015-09-16 7:44 PM
in reply to: jennifer_runs

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101
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Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
I have been end of cycle for both of my IMs (how lucky, right?)- Not to be too graphic but I put in a tampon before I put on my wetsuit, I had one in my special needs bike bag (didn't use), one in my run special needs bag (used at my 13ish of the marathon). Honestly, with everything else going on in my body that day I didn't feel any adverse effects, no excessive cramping, no back pain, nothing really.


2015-09-16 9:23 PM
in reply to: jennifer_runs

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1731
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Denver, Colorado
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
Originally posted by jennifer_runs

I don't think the Diva Cup would have worked for me. I always had very heavy periods and would definitely need to stop in a race longer than 2 hours. But it eventually got to the point where I was bleeding non-stop for weeks (peri-menopause, likely) and I started using the Mirena IUD. It's been a life-saver for me.


I had Mirena for 3 months. I loved not having periods, but I started having panic attacks - out of nowhere. I had over ten attacks a day, I was unable to drive a car. I had it removed :/
I'm glad it works for you!
Mary
2015-09-16 9:24 PM
in reply to: mtrunner6

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1731
100050010010025
Denver, Colorado
Subject: RE: Female question - tri with period
Originally posted by mtrunner6

I have been end of cycle for both of my IMs (how lucky, right?)- Not to be too graphic but I put in a tampon before I put on my wetsuit, I had one in my special needs bike bag (didn't use), one in my run special needs bag (used at my 13ish of the marathon). Honestly, with everything else going on in my body that day I didn't feel any adverse effects, no excessive cramping, no back pain, nothing really.


Wow! Thanks for sharing your experience. My race is sprint, so no comparison to yours. I am planning to have an extra tampon in my belt for running - if that's the case.
Mary
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