With the soaring temperatures this summer you break into a sweat even before you begin to think about going for a run. This article tackles all those sticky sweaty problems. [Read more…]
Stress fractures in female runners
Stress fractures in female runners
45% of competitive female runners develop stress fractures, small cracks on the surface of the bones in their legs and feet. The women most likely to suffer these injuries are those who restrict food and those who have irregular periods. [Read more…]
Information on periods
Welcome to information on The Menstrual Cycle
This section provides information on ‘periods’, the women’s menstrual cycle presented under the women’s section’– Cassandra Davis
Running Red Days
Does your period affect your running?
One of the biggest concerns facing women in sport is the effect of the menstrual cycle on performance. This stems from the time when girls were excused from school sports during their periods because it was considered bad for their health and unhygienic. In fact the increase in the number of women who are physically active has helped scientists understand the interaction between exercise and the menstrual cycle much better than ever before and allows coaches to base their advice on fact rather than old-wives tales. Nowadays it is not considered a taboo to run during a period and top distance runners and sprinters schedule their training around their monthly cycles. [Read more…]
Does running help alleviate premenstrual syndrome symptoms?
Alleviate premenstrual syndrome symptoms
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is the term used to describe the physical, mental, or behavioural changes that some women experience before their menstrual periods begin every month. PMS can cause discomfort in different parts of the body, and it can also cause disturbing emotional feelings. Some of the symptoms you may experience with PMS could include one or more of the following: [Read more…]
What’s the best sanitary wear for running?
Running and Hygiene
Practicing good hygiene is as important during menstruation as at any other time of the month, and good hygiene for sportswomen is no different, it goes without saying that sanitary napkins or tampons should be changed frequently especially before and directly after a run. [Read more…]
Why does running sometimes stop periods?
Running and Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is the medical term which refers to a prolonged absence of menstruation during the reproductive years of a woman for reasons other than pregnancy. Exercise is well known to affect the menstruation cycle, although it is not fully known how. [Read more…]
When is the best time of the month to run a race?
Best time of the month to race
As already mentioned, all women have different menstrual cycles, so, the best advice is to start making a running log, a recording of how you feel each day during your run. This way you will be able to see if a pattern establishes itself. Many women find that they feel slow and sluggish in the couple of days leading up to their period and then fine once their period begins. Others feel really terrible the first day of their period and run very poor times if a race coincides with that day. [Read more…]
How does running affect contraception and infertility?
Running – contraception and infertility
The absence of periods in runners of course often causes infertility, and is a major concern for even the recreational runner. However, there are also many cases of runners and non-runners with amenorrea who have fallen pregnant, so that running is not a recommended form of contraception. [Read more…]
Are runners at an elevated risk for osteoporosis?
Runners and the risk of Osteoporosis
It is generally accepted that exercise promotes bone health. However, research which has been undertaken on the relationship between intensive exercise, bone health, and estrogen (estrogen is a hormone responsible for growth and development of reproductive organs and maintenance of bone health), and irregular menstruation cycles show detrimental results on bone health in female athletes. [Read more…]
TESTOSTE – RUN
The questions related to testosterone levels in women. Testosterone – Will I grow stubble on my chin and develop big muscles from running? Believe it or not this is a common question that women who have never run want to know when contemplating running or embarking on an exercise programme. This is all related to levels of testosterone, a taboo hormone women like to pretend is strictly reserved for men or emasculated female college athletes. It has often been used as a performance enhancing drug which has further given the hormone a bad reputation. [Read more…]
