Run with Your Body

There is always time to stop and smell the roses; running 64 km ultra run in my Modibodi period running shorts, September 20, 2020.

There was one kilometre left in my 10 km training run when I felt my period starting. In panic, I was sprinting home, until I remembered that I am wearing my Modibodi period running shorts. So, I settled back into my pace and ran back home with ease, I knew that I was safe and there will not be any leaks.

Recently I got couple of messages asking what plan I followed to prepare for my 64 km ultra-run. Honestly, I did not follow any specific plan, but I listened and followed my body instead. I have tried plenty of running plans, and they are great to keep you disciplined and goal oriented, be that to run 5 km, 10 km, half, full or ultra-marathon; these plans systematically prepare you for the set distance. However, they never work for me. First, I like to test things out on my own terms. Second, I easily get bored, so quite often I need to mix things up. Third, during menstruation I quite often feel too fatigued to follow a plan, so I take the first three days of my period as rest days. Hence, if I train according to a plan, I would need to repeat a week or re-schedule it completely. So, I learnt quickly that my body does not respond well to these plans. Nor does my mind.

Around 2017 my menstrual cycle became irregular. This continued into 2018, with no obvious reason. I was healthy. In 2018 I was preparing for my first marathon, I was practicing Ashtanga yoga, and doing plenty of cardio and strength exercises. I felt strong and confident, my body felt great and powerful, and I could stand on my head with ease. Nevertheless, deep within I knew that something was off, I just could not put my finger on it.

Then my knee flared up, and I had no choice but to slow down. This meant no more jump backs in yoga, no more skipping rope and no more running. But I still had plenty of walks and sea swims. During this time, like a clockwork my cycle shifted back to its regular rhythm. I have been happy enough that up until 2017 my cycle always started on time, almost with an hourly precision. I was ecstatic, thrilled and relieved to see the blood, to see my period arriving on time.

During this rest time I re-evaluated what I had been doing, and it did not take long to figure out that I had been putting my body under a lot of stress. Increased physical load over a short time period without giving my body enough time to adjust. Too much too soon. Consequently, I came up with some ground rules:

• no training during the first three days of menstruation (I did run my first marathon on the 3rd day of bleeding, and I could not be prouder of my body, but unless it is necessary, I prefer to rest during the first three days);

• gentle movements and yoga to nourish my mind and body during this time of the month;

• seven hours of sleep every single night and 20 min naps after long runs;

• three nourishing meals every single day;

• breakfast before any morning practice and movement;

At the start it was a huge mental fight to rest during the first three days of menstruation. It was hard not to judge myself for resting, and to realise that I do not have to do something every single day. That rest is equally important.

In the next few weeks and months my body flourished. My energy levels increased, and my strength stayed unwavering. In fact, during this time I ran Connemara Marathon, the toughest race I have ran due to the horrendous weather. It was a marathon of weather warnings! Yet, I managed to run a new personal best marathon time, granted by only seconds, but I still did it. I started to trust my body more, to listen to my body more, I learnt to read the signs of fatigue and react accordingly, and most importantly without judgement.

Over the past two years I have really fine-tuned my training with my cycle, and I have learnt to listen to my body. I train in sync with the phases of my menstrual cycle, and I have found that this training plan works the best for me and my body. Each month is different, and each week is different, and it allows me to play around and experiment a lot.

I have discovered numerous products that I am immensely grateful for during menstruation time - my menstrual cup and period underwear are my two absolute favourites. Both allow me to continue with my physical activities, including swimming, with ease and comfort. I have been using Ruby Cup menstrual cup for around 7 years, and Modibodi period underwear (at a time they were the only ones making period running shorts, and I think they still are) for a year. And both have made my life much better.

Now, when I run, I run with a motto: “There is always time to stop and smell the roses.”

This is for everyone, each and every one of you, no matter the gender or who you might identify as, always, ALWAYS run with your body, and not against it. Exercise is not meant to be a punishment, it should not be. Whichever way you choose to move it should be enjoyable and bring joy. It should fill you up and not drain you out. Yes, you will feel tired and stiff after a run, but deep within it should charge you up and bring a smile to your lips.

If you train with that notion in mind you will recover quicker, and your body will respond better. However, it is worth noting that there is a fine line between being disciplined and exhausting yourself, and there is also a fine line between knowing when to rest and being lazy; to balance between both can be difficult, nevertheless it is also extremely rewarding. We might not always get it right, and that is ok, if you rest, enjoy your rest without judgement. Keep exploring your body and keep fine tuning your runs accordingly. And remember, our bodies change constantly, so what worked last month, might not work today.

Enjoy your body, respect it, nourish it, and move it. Our relationships with our bodies can be complicated, yet our bodies are stunning and wise. No matter what our relationships might be with our bodies - our bodies are always on our side. So run with your body and not against it. Take a moment and express some gratitude towards your body for taking you this far. Thank you.