Marina Izidro: ‘Blood, sweat and race’: sport could talk more about menstruation

Researching this week about the London Marathon, which will be on Sunday (2), I came across a BBC article with the title: “Blood, sweat and running: how hard is it to run a marathon during your period?”. ice. First, out of guilt. I run, I did a lot of tests, including a marathon. How had I never thought about this?

I don’t have cramps, but it would be difficult to run for hours on the first few days of the cycle, when it feels like there’s a waterfall coming out of us. Where to change sanitary pads, worry about it going to leak, wear dark clothes… In addition, we are half the population of the planet, present in major amateur competitions – 48% were women in all modalities in the last Marathon in Rio, almost 30% in São Silvestre and 40% on Golden Run in Rio and São Paulo. Why do we talk little about something absolutely normal?

Briton Paula Radcliffe revealed that she broke the marathon world record in 2002 with cramping. Olympic medalist Dina Asher-Smith has been an important voice in breaking this taboo, telling how menstrual pain hinders her athletic performance and demanding investment in research. “If this problem affected men, there would be a million ways to fight it,” she vented.

To know how uncomfortable “those days” are, you don’t even have to look at high yields. Just talk to a woman near you. I asked on social media who has suffered from playing sports during their menstrual period and I share reports authorized by them.

This one talked about playing soccer: “On game days, I didn’t feel 100% physically, and it affected my psychological side. .

She told of her experience in a race in the interior of São Paulo: “There was no structure. It was horrible, I had nowhere to change, I had to find bushes along the way. And it hurt me because it was hot, plus the sweat and the absorbent “.

This other one recalled the pain: “I can’t even go to the gym when my period is really bad. Cramping, headache, tiredness, I want to lie down. I hate feeling like this, it seems like everything is out of control. I certainly wouldn’t.”

Any woman can relate, and I’m sure men empathize. But I think we’ve gotten used to thinking that it’s just our responsibility to resolve issues related to our body. Don’t want to get pregnant? Birth control pill, in addition to condoms. Colic before the test? She gives up, or takes medicine and endures.

Those around us can contribute to an inclusive environment. In amateur competitions, think about chemical toilets, wet wipes, sanitary pads. In the scientific area, research to better understand the effects on athletes.

London Marathon organizers provide pads at the start and, from 2023, will create a guide to running during menstruation. In English football, West Brom changed the color of the women’s shorts from white to navy after consultation with players, who were uncomfortable wearing light colors when they were menstruating. The England women’s team, which wears white, also drew attention to the problem.

I see and believe that we are moving towards a more progressive society in this sense. A good way to demystify something so common is to talk about it.