nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Running issues specific to women

chickey2

I've noticed there seems to be more women around this forum in the last while so thought it was time for a thread that we can talk about issues specific to women involved in running/athletics.

It can be anything from menstrual cycle, running while pregnant/breastfeeding/menopausal, sports bras/gear, safety while running to the best type of fake tan for marathon running (although that may not be just for women!)

It doesn't have to be a women only thread, anyone is welcome to contribute but let's try and keep it about women.

OK I'll start,

Huzzah recently posted a link to a podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-22-optimizing-physiology-with-stacy-sims/id1435395422?i=1000440461735
which I found fascinating and really reminded me how different women are physiologically from men. Plans that have been developed over the years for men may not work for women. The menstrual cycle plays such an important role in women's training so it's vital for coaches to know what's happening with their female athletes cycle to optomise training.

I'm going to start tracking my cycle with my training. Does anyone do this already and if so how? I've just installed the fitr women app which tracks cycles and links to strava. I've no idea how it works but I'll try it for a while!

I've also just ordered Stacy Sims book so will report back once I've read it.

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

3boyz

Hi ladies, looking for advice for good running bras. I did dcm last week and ended up with a mastitis type breast infection. My baby is 10 so I really wasnt expecting anything like this! I think it was caused by not having a supportive enough bra, being small chested I thought any sports bra would be fine, but apparently not.

Anyway I want to get a decent bra so that I can get back out running. I had a quick look in marks and debenhams the other day and they had a fairly good selection of high support bras. Is there anywhere else or anywhere better that would be good to go to get fitted and with a good selection? I was thinking if I get correctly fitted and try one out from a local shop then I could buy more online.

DBB

Shock Absorber Ultimate Run.
Try on in Elvery's for size, then shop for better value online.
I got mine on doctor's orders. Best advice ever. They're fab

3boyz

DBB wrote: »

Shock Absorber Ultimate Run.
Try on in Elvery's for size, then shop for better value online.
I got mine on doctor's orders. Best advice ever. They're fab

Brilliant DBB, thanks

Hedgehoggy

3boyz wrote: »

Hi ladies, looking for advice for good running bras. I did dcm last week and ended up with a mastitis type breast infection. My baby is 10 so I really wasnt expecting anything like this! I think it was caused by not having a supportive enough bra, being small chested I thought any sports bra would be fine, but apparently not.

Anyway I want to get a decent bra so that I can get back out running. I had a quick look in marks and debenhams the other day and they had a fairly good selection of high support bras. Is there anywhere else or anywhere better that would be good to go to get fitted and with a good selection? I was thinking if I get correctly fitted and try one out from a local shop then I could buy more online.

Did not know this was remotely a possibility! Hope you are feeling better.

*runs out to buy better sports bras

rainbow kirby

DBB wrote: »

Shock Absorber Ultimate Run.
Try on in Elvery's for size, then shop for better value online.
I got mine on doctor's orders. Best advice ever. They're fab

This one is great for anyone smaller than around a G cup. For the not-huge-chested, the Brooks ones are pretty good too (they bought out Moving Comfort) and the Juno is very popular in the C-E cup range.

3boyz

Hedgehoggy wrote: »

Did not know this was remotely a possibility! Hope you are feeling better.

*runs out to buy better sports bras

I know, I was expecting sore legs, black toe nails but not this:pac:

3boyz

rainbow kirby wrote: »

This one is great for anyone smaller than around a G cup. For the not-huge-chested, the Brooks ones are pretty good too (they bought out Moving Comfort) and the Juno is very popular in the C-E cup range.

Thanks i hadn't come across these I'll add them to the list.

julyjane

Has anyone got low iron/haemoglobin? I'm a regular blood donor, last donated in June and my hb was 12.5 so I was only barely eligible. I went back last week, my fingertip reading was 11.6 and my venous blood was 11.4 so I'm excluded for 6 months now. I don't bleed monthly (mirena) so can't blame that. The nurse said people who play sports often have low iron so I'm guessing it's that. I take floradix and vitamin c when I think of them and have a reasonably balanced diet.

Choc Chip

Kellygirl wrote: »

Thanks for the tip off. I ordered a pair of leggings as love those side pockets.

Peachy Lean have the side pockets and are an irish brand. I'm not associated with them but I do love their leggings.

Choc Chip

Choc Chip wrote: »

I live in shockabsorbers but I've ordered a Syrokan because they look similar. Will update when it arrives as to whether it's any good.

It is coming from China (if people have issues with that) but it's about half the price of the shockabsorbers normal sale price so I reckon it's worth trying...

Also, I never came back to confirm how the Syrokan went and they're... fine. They wont be replacing my shockabsorbers and if you're like me and in sports bras daily, you might be disappointed with how they wash.

The support is grand (32e) and seems to be holding ok with not too much stretching. I had to fiddle a bit to get the right fit, but that was expected. I was more disappointed with how the piping lasted in the wash, but then I honestly wear sports bras constantly so they're probably on rotation maybe every wk/10 days.

As I said, they're fine if you're not washing them a lot or if you're fine about the piping wearing quickly.

Kellygirl

Choc Chip wrote: »

Peachy Lean have the side pockets and are an irish brand. I'm not associated with them but I do love their leggings.

Oh thank you - never heard of them but I’ll go look now.

rainbow kirby

julyjane wrote: »

Has anyone got low iron/haemoglobin? I'm a regular blood donor, last donated in June and my hb was 12.5 so I was only barely eligible. I went back last week, my fingertip reading was 11.6 and my venous blood was 11.4 so I'm excluded for 6 months now. I don't bleed monthly (mirena) so can't blame that. The nurse said people who play sports often have low iron so I'm guessing it's that. I take floradix and vitamin c when I think of them and have a reasonably balanced diet.

I tend to run on the low end of normal, but I have extremely heavy periods due to the copper IUD and I'm a vegetarian.

hillsiderunner

rainbow kirby wrote: »

I tend to run on the low end of normal, but I have extremely heavy periods due to the copper IUD and I'm a vegetarian.

If you had a Mirena instead it would have the opposite effect, btw. I got this done to fix my iron deficiency and heavy periods and it worked, it makes the monthly bleed very light or even nonexistent ...

greentea is just wrong

Hey Guys,

Any sports bra recs for a small boobed lady? I'm an A cup, and I feel like with the ones that have wiring/a lot of support that I am being suffocated rather than supported

I'd prefer a soft one, nearly like a yoga bra, but with some padding for modesty. I find the ones with removal cups go funny in the wash sometimes - so if there was one that wasn't like that, even better !

Thanks

juke

M&S angel range do a non-underwired sports bra afaik, might suit.

rainbow kirby

hillsiderunner wrote: »

If you had a Mirena instead it would have the opposite effect, btw. I got this done to fix my iron deficiency and heavy periods and it worked, it makes the monthly bleed very light or even nonexistent ...

Can't do hormones - progesterone is terrible for my mental health unfortunately

3boyz

greentea is just wrong wrote: »

Hey Guys,

Any sports bra recs for a small boobed lady? I'm an A cup, and I feel like with the ones that have wiring/a lot of support that I am being suffocated rather than supported

I'd prefer a soft one, nearly like a yoga bra, but with some padding for modesty. I find the ones with removal cups go funny in the wash sometimes - so if there was one that wasn't like that, even better !

Thanks

I can't help with recommendations but debenhams have a lot of their sports bras reduced at the moment, you might find something suitable there.

eyrie

julyjane wrote: »

Has anyone got low iron/haemoglobin? I'm a regular blood donor, last donated in June and my hb was 12.5 so I was only barely eligible. I went back last week, my fingertip reading was 11.6 and my venous blood was 11.4 so I'm excluded for 6 months now. I don't bleed monthly (mirena) so can't blame that. The nurse said people who play sports often have low iron so I'm guessing it's that. I take floradix and vitamin c when I think of them and have a reasonably balanced diet.

Yep I constantly have low iron stores and pretty much permanently seem to be taking iron supplements these days. I'm vegetarian but I eat mountains of green veg and I would have thought dietary intake was ok, so I blame it on the running!

kulekat

Hygge Bands...

What are your thoughts? I like the design etc, and i do sweat a lot lol but are they better than normal head bands or would merino wool head bands be better?
Thanks!

rainbow kirby

kulekat wrote: »

Hygge Bands...

What are your thoughts? I like the design etc, and i do sweat a lot lol but are they better than normal head bands or would merino wool head bands be better?
Thanks!

I have 4 of them, I'm a fan. Less likely to slip than others and keeps my fringe back and sweat out of my eyes.

kulekat

rainbow kirby wrote: »

I have 4 of them, I'm a fan. Less likely to slip than others and keeps my fringe back and sweat out of my eyes.

Great! Interesting that they dont slip... might be my reason to buy so

thanks!

quaalude

julyjane wrote: »

Has anyone got low iron/haemoglobin? I'm a regular blood donor, last donated in June and my hb was 12.5 so I was only barely eligible. I went back last week, my fingertip reading was 11.6 and my venous blood was 11.4 so I'm excluded for 6 months now. I don't bleed monthly (mirena) so can't blame that. The nurse said people who play sports often have low iron so I'm guessing it's that. I take floradix and vitamin c when I think of them and have a reasonably balanced diet.

Here's something to think about: My partner gives blood regularly, and his HB went a bit too low to donate a couple of years ago, he was annoyed because his diet was decent. He was told coffee inhibits iron absorption, so he stopped drinking coffee with his spinach/beans/eggs breakfast, and has only two cups of coffee a day, and never with meals. He made this one tweak and was back with good HB the next time, has been there ever since, donating every three months no problem.
Maybe this helps!

julyjane

yeah I'd heard that about the tannins in tea inhibiting iron absorption but I had it in my head it was only black tea or coffee and I always add milk, maybe my information is wrong but it's food for thought anyway, thanks.

ariana`

Good to see some media coverage of womens issues.

Bluesquare

Thanks Ariana

I don’t think it’s giving me an edge at the moment because impossible to track or know what my hormones are doing . For peri menopausal women there seems to be zero edge !!

Coming up to the marathon my body was playing ball and I seemed to have regular cycles with no crazy hormonal issues - no days were runs were very difficult - I was taking all supplements recommended in roar.

My period arrived 3 days After the marathon 10 days early , then disappeared for a day or two and came back for five day’s when it should have been due . Now it’s back again after another 10 days with full on PMT everytime .

Has this happened to anyone else . My running feels hard at the moment and I’m only running easy.

eyrie

Bluesquare wrote: »

Thanks Ariana

I don’t think it’s giving me an edge at the moment because impossible to track or know what my hormones are doing . For peri menopausal women there seems to be zero edge !!

Coming up to the marathon my body was playing ball and I seemed to have regular cycles with no crazy hormonal issues - no days were runs were very difficult - I was taking all supplements recommended in roar.

My period arrived 3 days After the marathon 10 days early , then disappeared for a day or two and came back for five day’s when it should have been due . Now it’s back again after another 10 days with full on PMT everytime .

Has this happened to anyone else . My running feels hard at the moment and I’m only running easy.

Jayney that's rough Bluesquare, you poor thing. I haven't experienced anything like that so I've nothing useful to share but I'd say maybe go easy on yourself for a while? Could be the stress of the marathon disrupted things a bit? I know my body is massively reactive to stress and all kinds of weird things happen :rolleyes:. Might be worth a trip to the GP either, at least if you have another very short cycle like that.

Bluesquare

Thanks eyrie,I’m assuming it was the marathon that caused it all right . I’m on meds for my thyroid as well so my diagnosis was that that the marathon threw the thyroid out of whack which then affected my cycle.

I suspose I should go to the doctor - make sure meds are correct etc .

Baby75

Bluesquare wrote: »

Thanks Ariana

I don’t think it’s giving me an edge at the moment because impossible to track or know what my hormones are doing . For peri menopausal women there seems to be zero edge !!

Coming up to the marathon my body was playing ball and I seemed to have regular cycles with no crazy hormonal issues - no days were runs were very difficult - I was taking all supplements recommended in roar.

My period arrived 3 days After the marathon 10 days early , then disappeared for a day or two and came back for five day’s when it should have been due . Now it’s back again after another 10 days with full on PMT everytime .

Has this happened to anyone else . My running feels hard at the moment and I’m only running easy.

yes, unfortuently for me it was leading up to the marathon I got 3 periods in 27 days so only about 12 to 13 days inbetween I felt I was constantly in the two week high hormone phase drove me mad. PMT was bad before my period this time and knocked me for six at least my cycle was longer though.

Baby75

Bluesquare wrote: »

Thanks eyrie,I’m assuming it was the marathon that caused it all right . I’m on meds for my thyroid as well so my diagnosis was that that the marathon threw the thyroid out of whack which then affected my cycle.

I suspose I should go to the doctor - make sure meds are correct etc .

I am on meds for my thyroid as well, which can also cause issues with your cycle

juke

Bluesquare - I've been there - you are not going mad

I still am to there a degree. I definitely put it down to being peri-menopausal. I can go 3 months without a period and then get 2 in the space of 3 weeks. My head is all over the place. I am definitely struggling with fatigue - just getting out for a run can be a challenge.

I'm struggling a little with my weight, so trying to track it weekly over a 4 week cycle isn't the easiest, let alone weekly :eek:

Now - I don't have other medical issues as such - so keep an eye on your thyroid.