Ever been killing workouts like Serena, then get destroyed in competition two weeks later even without bleeding? Ever wondered how in the world you were so tough just a few days ago, and feel so fragile today? Ever felt like clawing your male coach’s eyes out for not having the slightest idea of what you’re going through? This is for you.
His First Period
Years ago I went on a date with a guy during my period. I was cramping hard, but I liked him so I went. As he was dropping me off he asked if I was okay, and I launched into a monologue about moon cycles. I was surprised to find him interested. We ran a 30-minute Q/A with incredibly basic questions, then he told me this was his first ever conversation about menstruation. My now husband was 27 at the time.
Crazy that half of all people know next to nothing (#generalization) about something the other half deals with monthly. Frankly, it’s crazier that something that affected my life so profoundly and so frequently was so foreign and nebulous to me as well until two years ago when I finally dug into the pattern, and read Dr. Stacy Sims’ book, ROAR (please read it).
Why So Nebulous?
Did you know that a huge majority of physical-performance research (read: athletes) is done on men? Makes sense, actually. A man’s hormones are basically the same from the time his voice first cracks until he's checking into the senior center. A woman’s change daily. They’re too variable for the average white coat, so researchers have all but given up: cut the numbers down by 20% and call it “woman!”
You Deserve to Know
My intent with this Mastering Menstruation series is to give female runners, (or dancers, cage fighters, volleyball players, and any woman who has ever sweat) a better idea of how to navigate menstruation and physical performance at the same time.
Learn how to master your menstrual cycle, and not only will you be leaps and bounds ahead of your competition who isn’t reading this or anything by Dr. Stacy Sims, you’ll also be a much happier person whose expectations are aligned with reality.
Leave any comment or question below, and I swear I’ll do my best to answer it.