How do you manage if you get your period when it’s race day? Do you just wear tampons - when do you change them for a half iron race or longer? thanks
This happened to me at one of the biggest races of my life, to date, the Boston Marathon. Nobody at aid stations had tampons and the ensuing gait change crippled my stride by the marathon’s end and I did not requalify.
I would use the most absorbent tampons you can find, inserting them just before the race start and changing if necessary. O.B. tampons (no applicator) are what I use and since they are smaller than a gel, can be stored inside a baggie inside the back pocket of your race jersey.
Or try a Diva cup…love mine, and it lasts well, for me anyways.
I am on track to potentially have my favourite visitor on IMC race day… hoping she sticks to sked and comes the day after BUT I will have back-up ahem “gear” in all my bags in case I need to plug 'er up as it were. If she does show before the start of the swim, I’ll be changing that piece of gear right after the swim, and possibly half way thru the bike (I am usually very heavy on day 1), and again before I start the run. Oh and those will be the HUGE SUPER-sized pieces of “gear”…
fun fun fun!
AP
Or try a Diva cup…love mine, and it lasts well, for me anyways.
What is a Diva cup?
Or try a Diva cup…love mine, and it lasts well, for me anyways.
That’s my solution, too 
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Yup!
I realized ‘lasts well’ sounds weird, but without being gross, I think you guys know what I mean…
For some reason I never got the combination of swimming + heavy flow + Diva cup to work for me. I’ve had two HIM races that I’ve had my period for. I used OB tampons (the super ones, I think) for both. For Steelhead I stopped once on the run to change it, but didn’t need to. For Boise, I just figured it was raining, so no one was going to notice anyways and didn’t stop
I had a two or three extra OB’s in a ziploc bag with a few advil (in case my cramps got worse) just in case. Two or three were overkill, but I had a nightmare of dropping my only one into the porta-potty.
Thanks all, with my luck it will be my heaviest day this weekend. Hope it holds off until Monday…or forever 
There’s also the ‘instead’ soft cup. I think it’s like the Diva cup but I’m not sure, I’ve never used the diva… I like the instead though. It can be used up to 12 hours and this works for me on all but my heaviest days.
I am so glad someone brought this up; it is so embarrassing to ask. I use a pad only when I ride, it is very uncomfortable to ride with, but I just can’t use tampons. I don’t race or swim when I have my periods. If they are almost finished or very light I use nothing. I may investigate the diva, (dose anyone use it to ride with).
I’ve often had it during races, in fact all 3 of my major races this year (including IMC, I expect to have it then) were done while I had it. Usually I either prevent it with drugs or “plug myself” beforehand.
Let me explain the drugs thing a little more- it’s been commonly used by women in adventure racing for years.
If your period is predictable, some women use birth control pills to mess their cycle up by a week or two. This takes a few months foresight, in most cases. I find my most competitive days of the month are 4 days after it starts, but getting the timing perfect is very difficult. I have suffered through the last two races (an adventure race and an ultra), getting them DURING the event, but IMC I should get it 4 days before. Perfect, and completely by chance, no hormones were required.
btw- this is my first post to this forum- what a way to introduce myself, huh! LOL!
I’ve had this issue several times. I actually even started my period during a HIM…got off the bike to a gush. Lovely. Had to beg for something from the volunteers on the run course.
For those times that I have been prepared, I’ve just carried tampons in the Bento box or in my tri top. I’ve needed to carry them for a marathon, a HIM, and an IM! I’m too afraid of blood clots at my age to take birth control pills to alter the timing of my period. So I just deal.
I find I still spot or have a light period when I run my birth control right through to stop myself from getting a period. Maybe if I did it more months in a row it’d be fine but it doesn’t work that well right off the bat for me.
I have used the Diva cup for swimming, biking, running, yoga, etc. without an issue.
YEs- it’s definitely different for everyone. You really have to experiment to find whats right for you.
How different is the Diva Cup from the Instead disposable ones? I know Divas are reusable, but in terms of seal & comfort issues, I’m curious. I can’t seem to find the Diva anywhere nearby, have my lovely aunt flow vising now and have an Ironman in a month, so I’m looking to use the “opportunity” to experiment this week. I did find the Instead ones at a local pharmacy though… thus the question. Insight much obliged!
I’m not sure… I’ve only ever used the Diva cup when it comes to less traditional flow stoppage. They aren’t too expensive though to try out.
If you’re on BCP, just skip your placebos and go right to the “real” deal and avoid it altogether. I’ve done this before after consulting w/ my dr.