Training Tips >> Training Through The Cycles of Life

Training Through The Cycles of Life
by Coach Jenny Hadfield

It never failed. Every month, about 5 days prior to my period starting, running would get really hard. My breathing would get labored, I felt like I had never run before and my legs felt like lead. Then, like something out of a Harry Potter movie, the spell would be broken and I could run and train again almost effortlessly. Coincidentally, that magic would appear right after my cycle began.

The wizard in me decided one season to begin to track the changes day to day. I wrote down every workout how I felt, where I was in my cycle and began to notice a trend. There was no need for scientific data, it was all right there in front of me.

My heart rates were 10 beats or higher in runs during the 5-7 days prior to menstruation [PMS] and would drop to normal rates once I began to menstruate.

My breathing was more labored both in easy runs and hard or long runs during PMS and much easier during menstruation and the rest of the cycle.

My motivation to train was lowered during PMS and found it more challenging to get the runs in.

I was much more fatigued during PMS and slept and napped more often.

From a dietary standpoint, I bet you'll be surprised to find out I craved sweets during PMS too.

Although women go through the same cycle, we all vary in the symptoms experienced. Some of us have a harder time during menstruation, while others seem to struggle during PMS. The symptoms vary from physical to emotional and even mental. Some have light symptoms while others require medical treatment.

Female marathoners vary in the symptoms month to month and experience a similar journey of highs to lows. The good news is what goes down, must go up. The "Up" or the "High" phase of the month is typically one week post menstruation-ovulatory phase or what I typically refer to as "I am Woman Phase".

Have you ever trained or raced and felt invincible? Have you gone on a run and felt it was so easy you thought you were in someone else's body? How about those races that you finished in a personal record time? Although we vary in cycles, one thing is true... we all have that time of the month that everything feels strong, heart rates are efficiently low and effort levels seem easy.

This is the time to plan your more challenging training and racing. The time to run long, work in your speed workouts or even race. This is the time of the month when your body is at its peak for performance.

Women marathoners train differently than men. It may look the same on paper, but female marathoners are constantly ebbing and flowing through the phases of each cycle. It's not better or worse, it's just different. Because women experience lows, we can tolerate a low or painful point in the race or training. Women have an inherent pain threshold that allows for pregnancy and labor. All tools that can be used in Marathoning!

The following tips are just a few ways to take advantage of the cycles of training and improve performance.

• Monitor your cycle and keep track of your strong and efficient phases as well as your more challenging times of the month.
  • Include heart rate, effort levels (perceived), mood, motivation levels, speed, distance, climate and diet habits. Review it and familiarize yourself with the high and low periods of your cycle.
• Plug your cycle dates into your daily planning system or training schedule. It will be easier to better plan and adapt effort levels and intensities week to week, and even plan races around the highs and lows. At the very least, you will know when to expect the more challenging days of the month.
• If possible, try to schedule your "key" training sessions during the stronger times of your cycle. Cut back or ease up effort levels during the challenging and symptomatic phases of your cycle. This could mean running your long runs a little slower, or running an easy run instead of a scheduled hard run.
• If your motivation runs low, schedule runs with a friend. In most cases, you will run if you plan it ahead of time and they will keep you motivated.
• PMS symptoms have been linked to poor dietary habits and low levels of magnesium, which affects blood sugar levels and hormonal metabolism. Include foods rich in magnesium, B-Complex and calcium in your diet [dairy, green leafy veggies, whole grains, nuts, fish, beans are just a few].
• Maintaining a fuel and activity log (online) can be very useful in tracking the quality going in (food) and the quantity going out (running). Free online logs like www.FitDay.com allow you to enter your daily activity as well as your fuel day to day and analyze the balance. This is a great way to make small changes that will make a great difference in your performance.
• Although some women go as far as adjusting their cycles to match their strong days of the month (typically days 9-12 and 17-20) with hormones, it is best to check with your doctor before doing so.
• About one-third of all Olympic gold medals were won during menstruation. Two-thirds were won one week after cessation of menstruation. That proves it. It is not a burden, but rather a part of our cycle that allows us to excel. If you are scheduled to have your cycle on race day be prepared. There are plenty of fanny packs to carry products. You can also tape it to the back of your race number. In an emergency, stop at the medical station as they will have a supply of feminine products.
• Take care of yourself nutritionally, use Tylenol 8-hour for pain during the race (safest pain medication for endurance athletes) and go into the race with an open mind. You just may have the race of your life!

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© 2006 Jenny Hadfield - May not be reproduced without permission