Juggling womanhood, entrepreneurship, adulting, and track... what nobody tells you! (Part 1)
I love track and field.
At this point in my life, I've been in and around the sport for over two decades, and I love that I still get to do this.
But can I get real with you for a second?
When you're a woman, full-time entrepreneur, adult, and an athlete, life can get busy sometimes... even overwhelming.
And I’m sure I’m not alone with this.
This is the first of a series of three blog posts in which I'll share a few of the struggles that come with balancing the roles and responsibilities I mentioned above. I'll also be sharing some of the tips I implement (and/or I'm trying to implement) to help you succeed in all you've got going on (because it is possible)!
Today, we'll be kicking things off with balancing womanhood and track.
If you're a female, I hope you find something relatable and beneficial in this post. If you're a guy reading this, I hope it helps you understand and even appreciate your fellow female athletes that little bit more.
She's a Runner, She's a Track Star...
Male athletes will never truly understand the realities of being a female athlete.
"Your period only comes once a month," they say...
The reality is, there's only really one week within the whole month when we women feel like ourselves.
Ladies, am I lying?
During the menstruation week itself, you’re managing period pains, being woken up in the middle of the night, the worry of leaking, needing the toilet more often, having to change regularly, period poops, bloating, and all whilst fighting the urge to bite everyone's head off!
Then you've got the mad cravings leading up to the "week of blood" where you want to eat everything under the sun, feel soppy and emotional, along with experiencing clumsiness, sore breasts, and other unique areas... Oh, and did I mention the week after when you're ovulating?
So, yeah, like I said... You get one week a month when you feel like yourself.
Throw in the fact that you're an athlete (in my case, a sprinter), then somehow you need to bring your A-game to training and competitions, still be fast, powerful, and explosive, when all you really want to do is curl up in your bed with a hot water bottle.
Being a woman is not easy. And for many women, there are additional health battles they face.
When you're also an athlete trying to get the most out of your body, for performance purposes, then all the above can be extremely challenging to manage. Sometimes it can even be physically and mentally draining. It's no wonder our performances can fluctuate so much... sometimes you really do have to cut yourself some slack, and also learn to celebrate how strong you are.
But enough with the struggles. Here are three tips to help you navigate womanhood with track life:
1. Keep a "ladies" emergency kit bag in your training bag.
Whether it's for yourself or to help out another lady at the track/gym (who finds herself caught off guard by Lady Red), you need one of these.
It's better to always have this on you rather than wait until your time of the month, and I recommend restocking it whenever you use something from the bag.
A few things I recommend keeping in there:
Tampons/panty liners/sanitary towels.
Ibuprofen/paracetamol (whatever painkillers you use, if any).
Spare knickers/panties (that's underpants for you non-Brits lol).
Spare leggings: I've only ever leaked once in my life at training, but trust me, it was not fun.
Wash kit: flannel, soap, small towel, etc, just in case.
You can add anything else you think you might need, like heat pads or an air freshener, but hopefully this is a good starting point.
2. Pre-plan your craving snacks
The cravings are going to come, and usually you're ravenous before you realise why. Stocking your cupboards with healthy snacks and wholesome food options helps keep you closer to your goals when that time of the month does hit.
Yes, you can jump in your car and/or walk to the shop to get the sweet treats you're really craving; however, when it's not already in your home, that extra step makes it less likely that you'll eat the unhealthy stuff (or as much).
During that one week when you are feeling like yourself, think about what snacks/foods will still hit the same sort of cravings spot you usually get, but in a healthier, more balanced way. Then, stock your cupboards with those foods, so when that time of the month does come, you're faced with better options.
3. When you can do more, do more.
When it comes to training, you're naturally going to feel stronger during different parts of your cycle.
There are some days when you'll feel like you can lift a house, and others when your mind can't even focus enough to do the basics.
Part of being a successful athlete is about paying serious attention to your body and what it's telling you.
As women, we can endure immense pain, and as athletes, we can too. As a female athlete, your threshold for pain is incredible, and so is your mind... so you can train during menstruation. However, you need to recognise those one or two days where you might need to back off a little because things are not clicking. Maybe it shows up as you being a bit clumsy or flustered, or even as extreme fatigue. You're more at risk of injuring yourself during times like these, so don't push it. Instead, find an alternative that still benefits your goals.
On the other hand, you need to revel in those days when you find yourself being Wonder Woman, displaying superhuman strength. Those are the days to make the most of, to push things to the next level, and see what your body can do!
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About the Author: Torema Thompson is an athleTuber (athlete-YouTuber), qualified personal trainer, and UKA speed coach. She is passionate about helping athletes and fitness enthusiasts go from newbies to masters in their sprinting & fitness.
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