stomach ache due to period cramps day before race.

I coached an extremely talented runner who struggled significantly with this while she was in high school (her University coach was great and he coached her to Worlds and Olympics). Hopefully you get some good suggestions here; maybe you have an experienced female coach you can ask?

Try period pants instead of tampax, you're meant to get less cramps.

How the heck would this not be appropriate? Periods should not be taboo and nothing the OP said was grotesque. People discuss women’s bodies at length on some threads but you have no problem with that

xcrunner56 wrote:

I normally actually have more energy while on my period, so that's a good thing at least. In early high school my period was irregular so I usually didn't end up getting it during the XC season. I have a big race soon and I got my period two days ago. At first it was just cramping and now it's just a general unsettled stomach. IDK what it is, but I'm so much more prone to upset stomachs when I'm on my period. Race is in evening so that sucks for eating schedule because I'm usually fine in the morning with my oatmeal and fruit. we'll see how bagel and peanut butter and protein bar goes.

Any advice from the female runners on here?

I’m sorry about your upset stomachs. I haven’t had this symptom so much, but I do have stomach issues. Granted, I follow a lower-carb diet after having endometriosis surgery earlier in the year & have insulin issues… but after I have a hard run (at night) or a 5K road race, it’s hard for me to eat anything because my stomach is quite unsettled.

So I make a shake with coconut milk, using a chocolate beef protein powder & have a spoonful or two of peanut or cashew butter. Helps me get calories in and it’s “gentle” on my stomach. Haha. Just sounds funny writing that.

For a race, I’ll have a couple dates with cashew butter and chicken on the side 3-4 hrs before. To all the haters out there, i realize it’s a random-a$$ combo. It’s just what’s work for me.

For a harder evening tempo run, I’ll focus more on protein in the morning with an avocado… then have some dark chocolate and nut butter along with a serving of protein at lunch… plus a Rx bar a few hrs before I run.

For what it’s worth, OP, I did the first combo I mentioned for a race 3 weeks ago while i was on my period and didn’t have GI issues in the race. Yep; we’re all different. This is just what I’ve found that works for me.

I hope it gets better for you!

I find plain bread, plain crackers or water biscuits (sorry, I don't know what you call them in the USA) help the most with an upset stomach. Just to be clear, is this not actually cramps, you mean gastric distress?