LADIES-How do you deal with TOM for marathons?

[momof2minnies]

Just wondering if anyone has had to deal with this. Just thinking ahead.MD said the pill would work for that but never was on it and don't really want to be now. Any other secrets???????

TIA, Linda

[DianeL]

As long as that isn't code for something totally different....:laughing: bodyglide and vaseline. I had some miserible long training days leading up to this years Marathon. For the actual races I've lucked out somehow.

I have to admit I was tempted for this year's race and it is in the back of my head for 2010. I figure for a 1/2 I'll suck it up and just be cranky but for a Marathon, well we all know Mile 20 is bad enough on it's own so I might have to have a word with my Dr if it looks like things are going to go rotten a few months out.

Oh and compression shorts and a skirt. Started wearing those this summer and also felt happier course I was still on the shorter training days of like 6 miles or so.

Good luck with your training and may TOM have enough sense to not show up for your races :thumbsup2

BTW, great idea. I don't know if we've ever really had a discussion regarding TOM and I have to say this is one discussion that will probably send the guys running sreaming :lmao: HA! That will teach them for tempting us to look at thread with the wording 'clothing optional' :laughing:

[momof2minnies]

Thanks Diane but I was talking more about how "NOT" to have it at that time- ANEMIA and all.Since my 2nd DD it has been pretty bad.Need to not have it at all.

Linda

[amykab]

Seriously, thanks for bringing this up!!. I hadn't even thought about it in regards to a race. *off to look at a calendar*

[momof2minnies]

Unfortunately once you hit 40 the calender doesn't work anymore.It just shows up! And once that happens there is no regularity at all.

I hate surprises!

Linda

[jbucci]

The pill is the only thing I know of that would work and you'd have to start it 3 months before the race to be sure... I'm seriously considering doing this myself and things aren't looking to promising for the marathon in Jan by my quick calender looking...

[momof2minnies]

I have an appt 10/09 just did not want to go that route but I probably will have to

Linda

[Villains_Rock]

It has been proven that you actually run faster with less effort when you are on your TOM. The week before is when it's tough for me. I have a half marathon on Saturday and it's a week out exactly...ugh. :sad2:

Just make sure you "change" right before the race starts and carry something in your pack (just in case)!

[CarolA]

Thanks Diane but I was talking more about how "NOT" to have it at that time- ANEMIA and all.Since my 2nd DD it has been pretty bad.Need to not have it at all.

Linda

You really only have two options.

1. Major surgery
2. Birth Control methods. I know that you can take the pill for several months in a row and "skip" and I think that there are other methods that stop it, but....

[bunnyfoo]

I use the pill and try to "adjust" when I know I have a race (or vacation) coming up.

Eva - Interesting TOM fact ... I didn't know that.

[curiouser]

It has been proven that you actually run faster with less effort when you are on your TOM. The week before is when it's tough for me. I have a half marathon on Saturday and it's a week out exactly...ugh. :sad2:

Just make sure you "change" right before the race starts and carry something in your pack (just in case)!

Actually this is slightly off... you run farther but not faster due to the luteal (TOM) phase of your cycle. The estrogen that appears during your TOM switches your body to use fat-stores to burn fuel. Since fat burns slower than carbohydrates you aren't going to get the quick burst of energy like you would the first week of your cycle when estrogen levels are low and you body uses carbohydrates to fuel your run.

As for the OP, I've heard of women using double methods (tampon and pad) to keep from any accidents during marathon running. And knowing the above information about running longer, you might not want to get rid of it! ;)

[windwalker]

Word of caution here for the guys.:teacher:

TOM = Totally Ogre Mad. When your princess gets in this stage of ticked off you must be very carefull, someone is gonna get shredded.

When she is no longer standing still but hopping up and down like a little bird this is your clue that the discussion phase is over and the begging for forgiveness phase is necessary or the shredding is about to begin.:eek:

Should you beg for mercy, and offer the proper I'm sorry presents there is a chance that you can come through this with out receiving a blistering.:rolleyes1

You can return to your regularly scheduled discussion now.:flower3:

Slinking off Panda:angel:

[TnTsParty]

It has been proven that you actually run faster with less effort when you are on your TOM. The week before is when it's tough for me. I have a half marathon on Saturday and it's a week out exactly...ugh. :sad2:

Just make sure you "change" right before the race starts and carry something in your pack (just in case)!

Its the week before that is tough for me as well - it seems I can't get enough to breathe and my lungs hurt when I go out running that week. :confused3

[CarolA]

Word of caution here for the guys.:teacher:

TOM = Totally Ogre Mad. When your princess gets in this stage of ticked off you must be very carefull, someone is gonna get shredded.

When she is no longer standing still but hopping up and down like a little bird this is your clue that the discussion phase is over and the begging for forgiveness phase is necessary or the shredding is about to begin.:eek:

Should you beg for mercy, and offer the proper I'm sorry presents there is a chance that you can come through this with out receiving a blistering.:rolleyes1

You can return to your regularly scheduled discussion now.:flower3:

Slinking off Panda:angel:


Chocolate is always good!

[Kira G.]

Unfortunately once you hit 40 the calender doesn't work anymore.It just shows up! And once that happens there is no regularity at all.

I hate surprises!

Linda

Boy, is this ever true! I have less time in between, and they seem to have gotten worse. I've had cramps recently for the first time in ages - it's like the some of the bad parts of being a teenager all over again. :rolleyes:

Wow - I'd never thought of this, but I'm running halfs so I'm not overly concerned. It would stink to wake up to this the morning of, that's for sure!

[IMGONNABE40!]

As long as that isn't code for something totally different....:laughing: bodyglide and vaseline. I had some miserible long training days leading up to this years Marathon. For the actual races I've lucked out somehow.


Okay... I have to ask... what do bodyglide and vaseline have to do with it?! :confused3

[dsnyfan21]

I also use the pill and can adjust it for races for I don't have it.

I did have it one time for a half marathon and just was able to use a "plug" and just needed that one. I actually got my best time ever in the half marathon, so go figure??:confused3

Tracy

[Magix]

I'm just doing the 5K, but did already figure that it would be TOM for me. Going to do the pill back-to-back next month to adjust so it's the week prior.

Really, the pill is the only way I know of to have that kind of control over when TOM occurs.

[Cruella de mom]

Panda - only you would be brave enough to post on this thread!! I agree with Carol - choclate choclate choclate. Dh keeps a hidden stash of hersey's kisses for just such emergencies.

I also agree that after 40 it is just a big ole guessing game. Unfortunately, your body has also learned how to predict when the worst possible time for such things would be and it plots against you.

Having done many a long run thus hindered, I would advise that you:

1. Train with a belt so that if you need to carry supplies, you are at least comfortable with the belt.
2. Learn the locations of all the WDW bathrooms on the course. There are several and they are much nicer than the portapotties.
3. Do NOT follow Jen from GA's example. I saw her at mile 30 of Goofy and although she was still smiling, she would probably not have described it as a "time of my life" moment.
4. Don't panic. It is not the worst thing that could happen. Worse would be if it didn't show at all. (see above)
5. Even if it shows up in the middle of the marathon, the medic tents will be able to help you out.
6. Many a runner I know has said that they have gotten a PB during TOM. Who cares why, we will take any postives we can get.

[jbucci]

not to be overly graphic, but during the DL half I used a pad and around the edges of that thing is not a spot you want chafing to occur :scared: , lets just say I was none too happy for a few days

[GirTheGecko]

For the WDW half, I just started and did double protection. I also fell down some icey concrete steps right before, so anything between my collar bone and knees was NOT HAPPY. It wasn't fair. To deal with the battered bruised hip from the fall, cramps, tenders twins, and bloating for that.

I definately recommend having a belt or something to carry something extra just in case.

[chimera]

Unfortunately once you hit 40 the calender doesn't work anymore.It just shows up! And once that happens there is no regularity at all.

I hate surprises!

Linda

Aw man, don't say that! I just turned 40...and went through a whole round of freakish ultrasounds 'cuz things got weird. I narrowly escaped a biopsy!

As for the event, I'm one of those weird people that don't run better during the optimum hormonal phase. My legs usually feel like lead during that week...hard to even move.

Like Cecilia said, take a race belt or shorts with pockets for supplies. If it's a half or a full, don't take ibuprofen before the race or a day or two after for cramps...can potentially mess with your kidneys.

[SamSam]

Oh, my....since I didn't start running till after that part of my life, all I can say is Thank Goodness for early menopause! :)

[princessrunner]

I agree that only Dave would venture into a thread with a title like this one...:lmao:

I have a Mirena which is a low estrogen emitting IUD. It has essentially cleared up that issue although I still hit the hormone surges that normally come with it. I think if I remember reading correctly that there is a way to "load" on BCP to stop your TOM from coming and then you can stop them again without doing any major damage.

While I agree that the week of is a defininte winner for running, I also agree that the week before is a downer. I get lots of water weight gain and a general fatigue feeling. This has gotten worse after 40 for sure. It is also a hit or miss thing after 40 also to be sure.

Who said that we could grow old gracefully? Did they forget all this fun stuff too???? :sad2:

[DisneyWalkerGirl]

Can't speak to the full marathon, but I have done 4 half marathons in my relatively short racing career and wouldn't you know that for EVERY SINGLE ONE it was that TOM :confused3

Just once I want race a half without carrying "supplies", having cramps or feeling bloated :scared: I am over 40 and my cycle has gone out of whack as an earlier poster mentioned. Keep your fingers crossed - my next half is Oct 19 and things could fall "wrong" AGAIN!!! Sigh....

I do use a race pack since it takes me about 3 hours to complete the half - I take Pamprin the night before a race, but never the day of the race. Race day I take tylenol for cramping and know where every portapotty is along the route.

As I always tell my sister and niece - Two men wrote "I Enjoy Being a Girl" :rotfl2:

[friendofgusgus]

You really only have two options.

1. Major surgery
2. Birth Control methods. I know that you can take the pill for several months in a row and "skip" and I think that there are other methods that stop it, but....

Maybe not with a good doc! :)

I had "minor surgery" - no stiches - in December for the same reasons and it really wasn't too awful - I was back to work in 4 days. The procedure is called an endometrial ablation and it scars the walls of the uterus so that it can no longer grow the lining to any real depth. Sounds awful, but it wasn't nearly as difficult as any kind of "removal" procedure would be.

One caveat, though: you must be through having children as this procedure will make it almost impossible for an embryo to implant.

The doctor - who was a specialist in heavy TOMs - also gave me the option of the Mirena IUC that another poster mentioned, but since I have not had children I thought it was not the best choice for me. It is removable, though, so it might be a better option is you still want to add to your family.

Running days I do double up and use quite a bit of bodyglide to avoid any chafing from the "extra layers" of protection.

[wtpclc]

lol. I just changed when I took my pills after a full, Minnie, a half adn a tri were illl-timed for me. I don't know of anything other than the pill, but may look into what friendofgusgus just posted. Good luck! You have my sympathy.

[escape]

I have nothing of value to add to this thread. But I do have to comment on the comment about turning 40, regular TOM, etc.

What is really fun is turning 50, not having a TOM for 6 months and then BAM! It hits on the night before you are doing your first marathon at WDW (with 100% humidity). Not fun. I just took extra protection in my belt. Unfortunately, this took up space that would normally be used for extra gels or other marathon essentials.

I ended up doing better than I thought I would during the race. Maybe the TOM did help me somewhat. However, I got a little sick after I finished. For about 10 minutes. Severe stomach cramping. Other than that, and the blisters on the bottom of my feet, I felt fine.

I know - nothing of value here. Just wanted to share my story. :laughing: The pills are looking better at this point. At my age, though, I'm not sure I'd benefit from them.