‘I got my first period in 15 years the morning of a big race, and didn’t know what to do’ — how pro racers deal with periods

Sarah Sturm racing The Traka.

I’ll set the scene. It’s the morning of my longest race of the year - the 360k Traka through the winding dirt roads of Girona, Spain. It’s 4:30 in the morning, and I’ve laid out everything I’ll need for the full day of racing. Every scenario has been considered and accounted for– the weather, the fueling, the gear, the route. I am prepared. Cue the proverbial curveball.

My curveball came in the form of my first period. My first one in 15 years.