Women who run to relieve the pain of Endometriosis

In this article, we tell you how to relieve the pain of endometriosis, which directly affects women's health, even if you can't eliminate it forever.

We are still in confinement, and many of our runners are already climbing the walls. But there is a particular case that worries us a little more: Marina.

running is an attitude

Not being able to go for a run affects her much more than the rest of the amateur runners. And more specifically on days when she has such severe pain that she cannot train.

We have written this to raise awareness of a disease that only affects women and to offer a way to mitigate the pain for those who suffer from it. Two female runners have confirmed that their doctor recommended running to relieve this pain.

Another purpose of this article is to highlight another reason for women to take up running. In popular races, there are usually 70% men and 30% women. And the Be Urban Running team would like to see that balance out with a greater female presence.

The reason for writing about Endometriosis

The reason is very simple. Recently, we celebrated March 8th as International Women's Day. We spoke with female runners who shared their experiences as runners for the post we published that week. And among the girls we spoke with was Marina.

Marina told us that she runs because she is a woman who lives with a very little-known and very painful disease. And the worst thing is that it has no cure. And she told us a very powerful phrase:

I run for my health. Either this blows up, or I do.

She also told us that her gynecologist, who is also a runner, told her that running could mitigate the intense pain she experiences when she gets her period.

It took 12 years to diagnose her condition. And on top of that, they told her hers was severe.

Marina started running late, already a mother of a fantastic daughter. She did it to be a good person, to accompany a friend who had been running for a short time in a race.

And as she trained, she realized that she felt better because the cramps no longer attacked her with such force. And even if she has pain, she still goes out to train; in fact, she goes out with more enthusiasm.

She repeats that running helps her a lot. That fighting against that pain is a motivation to keep running.

Her favorite race is the Valencia Half Marathon. She has already gone twice, and this year she wants to repeat. She also had a bib for the Elche Half Marathon, but it was canceled the same week Spain shut down.

What is endometriosis?

According to Wikipedia: Endometriosis consists of the appearance and growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, especially in the pelvic cavity, such as in the ovaries, behind the uterus, in the uterine ligaments, in the urinary bladder, or in the intestine (…).

The cause of endometriosis is unknown. And many more women suffer from it than we can imagine.

Endometrial tissue thickens, breaks down, and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. And since it has no way to exit the body, it becomes trapped. If endometriosis affects the ovaries, cysts called endometriomas can form.

Currently, there is no definitive cure for endometriosis. Only different treatments are applied, including pain relievers (in severe cases, morphine is used), hormonal therapy, and surgery.

The other solution is to exercise, like running in Marina's case. Training improves blood flow and increases endorphins. These are analgesics that we produce ourselves in our bodies. They help us naturally calm certain pains.

Endometriosis has no cure. It is a chronic, benign disease, meaning it is not fatal. It progresses until menopause, when estrogen levels drop.

Studies can be found on the internet that claim women who engage in moderate exercise during adolescence and high-intensity exercise during adulthood can have up to 76% less chance of developing endometriosis compared to women who do not engage in any physical activity.

Running as an attitude to overcome illnesses

This is a new case where running is an attitude. A form of self-improvement.

For Marina, running is a motivation to live with better quality. An aid to relieve pain. She runs for health. But if we asked everyone, we all have a reason to run.

And the mystery lies in endorphins. When we put on our running shoes and go for a run, we generate that natural anesthetic. And it turns out that it leads us to a virtuous circle in which we run again to burn endorphins, and with that, we will generate new endorphins.

You just have to train and be an amateur runner. You don't need to break records. Your main goal can simply be to finish the races you sign up for. That is already a challenge for many, and a very satisfying one.

For Marina and many others, happiness lies in how you travel the path... Doing your weekly training sessions and having fun can be much more satisfying than finishing a race with a specific time...

And when you train and compete with company, that well-being can be even greater.

At Be Urban Running, we want to encourage all those who consider running an attitude or a help to overcome an adverse situation. If this is your case, tell us about it.

· You might be interested in: Sports Tights for Training and Competing – Be Urban Running Blog