– I have a couple of days before my period where I am very, very stubborn. I can’t get my muscles going, I don’t have the extra gear and power, said Lotte Miller after breaking the women’s triathlon competition last Wednesday. She has also noticed in the past, that some days are extra heavy. Before, she had no explanation for it, and easily blamed herself on the bad days. But gradually she has realized that some of these fluctuations are connected with her own menstrual cycle. And when the Olympics started with her body feeling heavy, she quickly understood that PMS was the reason. See mixed relay in triathlon, Monday at 07.50 on news TV. MEDAL AIM: The Norwegian triathlon quartet consisting of Vetle Bergsvik Thorn (from left), Solveig Løvseth, Kristian Blummenfelt and Lotte Miller believes a medal is possible in the relay at the Olympics. Photo: NTB – I no longer have PMS Triathletes are almost obsessed with measuring and monitoring their own training. In the past year, mapping one’s own cycle has been part of this monitoring for Miller. – It gives me security in training when I have hard days and I don’t understand why I just collapse. Then I get my period a couple of days later. Then I give it a week, then I’m like “on top of the world”. It’s that safety in getting to know the body, she says. On Monday morning, she is part of the Norwegian team that will compete in the mixed team relay. Together with Solveig Løvseth, Vetle Bergsvik Thorn and Kristian Blummenfelt, the goal is a medal. And unlike the previous competition, the relay comes at the best possible time for Miller. – Now I no longer have PMS. So, statistically speaking, I should be good hormonally. So I was very happy when I was able to read my body correctly, she says. NIGHTMARE DAY: Lotte Miller didn’t just struggle with her body at the women’s triathlon in Paris. She also fell twice with her bicycle on the slippery cobblestones in Paris, and finally had to retire after a nightmare competition. Photo: AFP Several people open up about cycle training Recently, there has been both research into and talk about how the menstrual cycle affects the female body. More and more female athletes have started to set up their training after the cycle, among them the biathletes Tiril Eckhoff and Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold. Track cyclist Anita Stenberg told VG last winter how she experienced great progress when she started adapting her training to what periods her body was strong and weak. news has written about “Superveka”. It is the theory that there is not only a bad period in the women’s cycle, but also a good period. Then women experience a monthly estrogen boost, which makes these days extra favorable for training. FOLLOWING THE CYCLE: The accomplished track cyclist Anita Stenberg experienced progress when she started to set up her training after her cycle. Here after the victory in the EC in 2022. Photo: Pavel Golovkin / AP Researchers at the University of Tromsø cast doubt on whether such an effect exists – at least one that applies to all women. – There is nothing to indicate that a woman will be in more, or less shape, in a specific phase of the menstrual cycle. At least in a way that will be the same for all women, said doctoral student at UiT, Madison Taylor, to news recently. – Important for psychological safety For Lotte Miller, it has nevertheless been useful to get to know how her body works in the various phases. And especially just before she is due to menstruate. She also thinks it is important to talk about the topic. – When I train with younger athletes and girls at home and they struggle and have hard days, we can remind them when they are in their cycle, says Miller. For her, awareness and an overview of her own cycle have had an effect. – It is important for psychological safety. That I don’t judge myself too harshly on bad days. That I don’t feel that I have done anything wrong in training, she says. Published 04.08.2024, at 18.31 Updated 04.08.2024, at 18.39
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Triathlete Lotte Miller believes her own cycle can bring Olympic success – Paris 2024 Olympics
