A Runner Decides to Freely Bleed Through a Marathon, Here’s Why

Kiran Gandhi, a drummer and activist, made headlines when she decided to run the London Marathon while free bleeding. Her decision to not wear a tampon or pad during the race was a statement against the stigma surrounding menstruation and a call for greater awareness of the issue.

She got her period on the day of the marathon.

“I got my flow the morning of, and it was a total disaster, but I didn’t want to clean it up. It would have been way too uncomfortable to worry about a tampon for 26.2 miles. I thought, if there’s one person society won’t mess with, it’s a marathon runner. If there’s one way to transcend oppression, it’s to run a marathon in whatever way you want,” Kiran shared.

She wants to normalize menstrual cycles.

In her blog post, Gandhi wrote, “I ran with blood dripping down my legs for sisters who don’t have access to tampons and sisters who, despite cramping and pain, hide it away and pretend like it doesn’t exist. I ran to say, it does exist, and we overcome it every day.”

Periods are a natural part of life.

Gandhi’s decision was met with both praise and criticism. While some applauded her for breaking a taboo and raising awareness about menstruation, others called her “gross” and “unhygienic.” However, Gandhi’s message was clear: periods are a natural part of life and should not be stigmatized or hidden away.

Women shouldn’t be ashamed of their bodies.

As Gandhi herself put it, “On the marathon course, sexism can be beaten.” Her decision to free bleed during the race was a powerful statement against the societal norms that dictate how women should behave and what they should hide.

She stood up for women’s rights.

Madame Ghandi’s message is loud and clear: menstrual cycles are an intrinsic biological process that must not be stigmatized or concealed. By verbalizing and taking steps, we can target a society where menstrual periods are not a taboo topic.

Just when you thought you had seen the limits of courage and resilience in one athlete, brace yourself for Emma Pallant-Browne, who cleverly responded to critics who shamed her for getting her period during a race.