Trolls said I should be mortified after getting a period stain while running a triathlon – but I shut them down
An athlete has fired back at trolls who criticised her following a photo of her running with leaked period stains.
Emma Pallant, 34, from Surrey, competed in the Professional Triathletes Organisation’s European Open held in Ibiza on May 6.
The photo of the triathlete, who finished fourth, first went viral when it was shared to PTO’s Instagram page on May 19.
The image shows Emma mid-run in sweltering heat, while a blood stain is visibly apparent on the crotch area of her suit.
In an Instagram post, she remarked how ‘beautiful’ and ‘natural’ it was, particularly after growing up without a period due to ‘eating issues’ she had as a performance runner.
Emma Pallant, 34, a triathlete from Surrey, has fired back at trolls who criticised her following a photo of her running with leaked period stains
The competitive runner said the leak was ‘beautiful’ and encouraged others to ‘cherish’ the moment if it happened to them
More than two thousand people rallied behind Emma, as they exclaimed how ‘bada**’ she was for her bravery.
She said: ‘Celebrating the amazing women in sport and the equally amazing men who champion them.
‘Humbled by the amount of messages I’ve had from both men and women (I am going to give menstrual cups another go) about the unglamorous reality of racing on your period.
‘This is true female sport and the more barriers we can break through the better.’
The runner went on to reveal her reasons for competing in a light-coloured swimsuit, one of them being she was prone to over-heating and passing out, especially when on her period.
She added: ‘A lot of the photos you can’t see anything, pouring water over yourself at aid stations does the trick.
‘If it doesn’t, you end up with one photo like this but the idea to edit it means there is something wrong with it.
‘If you wrote to me saying 99 per cent of the women you know would be mortified at this then that is exactly why I am sharing this.
Emma shed light on the events that led up to the period stain, which occurred during a race
‘There really is nothing wrong.
‘Its natural and coming from eating issues as an endurance runner when I was growing up, where I didn’t have my period, I now see it as beautiful.
Emma ended her message by assuring others that they were also ‘tough’, and encouraged them to ‘save and cherish’ the moment if they experienced a period leak.
Someone replied: ‘I don’t know, all I saw was a bada** triathlete running? Next level creep to focus elsewhere, but what a gracious response! Fan for sure!’
Another agreed, writing: ‘I see a bada** woman doing what she loves to do with such grace and a h**l of an athletic body! I too understand. I am a surgical tech who assists in surgeries that can last for hours.
‘Those days, I have to wear a shotgun shell of a tampon and an overnight pad just to not leak through. We are women. We do what we got to do no matter what. I’m grateful to work in a setting where we could talk about literally anything and support each other.
She concluded: ‘I just wish the world would be as open as my workplace. This photo is so legendary, epic and mostly inspiring! Keep on keeping on!’
Over two thousand people rallied behind Emma, as they exclaimed how ‘bada**’ she was for her bravery
One person labelled the criticism disturbing, writing: ‘What I find slightly disturbing is how this individual noticed it.
‘I just saw a very fit, amazing person smashing a race. I had to read the comments to see what the issue was all about. Why did this individual look so closely there?!?!’
An athlete empathised with Emma, adding: ‘I always hope my big races land on that time of the month because that first day means my body temperature goes down.
‘I feel stronger, and my heart rate is lower. I have incredible races first few days of my cycle.’
‘Women are awesome!’ replied another, before adding: ‘The extra stuff you all have to deal with in life proves how bada** all of you are.
‘And honestly if I didn’t read your caption I would’ve never noticed. As men we are oblivious to what you all truly go through.
‘I have two young girls and having strong role models like yourself, and many others pave the way for their generation.’
The post has been liked over 50,000 times.