Li Meizhen had run 34 kilometers in the Hengshui Lake Marathon (China) when she felt something change in her body. Her period had started right there, in the middle of the race, in front of cameras and spectators. She still had about 8 kilometers ahead of her.
She did not stop. She kept running with blood streaking her legs until she crossed the finish line in an extraordinary time of 2 hours and 35 minutes, exactly what she needed to qualify for an important championship.
When people on social media asked her why she did not drop out, she explained it plainly: if she withdrew, she would have to run another entire marathon to achieve the qualifying time.
Her story went viral on social media, not because of morbid curiosity but out of respect. Thousands of people used it as an example that menstruation is a normal part of an athlete’s life, not a reason for shame or a barrier to competing at the highest level. What do you think?
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