A Marathon Runner on Why Her Period Is a Privilege

Most people don't look forward to their period. For a long time, Jessica Davis didn't either. She saw it as a problem to manage. Boxes of tampons stacked under the bathroom counter. A string to deal with on every run. The math before every trip, counting days and hours and stuffing her suitcase with products she hoped she wouldn't need.

In this episode of The Saalt Show, Jessica sits down with Saalt Co-Founder and CEO Cherie Hoeger to talk about what changed when she switched off disposables, the learning curve nobody warns you about, and why she now calls her period a privilege.

Table of Contents What You Will Get · Quick Answer · Why a Period Can Be a Marker of Health · The Learning Curve Is Real, and That's Okay · Real People, Real Support · Racing a Marathon Period Worry-Free · Why Saalt Was Built to Sell Freedom · Keeping PFAS Out of Period Care · Common Reasons People Hesitate to Try a Menstrual Cup · A Simple 5 Step Plan to Try a Menstrual Cup · FAQ · What This Episode Means for You

What You Will Get

• How one longtime customer went off tampons and reset the way she thinks about her cycle

• The simple tips that made a menstrual cup click after a rough first try

• A step-by-step plan for trying a cup with less guesswork

Quick Answer Switching to a menstrual cup is mostly a learning curve, not a leap. In this episode, marathon runner Jessica Davis explains how she got the hang of a Saalt cup using a few small tips: water-based lubricant, sitting instead of standing, watching the how-to videos, and giving herself a few cycles to practice. Once it clicked, she stopped packing backups, ran a marathon on her period with one cup, and started seeing her period as a marker of health instead of a monthly problem.

Why a Period Can Be a Marker of Health Jessica grew up athletic. Like a lot of young athletes, she heard the same thing over and over: you're lucky if your period goes away. For years she saw hers as a liability instead of an asset. Working with a registered dietitian in her twenties changed that. She learned about energy availability, basically whether your body is getting enough fuel for how much you're moving, and how a regular cycle can be a sign that things are working. Today she pays attention to her cycle and feels lucky to have one. As Jessica puts it, a period can be a marker of health, not just a monthly hassle, and Cherie was quick to agree.

One note worth adding here: cycles are personal, and plenty of healthy people have irregular ones. If your period disappears or shifts in a way that worries you, it's worth talking with a doctor.

The Learning Curve Is Real, and That's Okay Jessica is the first to tell you the first try can feel rough. Hers did. "It was kind of horror," she says, looking back. The point she makes to every friend she hands a cup to is that the learning curve is normal, and it passes. Her tips are simple:

• Use a water-based lubricant. It makes the cup easier to get in and out, especially at the start.

• Sit instead of stand. Sitting gave her more control while she got the hang of insertion.

• Watch the how-to videos. Saalt's videos taught her the folds and showed her exactly where the cup sits.

• Relax and give it time. The cup isn't going anywhere, and the nerves ease with practice.

She also picked up something she didn't expect: she learned more about her own anatomy than she ever had before. One more thing that helped was finding the right cup for her body. She starts with the original firmness cup, which pops open and stays open on its own, ideal for active days, and keeps a softer cup for crampy days when she wants a gentler feel.

Real People, Real Support What sold Jessica wasn't only the cup. It was the people behind it. Every time she reached out with a question, a real human answered. When she was nervous about getting the cup out, someone walked her through it. Another time, Saalt was out of stock on the little carrying pouches, so the team sent her a note, a code for a free one, and free shipping, without being asked. That's the kind of support that makes the switch feel doable, and it's a big part of why she felt connected to the brand.

Racing a Marathon Period Worry-Free Jessica is a marathon runner. She ran a race just two weeks before this episode, on her period. With tampons, running meant packing extras in her fanny pack, ripping them open mid-race, and hunting for somewhere to toss them. Sometimes the porta potty had no bin, so she'd wrap the used product back up and carry it to the next garbage can on the course. Now she puts her Saalt cup in and she's good for the whole day. No string, no leaks she worries about. She says it's changed her life, and that the biggest changes have come in hiking, traveling, and running.

Why Saalt Was Built to Sell Freedom For Cherie, this is the whole point. She likes to tell journalists she doesn't sell products, she sells freedom. She built Saalt after looking at reusables for the first time and deciding she wanted period care she could trust for herself and her five daughters. That same standard shows up in how the company treats the people who use its products, with real support and clear education instead of a sales pitch.

Keeping PFAS Out of Period Care That care shows up in the details most brands never talk about. When a supplier added PFAS chemicals to Saalt's first underwear run without being asked, Cherie delayed the launch and had the product reformulated. Saalt now publishes third-party testing showing non-detectable levels. It's a small story that says a lot about how the company makes decisions when nobody's watching.

Common Reasons People Hesitate to Try a Menstrual Cup

• It seems hard to use. This is the top fear, but Jessica found the learning curve was shorter than she expected once she used the videos and gave it a few cycles.

• I'm not sure I'll put it in right. That was Jessica's worry too. Sitting instead of standing and watching the folds on video helped her feel sure it was in place.

• I'm worried it'll leak during a workout. Jessica runs marathons on hers and doesn't worry about leaking. Picking the right size for your flow and practicing at home goes a long way.

• It feels like a big change. It is a change, but Jessica frames it as a few practice cycles, not a pass-or-fail test. The payoff, she says, is worth the time.

A Simple 5 Step Plan to Try a Menstrual Cup Step 1: Pick your starting product. A cup is a great first reusable, and leakproof underwear is an easy backup while you learn. Step 2: Watch the how-to videos first. Learn the folds and where the cup sits before your first try. Step 3: Practice at home. Use a water-based lubricant, sit instead of stand, and try it on a low-stakes day. Step 4: Give yourself two or three cycles. Treat the early tries as practice, not a test you can fail. Step 5: Ask for help when you need it. Saalt has real people who answer questions, so reach out instead of giving up.

FAQ Is a menstrual cup hard to use? Most people expect it to be, but Jessica found it got easy after a few practice cycles using the how-to videos and a water-based lubricant.

Can you run or work out with a menstrual cup? Yes. Jessica ran a marathon on her period with a Saalt cup, with no string to deal with and no leaks she worried about.

What helped most when learning to use a cup? Jessica points to three things: a water-based lubricant, sitting instead of standing, and watching the Saalt videos to learn the folds.

Why would I switch if my period is manageable now? Beyond comfort, a cup means no string, no packing backups, and a product you can trust. Jessica also values seeing her period as a sign of health.

Does Saalt test for PFAS? Yes. Saalt reformulated its first underwear run after a supplier added PFAS, and it now publishes third-party testing showing non-detectable levels.

What This Episode Means for You Jessica's story is one person's experience, not a promise. What it offers is a real look at what the switch feels like: a learning curve that passes, support from real people, and an active life that gets simpler once the cup clicks. Her advice for anyone still on the fence is short. You're worth it. Give yourself the time. If you want to try cleaner, more comfortable period care, shop the cups, discs, and leakproof underwear at saalt.com.

Key Takeaways

• A period can be a marker of health, not just a monthly hassle, because Jessica learned to read her cycle and now sees it as a privilege.

• Expect a learning curve with a cup, and know it passes, because Jessica says the first try felt rough before it became second nature.

• A few small tips make a cup click, because water-based lubricant, sitting instead of standing, and the how-to videos all helped Jessica get it right.

• Real human support makes the switch feel doable, because every time Jessica reached out, she reached a real person.

• An active life gets simpler with a cup, because Jessica runs, hikes, and travels without packing backups or hunting for a place to change.

• Saalt was built to sell freedom, because Cherie wanted period care she could trust for herself and her five daughters.

• Saalt never uses PFAS when manufacturing its underwear. Cherie even delayed the first launch to reformulate and now publishes third-party testing showing non-detectable levels.

• Give yourself a few cycles before you judge it, because Jessica says the payoff is worth the time it takes to learn.

Loved this conversation? Follow, like, share, and subscribe. Listen to The Saalt Show at saaltshow.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

#TheSaaltShow #Saalt #PeriodCare #MenstrualCup #MarathonRunner #WomensHealth #PeriodPositive #SustainablePeriod #ReusablePeriodCare #SwitchToSaalt #CycleHealth #PeriodAsAPrivilege

Follow The Saalt Show - Website | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | X | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Reddit | Substack | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Amazon Music |

Follow Saalt - Website

Follow Cherie Hoeger - Instagram | LinkedIn