Women, menopause and running

[BonniesRest]

Having now started some real research on menopause and running, I’ve found this excellent advice via the Women’s Sports Network.

How Oestrogen loss during peri-/menopause affects a runner's bones, muscles, tendons and joints.

WITH: Sports Injury Physio .

youtu.be/Pel15uj2kDc(Not working as expected?)

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

Great, thanks for sharing this, I will watch later. I am now 3 years in and I take Red Clover, and never really thought about how it may affect my running!

[BonniesRest in reply to ju-ju-]

You’re welcome! I found it really helpful.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Thanks so much for sharing this link - I have just finished watching! Lovely lady and full of lots of useful information and very balanced advice.

At 55, I seem to be mostly doing the right thing - but this has flagged up again my lack of upper body strength work which I know I need to get better at!

Oh, and glad she mentioned running hills - I believe in the power of hill!💪 🙂

[BonniesRest in reply to Sandraj39]

Ah that’s great! You’re welcome. Yes I forget about upper body too so may dust off the weights amongst other exercises!

[RunWillie Graduate10]

Thanks for sharing. I’m just entering this delightful stage of life at 46 and peri/menopausal. I’ve watched this lady before when I hurt my post tib tendon back in May. Very interesting. Running is certainly helping me mentally at this time but I think I still want the HRT at some point.

[BonniesRest in reply to RunWillie]

You’re welcome!

[Redwelliesryan]

Thanks Bonnie, very interesting for us older birds, not just in respect of running, but how falling levels of oestrogen affect our tendons, joints, osteo arthritis etc. What a knowledgable and modest ( and non prescriptive) woman) who has enhanced my understanding of how ( any) injury repairs . Thanksfor posting 👍

[BonniesRest in reply to Redwelliesryan]

You’re welcome! Helps to know what’s happening to us doesn’t it!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Brilliant link, this should be given to all women to prepare them for menopause thank you for sharing. 🤗

[BonniesRest in reply to Grannyhugs]

You’re welcome - it really should.

[Celeriac Graduate10]

Thanks for sharing this. I'll look forward to watching it, sounds like it could be useful from your and others comments. 👍

[BonniesRest in reply to Celeriac]

You’re welcome - hope it’s helpful.

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10]

Thanks for sharing this. It was good to hear the cause and effect of fluctuating hormones discussed with regards to running.

I'm 49 and definitely in the thick of the M word! Think I need to build in more upper body strength as I suspect yoga & Pilates might not be enough and stop comparing myself to the younger me!

[BonniesRest in reply to Slinkymalinki]

You’re welcome, and I hear you! I get frustrated with myself for not being quite as strong as I used to be - I suspect I haven’t quite moved on from when I was 15, even though I’m now 52 😂 I only see my age when I look in the mirror! I think we just have to keep on keeping on.

[Maddee_6333 Graduate10]

I’m finding that hard to concentrate on - flipping painkillers - would you know if it’s transcribed anywhere?

[BonniesRest in reply to Maddee_6333]

Hi Maddee, this is from their website - written info related to the video - might help?

sports-injury-physio.com/po...

[Maddee_6333 Graduate10 in reply to BonniesRest]

Thank you!

[TailChaser Graduate10]

Thanks for this! Very interesting indeed and reflects a lot of what is happening to my increasingly creaky body. It doesn't surprise me she didn't know about the 3 different stages of the menopause, we've only really started talking about it recently.

My story is: I'm 8 months into post-menopausal. I had a wonderful HM plan that took me up to April - it had proper rests every 4 weeks in training (as she mentions) and monthly sports massage visits, then post HM...I just forgot to take the rests and the sports masseur was in lockdown and I was giving my kids PE lessons with Joe Wicks and running with super speedy hubby 5 days a week... Now I have a painful Achilles and a sore knee. I just completely forgot to rest because all that exercise was helping get through lockdown.

So, yes, she's absolutely right - cross train more and run less 😖 All very frustrating.

[BonniesRest in reply to TailChaser]

Wow! You’ve been so busy! It’s weird how we somehow forget our bodies in some ways and just keep on going. That’s great of course in many ways, but it’s good to be reminded that we need rest for bones, muscles, tendons etc to recover and repair. I’m glad you’ve found it helpful.

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to BonniesRest]

Yes, it was BR, very. Just disappointed she's telling me that I need to rest but then I knew that really. Another use for Jelly Babies - full of gelatin to help those tendons! Thankfully Joe Wicks has done wonders for my upper body - I can highly recommend his PE sessions but start from March as they get harder.

[BonniesRest in reply to TailChaser]

Ah that’s good to know. I’ve completely neglected upper body but will check it out now I think. Thankyou.

[Speedy60 Graduate10]

Interesting, thanks. I'm quite good at just plodding away but you've reminded me not to be impatient with my progress towards my first half marathon. 👍

[BonniesRest in reply to Speedy60]

Great goals - half marathon and being patient with yourself. I have the Nike running coach Coach Bennett in my head constantly now 😂 and he’s good at reminding us to take care of ourselves which helps!

[Speedy60 Graduate10 in reply to BonniesRest]

Coach Bennett 😍

I think I'm lucky in a way that I started running after the menopause. I haven't seen a decline in my performance, only improvement. I couldn't run at all ten years ago.

[Elfe5 60minGraduate]

Very interesting BR, thanks for posting.😄

The more I carry on with “life with running” & gather information, the more I realise how much I am benefiting in so many ways. This is also a good reminder to not be impatient, but to keep going steadily & listen to my body. 😄