Running and Menopause – Debbie’s Story

I started running in 2011, aged 43. Always had problems with my weight as have PCOS. Managed to loose 3.5 stone and got my BMI just under 25. Really enjoyed running and had a 5km PB of 27.40 and ran a marathon.

Move forward a few years, peri-menopause and menopause hit me quite hard mentally and I fell out of love with running (& life in general). I started on HRT and each time the symptoms came back had to get an increased dose prescribed. I still went to parkrun but was doing 5km in 36+ minutes, if I wasn’t volunteering but regained the weight I’d lost.

Then at the beginning of this year I started helping our local running club out with their c25k group. I went through 2 cycles of c25k, lost weight and then started running further, running down to club and home, going out with other groups.

Last week I went out for a run with my husband and ran 10miles, no walking and then today did parkrun in an all-time PB of 26.20.

I’m enjoying running again and feeling stronger than ever at 56.