I’ve been (mostly) a good sport about my running pace sliding over the past few years. Certainly age will do that, although I feel like my personal decline was more abrupt that it needed be. I’ve whined to my doctor countless times about feeling weak and winded, only to be told “everyone’s tired” and that no testing could be done until full-blown menopause set in. She also guaranteed me back in 2010 that I’d be in menopause within that year. Four years later, um yeah not so much.
So basically I’ve been sucking it up. Embracing my slow, doing my best with what I’ve got, and trying to find answers on my own holistically. There’s life after running fast, right? Other than slow running, fatigue, weight gain and a wonky thyroid, I have no complaints.
I noticed a pattern: I have my slowest, most pathetic runs mid-cycle (at ovulation time) and my best (fastest with least effort) in the days of the monthly bill when hormone levels are lowest. Hmmmm. I also feel markedly better with a hujazz daily dose of fish oil.
After wangling a testosterone test out of my doc, I learned my level was at “the low end of normal”. Of course she refused to do anything further because there was no menopause….yet…and mainstream medicine put the fear of God in me when I entertained the prospect of hormone replacement.
Enter strength training. I keep strength is a permanent fixture in my workout routine, but for the past 6 weeks, I’ve been hitting it heavy 3x/week. After a few weeks, I notice I’m running stronger. Hitting faster paces with less effort without feeling like I’m gonna keel over. Glimmers of the old me. The mid-month runs are still tougher/slower than they should be but there’s a noticeable improvement now that I’ve taken on more muscle. Poking around with Google tells me that strength training and high intensity workouts stimulate testosterone production. The reason I’m feeling a little better?
So there’s that. It probably (hopefully) does not apply to you but in the event it does, I hope it helps. It is beyond frustrating that mainstream medicine blows off this entire aspect of aging but I will keep chipping away.
Do you notice times of the month when you run better? Any tips for managing/balancing crazy hormones?
Oh very interesting. I, too, am fairly terrified of the idea of any hormone replacements at all, ever. I really haven’t noticed hormone fluxes affecting my running. But right now, it’s so flipping hot and humid they couldn’t do much more damage LOL
ahh hormones. Well after the two years where i went through menopause or I guess that’s what we’re calling it as we lack another name, running has been immensely easier. I have no idea why other than maybe it sucked for so long now anything feels good!
Amanda its good to know theres a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel on this. Its been great seeing you run strong again!
I am already past that age…so I guess I should be running faster.
I’m nowhere near menopause, but I notice differences in my running at different places in my cycle. The week before my period: running sucks. Everything is harder than it should be. My best runs (and races) have been days 5-7 of my period or the week after. Once my body ovulates around day 13, it starts to go downhill.
That is an awesome discovery! Can I say that I run so slow because I lack testosterone? Haha! My mom has never had the symptoms of menopause other than no periods and she’s in her mid 60s. She keeps waiting but nope. I’m hoping I can skip it too. I’m not clear on why your doctor isn’t more helpful since I’m sure she knows you are an athlete.
For the most part, I embrace getting older, but there are some things–like your testosterone issue–that kind of just suck. I’m glad added strength training is working for you. The more holistic, the better, is always my thinking.
Hmm…interesting!! I had a procedure done a few years ago so I don’t even know my cycle any more. I don’t know if I’ve really noticed a huge change in my running – maybe the fact that I added in strength work a number of years back helped?!
Don’t even get me started. It took a lot of research on my behalf to find out my testosterone levels were sub-clinical. Not one single doctor bothered to test me despite countless visits to specialists. It’s almost like they think that if you’re a woman you don’t need it but I can tell you from bitter experience that we definitely do.
I blogged recently about our cycles and how it affects our running. I haven’t found much on menopause. I haven’t crossed over to the dark side yet…but I will say that I’m having some symptoms that point in that direction. Weight lifting was one of the best things I could have started. I’m running better…I have less menopause related symptoms (hot flashes, etc)..altho I do have issues with anger that I have to suppress. Maybe it is the extra testosterone from the weight training? :p
Very interesting! At the urging of my running coach I’ve started to pay closer attention to the link between my cycle and my runs. Great to hear that you really feel strength training is making a difference – you inspire me to do more!
That explains why I have hair on every inch of my face, eyelids & neck!!! 🙂
I haven’t had Aunt Flo come visit for about 5 years now. I ran pretty close to a half marathon PR last year – and that was at altitude where my PR was at sea level (5 years earlier). What I find the hardest is recovery…I’m like dog tired for days after a hard run. I just added strength training to my non-schedule :), but the ticket I guess is to actually DO it? Gah.
Glad you’re feeling better, my dear. I think good things ahead for NYC! 🙂
Not sure if acupuncture can help with those issues but I’m considering trying it for an Achilles issue that cropped up. I figure it can’t hurt to try besides the pocket book.
Treatment like that is why I left traditional medicine and found a functional medicine physician, who actually listened when I explained my issues, such as chronic fatigue and GI problems. While my “traditional medicine” physician told me I ran too much and needed to stop running, it turns out I do have legitimate causes for the fatigue and GI issues — celiac disease! Also, subclinical hypothyroid and low progesterone. So don’t let them brush you off — insist on an answer and find a doc willing to look beyond “normal” levels in test results.
I keep going back to this post because you’ve had me thinking. I am 9 months post partum so not having monthly cycles yet but I have been experiencing a pretty dramatic – to me – increase in performance. Makes me wonder if hormones play a roll in that but I lack the google fu to figure it out!
There is running life after menopause. I’m 60, two years past it. Have qualified for Boston a couple of times and run it once. Now training for the world’s biggest ultra. Big difference is recovery time. Accept and work with it. Fewer races, more quality training so you can peak for the big goal race. Strength training very important. Heart rate zones too to build endurance. Lack of studies on pre and post menopausal women, optimal training, hormones, even iron levels very frustrating. Just have to be your own science experiment! Recently read interesting study about raised estrogen levels in pre and post menopausal ultra marathon finishers. (Worth googling it) Love your blog btw.
interesting. I should probably track my cycle with my runs to see if there is a difference.