Over the last few years, many coaches have started to recognize the importance of training around the hormonal cycle. But what happens to running over 50 during peri-menopause and running after menopause?
It changes things.
Simply acknowledging that is step one in continuing onward! We can’t just push through and do what we have always done. Your body is changing and your plans need to change to.
Can menopause effect running?
Yes.
During Peri-menopause while hormones are fluctuating there may be days of fatigue and days where your core temperature is higher… but after menopause our big focus is cortisol.
As someone who stopped producing estrogen at 29, I actually got to figure this out early on and have continued running marathons and an Ultra happily since that time!
The idea that of menopause exercise intolerance is just a little misguided. You can and SHOULD exercise, but you might need to shift things in ways you didn’t expect.
Is running over 50 good for you?
Yes!
Let go of the idea that running is “for young people”. It’s just not accurate.
If you’re ready to start running or simply to continue running strong be assured it’s a good thing.
- Joint health of runners is often better than non-runners
- Running provides an outlet for stress
- Running mitigates weight gain from hormones shifting
- Running gives you a community and connection
- Running gets you outside for all the mental and physical benefits of nature
In fact, there’s a reason that races have age group categories.
It’s because we can absolutely continue to not only train smart, but compete! There is an age graded calculator that helps us understand how our pace might show some with each decade.
Though we can hold some of that off with the smart training listed below!
Love Susan B Running for showing us how to keep going and thriving.
Menopause Exercise Plan
Let’s take not just my experience, but the things I’ve learned from working with our many older runners, courses from Dr Stacy Simms and more to help guide you through this.
- Easy efforts are the bulk of training
- Plyometrics are a great cross training tool
- Heavy weights are indeed something we can and should incorporate
- Post workout nutrition is ramped up
- Carbohydrate intolerance increases
- Blood marker testing is extremely valuable
There is a lot to unpack in each of these areas, but the key here is that your post menopause exercise plan can absolutely still include endurance training and MUST include strength training.
Why You Can’t Go Hard All the Time?
I mentioned cortisol earlier and you can read all about how cortisol from exercise causes weight gain.
As your estrogen levels drop, the body will make up for that by increasing other things like cortisol.
Every workout will increase cortisol, BUT a daily dose of something high intensity or simply doing all of your runs at a moderate effort will put you in to a too common cycle:
- workout, eat less
- weight goes up
- workout more, eat less
- weight still goes up
- you’re frustrated and totally exhausted
What many runners after menopause find is that LESS exercise and eating enough results in weight loss and feeling so much better on their runs that they perform better.
When you’re looking for exercises for menopause belly, recognize that it’s not about specific movements, but instead about putting this lower cortisol training in place.
How can you do that?
- Learn about low heart rate training
- Explore a 10 day training cycle which puts more time between hard efforts or long runs
- Remember that easy runs aren’t junk, they’re important for volume and recovery
- SLEEP helps manage your hormones and recovery
Run To the Finish Masters Running Coach Charlene has been there done that and knows what it takes to run after menopause. Reach out if you’re looking for a 1-1 coach to help customize your running and strength plan.
Plyometrics Over 50
Yes, you can still do them.
DO NOT say you’re too old.
Aged 50 + is not the same as twenty years ago. We’re living smarter, healthier and more active lives.
If you haven’t been doing anything like this then we simply add them in slowly and methodically. They are a small portion of training, but are necessary to light up those powerful muscles, preventing muscle loss; it improves agility; it helps with speed.
Checkout this article with videos of beginner plyometric exercises >>
- Squat jumps – start by just coming up on to your toes
- Speed skaters – start with small jumps and get bigger
- Jump rope – imaginary jump rope really focused an the ankles being springs
- Box jumps – start by doing single leg step ups
This can be a once a week thing you do prior to a run, which helps get the muscles firing.
Strength Training Over 50
Many women were taught that light weights high reps is what we need to stay “toned”.
While that type of lifting is in fact great for endurance, what it doesn’t do is help us to maintain muscle mass that we are losing so quickly with the decline of hormones.
- If new to lifting, then yes even body weight is AMAZING
- Try once a week to pick up a weight that you can only do 5-8 reps of and then take a long break
- You don’t need to do more than 2 rounds if you are lifting that heavy
- This will increase your metabolism
- This will help you maintain muscle, which improves endurance, speed and weight loss
- This will help prevent injuries
Masters Runner Jolene makes strength a priority and it pays off in speedy racing.
The type of lifting remains extremely similar to what we want every runner to do for injury prevention and performance. Checkout the 30 Day Core Challenge for a daily 10 minute workout that you can do pre-run to prevent injuries.
Did you know that studies show we really only gain 5-10 lbs just because of the loss of estrogen? That’s right, so the rest of it is about changing our lifestyle and our training habits!!
Example Post Menopuase Exercise Plan
What does all of this mean your post menopause exercise plan looks like?
It could mean running 3-4 days in a 7 day cycle and spacing out hard workouts.
- Monday: Long run
- Tuesday: Complete rest day or core workout
- Wednesday: Core workout, easy run
- Thursday: Full body strength
- Friday: Easy run + strides
- Saturday: Core workout, easy run
- Sunday: Full body strength
- Monday: rest
- Tuesday: Core workout + plyometrics
- Wednesday: Long run
Another piece that we need to remember to work on is range of motion.
You’ll get a number of hip mobility workouts in the 30 Day Challenge, but you can find some hip mobility workouts here too.
Post Workout Nutrition Changes with Menopause
One of the big bummers about menopause is the body does not process carbohydrates as well, so we have to be even more careful with any simple sugars.
EXCEPT right around workouts. That’s when your oatmeal with honey or your post workout smoothie with fruit are put to use by the body for energy and recovery.
- Within 30 minutes you need to get in a high protein recovery meal
- Try a high protein smoothie if you aren’t hungry
- Leucine is the key piece of protein to help you build and maintain muscle
- Improving recovery means having the energy to go again the next day
Blood Testing for Runners
This isn’t about tracking your hormones like estrogen, which we know have dropped.
Instead, we are looking to stay on top of the other markers which play a HUGE role in your feelings of fatigue or even just low emotions.
Find out more about blood testing for athletes and what I recommend, but here’s at least part of what we’re looking at:
- Cortisol levels – weight gain, mood, sleep issues
- Vitamin D – mood, energy
- Iron – fatigue, energy, hair loss
- Ok fine all the vitamins and minerals because they’re going to help you feel better
What do you have to lose?
What you should be noticing from all of this is that you CAN absolutely still train for a marathon or hit your first pull up or even run a PR.
It requires that you start to embrace what is different about your body and change your training to match those needs. The pull back from intensity is usually the hardest part for most people because it feels contrary to what we know….
Do less and lose weight.
Do it easier and run better.
Those things seem wrong, but it’s a different phase of training!
Just like you find yourself trying different models of running shoes over the years, as your body changes…you need to be open to styles of training as well.
Commit to 90 days with this style of training and you will see changes.
Additional Menopause Athlete Resources
If you’re looking for some additional training tips:
- Motivation as a Master’s Runner
- Book – Older, Faster, Stronger By Margaret Webb
- Book – Run Olga (so motivational)
- Podcast – Hit Play, Not Pause
Other ways to connect with Amanda
Instagram Daily Fun: RunToTheFinish
Facebook Community Chatter: RunToTheFinish
Mastering Lunch Run: 15 Minute Sweat to Work Plan
Bee Hurd
This is so significant not just for me as a runner (with a womb but no ovaries and on HRT) but UK women as a whole – last week a ground breaking TV programme aired in our terrestrial TV channel 4 hosted by Davina McCall all about Menopause – definitely worth watching . Absolutely love your articles and training tips and thank you for your constant encouragement. Take care, Bee x
amanda
oh wonder if I can find the program here, truly always trying to learn more!