My route to running

How menopause turned me into a runner.

Angela MacAusland

Director and Owner of Run Bath and Run Coach Angela

Iwent through a number of ‘challenging’ years in my early 40’s (bereavement, divorce, a move into self-employment and a second marriage). So when my periods stopped (and I had ruled out being pregnant) I eventually got a blood test done only to be informed that I was going through early menopause, at age 42.

The next thing I know, I am taking HRT and feeling absolutely terrible. The contraceptive pill didn’t work for me either, so after a lot of research, discussions with my GP and deciding to take active control of my diet and fitness, I stopped taking the medication and took up running. It wasn’t plain sailing at first, I literally could not run to the end of my street without collapsing in a hot mess, but one chance encounter changed the course of my life.

I met a lady who was training for a marathon race, and I asked her how could she run that far and more importantly – why did she run that far. (A marathon is 26.2 miles or 42km). Her reason for running was that it gave her time away from her very hectic life, and the freedom she felt when running outdoors gave her the mental and physical energy to deal with the rest of her life. Running was her ‘me time’. That hit home, as a busy Mum, Wife and working full time, the only ‘me time’ I had was when I was asleep (and that wasn’t great either). So I went home that day, grabbed my trainers and went for a run (it was more of a walk, jog, walk) but I now had a really important reason to run - for my physical and mental wellbeing and for some ‘me time’.

Every step I took was helping me not only re-charge my mental health batteries, but helping me grow stronger, fitter and more confident in my body. I entered a 5km race, then a 10km race and before long I had completed a half marathon, and 18 months after my life changed, I ran my first full marathon in Chicago.

Running was something I could do as a perimenopausal woman and even though I hadn’t run since I was at school, I found that I was part of a growing community of runners who meet up and run for the social aspects as well as the physical benefits. Age, gender, fitness and hormones were not a barrier.

I started up my own running club – to help like-minded runners who weren’t super fit, fast or competitive and studied to become a Run Leader and a Coach and turned my love of running, which was my hobby, into my career as a Full-Time Personal Running Coach.

I now work with runners of all ages and abilities, from runners who are just starting, to those wanting to regain their confidence in their bodies, up to fairly competitive runners who are working towards specific race or time goals.

I talk openly about mental and physical well-being and embrace the menopause as being part of the female health journey we will all experience at some point.

Today I am a fit, 55-year-old marathon runner and running coach and I thank my body for giving me early menopause, for helping shape my journey into this life and I want other people to hear my story as inspiration that menopause can be the start of something new and exciting, rather than something to fear and dread.

menopause can be the start of “ something new and exciting“