When I turned 40, I felt amazing. Strong, fast, and excited to step into a new phase as a Master's runner. That first year was better than I could’ve imagined. I wasn’t just competing in my age group—I was winning overall. I broke the finisher’s tape for the first time, something I never expected, and it felt like my 40s were going to be my strongest running years yet.
Shortly after those wins, Breaking Tape Designs was born—a name inspired by those moments and the feeling of chasing something big. Over the next year or two, I set PRs in nearly every distance. I felt unstoppable.
But then I turned 42—and everything started to shift.
The Turning Point
At the start of 2024, I was gearing up to chase a new marathon PR at Boston. My training kicked off strong, and I had big goals. Then, in February—right after an incredible weekend cheering at the U.S. Olympic Trials—I got COVID. It didn’t hit me hard in terms of long-term respiratory issues, and I was back to running within a week. But I’ve never felt the same since.
My marathon build quickly unraveled. My legs ached constantly. My once-effortless 8:00 miles now felt like a painful grind at 9:00 pace. The mindless joy I used to find in running—the meditative rhythm—was gone. Every run felt like a struggle.
“Everything Looks Perfect”
I saw three different doctors over the next few months. I explained what I was feeling—constant fatigue, heavy legs, off moods—but kept hearing the same thing: “Your blood work is perfect.” “You’re still running 40 miles a week, you’re fine.”
But I knew I wasn’t.
I know my running body. I’ve been at this for three decades. And while nothing hurt in the traditional injury sense, something was undeniably off. My legs just… ached. My motivation was fading. But how do you explain that to someone without sounding dramatic or like you’re overreaching?
Then 2025 rolled in, and things got worse. I was hitting walls physically and emotionally—and finally, I found a new clinic that listened. The provider didn’t dismiss me. She validated what I was experiencing and referred me for hormonal testing.
Wait—How Did I Miss This?
Once I got home, I went down the inevitable Google rabbit hole. Hormonal imbalances in active women. Perimenopause. Estrogen dips. Cortisol. Progesterone. Testosterone. I started checking off symptoms I hadn’t even connected before:
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Constant fatigue (despite finally get adequate lengths of sleep)
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Leg pain and constant ache
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Emotional highs and lows (way more extreme than I’m used to)
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Brain fog
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Weight gain
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Bloating
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Canker sores
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Loss of bladder control (every female runner’s favorite topic, right?)
- Sciatica pain
Suddenly, it all clicked. My body wasn’t just tired. It was out of balance.
Why I’m Getting Blood Work Done
So now, I’m moving forward with a full panel to check hormone levels—estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid function, cortisol, and other key markers like vitamin D and B12. I’m not looking for a magic fix. I’m looking for clarity.
As a runner and coach, I’ve always believed in listening to your body. This time, it’s been shouting—but no one was hearing it until now. This is about long-term health, performance, and honestly, just feeling good again.
Why This Matters for Runners in Their 40s
Hormones are often left out of the conversation in distance running. We focus on paces, mileage, and fueling strategies—but as women in our 40s (and beyond), there’s another layer we can’t ignore.
Our hormones impact:
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Recovery
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Mood and motivation
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Muscle retention and strength
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Sleep quality
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Fatigue and mental clarity
It’s not just about training smarter—it’s about training in alignment with what our bodies need in this season of life.
Why I’m Sharing This
I’m sharing my story because I know I’m not the only one. If you’re over 40 and noticing things feel harder—even though you’re doing “everything right”—you are not alone. I want to normalize having these conversations. You can be fit, strong, and still feel like your body is fighting you. And it doesn’t mean you’re broken. It just means you deserve answers.
This is the first of what I hope will be an honest series about my journey through hormone testing, adjustments, and navigating life and running through change. I’ll be sharing my results, what I learn, and any steps I take to support my body moving forward in case it helps even one runner feel less alone.
If you're curious or going through something similar, you're welcome to follow along. We're all just trying to keep running strong for the long haul.