There’s no other way to put it except — perimenopause has been quite an adventure. The best tagline I’ve heard for it so far is — Welcome to the Zone of Chaos! Isn’t that the truth!? Our hormones are completely chaotic. Rising and falling wildly and unpredictably often leaving us in a state of panic as we try to figure out what the heck is wrong with us. It takes a toll on all facets of our health and the worst part (at least for me) is never knowing which symptom is going to show up and ruin my day. What part of my body will be screaming out in pain? Is the weight of depression going to crush my motivation and rob me of the will to live? Will the most trivial problems send me spiraling into rage? How often will I burst into tears for no reason? Will I be able to run my planned 6 miler or will 2 miles be unbearable?

The list of questions and doubts grows longer every day.

The crazy part is this phase of life can last anywhere from 5 to 10 years, sometimes longer. Some women make it through unscathed without years of suffering. Others get diagnosed with autoimmune disease or mental health issues that are new, leaving them wondering if it’s truly another illness or all part of perimenopause. (I struggled with that differentiation for a long time). Many fit athletes suddenly wake up feeling like a completely different person and struggle, despite “doing everything right.” It’s certainly a very frustrating time, especially if you don’t understand what’s happening in your body and how you can take steps to empower yourself. That’s why I keep talking about my experience and all I’ve learned in an effort to encourage and educate as many women as possible so they understand they’re not crazy or alone.

Despite the challenges this phase of life brings, we should still set big goals. Too often I hear women my age (55) or older declare that they’re too old to pursue a dream, try something new, set an audacious goal, or push their physical limits. They buy into the fallacy that slowing down and becoming more sedentary and weak is just a part of aging that we should accept. Don’t believe that! There are plenty of women out there taking up new sports, running marathons, lifting heavy weights, etc., well into their 70s and beyond. If we start slowly with a proper training plan, our bodies WILL  grow stronger and adapt for new challenges, even if we’ve never been physically active before.

Fortunately, I was raised playing all kinds of sports and for the most part have always been active. I’ll be honest, though, these last few years have really challenged my motivation and desire to set goals. When you’re in pain, facing a multitude of symptoms that consume all of your time and energy (thanks to having to figure it out all on your own and constantly advocate for yourself), the last thing you fathom is taking on a seemingly impossible challenge. Especially when it’s extremely difficult to even move some days, it’s easier to give up and believe the lie  that that part of your life is over. I was tempted to buy into that misconception. How can I lift weights if carrying my bag hurts? Consider running a race? I can hardly walk a mile without gasping for air. Why train for anything, let alone an ultra, when every day a different part of my body hurts? That all sounds insane.

But for some reason, it’s exactly at these low points when my brain decides to whisper, Why not? Why not set an audacious goal and go for it? Why not start training and see what happens?

When I announced my goal to run a 55K last year I could hardly run 5 miles. But I kept envisioning how bad-ass it would be to cross the finish line. Committing to that goal inspired me to make healthier choices and to run and lift consistently. Mentally I grew stronger while I learned how to be more patient with myself. After months of preparing to the best of my ability, I finally crossed the finish line a stronger, wiser and more confident version of myself.

Fast forward 365 days to today. It was a stressful year, defined by selling our house, moving, losing our dog of 16 years, and adjusting to a new environment. I never stopped running or lifting for more than two weeks, but my heart wasn’t in it. Entering the late stage of perimenopause didn’t help. Suddenly, the hormonal chaos was more intense than ever taking a toll on my energy levels and motivation. Running was less enjoyable especially since I struggled to run anything over 6 miles. My pace dramatically slowed and I was always sore. On bad days I briefly considered giving up altogether, but deep down I knew I would regret it. Then a friend posted that he was signing up for a six hour race and I immediately knew I had to do it. So what if I can barely run for an hour at the moment?

I’m excited to announce that my husband and I officially signed up for the same six hour race (with the option to switch it to 12 or 24!). It’s actually not that audacious given that last year I ran for longer, but it’s a different type of event. We run the same 1 mile loop on dirt and grass for six hours. I can’t fathom doing it at the moment, but I’m really excited to try. There’s something about an official goal that changes everything and allows you to dream. My motivation to lift and run has already been recharged. It makes me happy to know that I’m going to go for it again. After all, I’m not getting any younger and I don’t want to look back with regret. I’m excited to believe in myself and to work towards a goal. This type of race has always intrigued me so I’m thrilled I finally have a chance to try. Why not?

My husband and I have both run two ultras, but never at the same time, so I’m looking forward to experiencing this together with two of our friends. Initially, we both thought the idea was crazy, but we didn’t give into fear.  We’ll both be retired so why not plan a crazy adventure and see what we can do? We aren’t going to make any memories sitting on the couch!

Maybe you are in a rough patch, believe you’re past your prime, or haven’t challenged yourself in ages. What if you decided to just go for it, despite how you’re feeling? Setting a goal gives you focus. You’re forced to make a plan and show up. It’s more exciting to work out because you know you will see it pay off as you get stronger for the challenge. You’re more likely to make healthier choices, like fueling properly and recovering, because you want to set yourself up for success. Why not give it a try? 

**What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but keep putting off?

**What type of challenge excites you?

**What’s a goal that scares you but intrigues you? **What would it mean for you to achieve it? What’s stopping you from trying?

**What’s something you reflexively dismiss as something you could never do, but think is really cool? Why do you believe that?

If you need support or guidance in setting a goal in making a plan, reach out! That’s what I’m here for. I want to become your biggest cheerleader! And stay tuned as I share updates along this exciting journey.