Why I’m Trying to ‘Unlike’ Running This Year

For years, running has been my comfort zone, my ‘go-to’ sport, alongside my love for tennis and being active. Running comes quite naturally to me—it’s something I can do fairly easily. I know the feeling of a ‘runner’s high,’ and the races I’ve completed over the years have been so much fun. But as I step into my 50s (!), I’m rethinking my relationship with running—not because I don’t love it, but because I want to love it differently.

A Shift in Priorities: From Intensity to Longevity

Running has always been a great escape, but I’m learning that the very thing I turn to for clarity and balance can sometimes tip the scales toward stress. High-intensity cardio like running has its downsides—especially for peri- and menopausal women, when hormonal shifts make us more sensitive to cortisol, the body’s stress hormone.

Movement, however, remains non-negotiable for me. I love being active—it’s what makes me feel energised and happy. While I definitely want to reduce intense running training by the summer, I’m fully committed to an active lifestyle because movement is such an important part of my overall wellbeing.

Strength Training Matters More Than Ever

Midlife is the perfect time to embrace strength training. Muscle is not only a powerhouse for our metabolism but also crucial for long-term health. Muscle burns three times more calories than fat even when you’re resting, and that fact alone makes me excited to shift my focus because life is busy enough, I simply don’t have time to be running for half my waking hours! By prioritising strength training, I’m building lean muscle to keep my metabolism strong while also supporting my bones, hormones, and overall energy levels.

For me, this is a personal choice that feels right at this stage of my life and I actually wish I had done more running, more races and set more running goals in my 20s but not now.

For me, running has always brought joy, friendship and I hope it continues to in years to come (just less full on!) but for many of my friends running is their worst nightmare and I get that. We are all different and exploring our personal ways to move is what makes us all special. The most important thing is finding what works for you and your body.

The Marathon Mindset: One Last Race

This summer, I hope to run my third (and final) marathon which I’m genuinely excited about. Training for a marathon is an awesome challenge mentally and physically. But it’s also exhausting, time-consuming, and, truthfully, a little hard on my body. Marathon training often leads to sugar cravings, hunger spikes, tiredness and a level of stress that doesn’t align with my current personal and professional goals.

As soon as it’s done, I’ll focus on movement that feels good and works for me in this season of life. Strength training, walking (I fancy some mountain treks with my boys), and some casual shorter runs or races, the goal will be to stay active in a way that supports my overall health and happiness.

The Power of CHOICE

This approach works for me, but it might look different for you and I’m definitely not telling anyone to give up on their running goals. It is one of the most wonderful sports for a million reasons - accomplishment, friendship, fitness. Take ParkRun for example, one of the best social movements ever and a lifeline for so many people. I may even make a weekly or fortnightly ParkRun part of my new routine but long arse marathon training can take a back seat as I build muscle, count steps and breathe more.

Your path to health and fitness should reflect your own preferences, goals, and needs. Bio-individuality means we all get to choose what feels right for us.