I don’t know if I’m actually asking a question or just looking for commiseration. I started running 10 years ago (34yo) and took to it pretty well. I wasn’t the fastest but got better with miles and at my peak ran a 30:29 5k which was amazing! I got burnt out so I switched to spinning about 6 years ago and have kept up my fitness ever since working out 4-5 days a week and running on a treadmill sporadically. 6 weeks ago I signed up for a 10k (which I completed today). I figured since I kept my overall fitness and cardio up I could pick up on my low end which was 12-12:30 mm. I was so wrong. Training outside felt like I was trudging through mud and when I finished I felt like crap for the rest of the day. I started with 14-14:30mm and one run was great at 13:30mm. I feel so defeated. It’s not fun and it feels awful. I’m more mad because it’s not like I’ve sat on the couch for years! I’m so active. I feel a big part is, obviously, I’m older but I’m also in menopause and haven’t physically felt like myself lately. I just wonder has anyone else experienced this? I finished my 10k today but I was basically useless for the rest of the day. I’m older but I’m not that old yet!!!

  • ktigger2@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Ever consider this isn’t related to menopause but that you haven’t been running consistently? While spinning can give you great cardio fitness, it uses different leg muscles than running. Why did you think something you haven’t been doing consistently would work out well for you on race day?

    • wicked_lion@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      I trained for 6 weeks so I didn’t just go run a 10k :) but when I started running it was “easy” and fun. Now it feels like mud and just sucks. I stayed active so I thought at least I would be slow but it would feel ok to get out there but it is so hard this time around.

      • professorlipschitz@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        I’m training for a half marathon (53) and some runs are just like that. I’ll run 3 miles where every step feels like the biggest effort, and a few days later run twice that distance and it feels like a breeze. I think that’s just the nature of running. I have noticed that after 3 miles is when I start to feel like I go into auto-pilot and can keep running with what seems like little effort. Never know what I’m going to experience when I head out. Keep running, it gets better!

    • namoguru@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      This was my first thought too. In order to run well, you have to run. Cycling does not translate into running fitness. I don’t know why anyone would think poor race results (from not training) has anything to do with menopause. And I say this as a menopausal woman…