I’m older than you and my menopause is almost done. I ran consistently throughout and before as well as being a regular gym goer for strength and flexibility. I think it’s a personal journey but my experience was that the early phases, so peri-menopause and early menopause, things were tougher. I got slower, felt exhausted, couldn’t sleep and put on weight without changing my diet. All rather depressing.
But I persisted with running even when I felt exhausted and had to walk sometimes and somedays thought I’d never manage a 10km run again, or even 5k! Things changed after a couple of years and my energy levels increased, my times started improving again and I now have easily enough energy and enthusiasm to try new sports in addition to running (standup paddle boarding, outrigger canoeing, cycling) and generally I feel much more positive, creative and energetic.
Everyone’s going to have a different experience of menopause and mine was a slog at first but I’m now so pleased I persisted with fitness as a sunrise 10km run now sets me up for a great day rather than being exhausting.
Sending best wishes your way!
I’m taking HRT and have been for a while now. The HRT reduced the maddening hot flushes I started getting, but the upswing in my energy didn’t kick in until I was a couple of years or so into the HRT.
I’ll add a disclaimer as HRT is a sensitive subject among my friends and colleagues - I can’t and wouldn’t definitively link HRT to running improvements or energy gains and I’m certainly not a doctor. What I’ve said is just my experience.