Just a month ago, I ran for the first time in over two years—just one mile. Encouraged by my pace, I pushed to two the next day, then back-to-back 5Ks the following week, improving my personal record each time. Yesterday I ran four miles, and today, five—maintaining an average pace under nine minutes per mile on hills and trails.

This resurgence comes at an interesting time. I’m already registered for a 50K in March, just over 100 days away, and as of today, I’ve added a 100K in the mountains of West Virginia.

My plan is to keep up with the 20-30 mins mostly lifting 3-5X/wk ( a variatiion of: swings, push-presses, squats, rows, loads of abs etc) and running 1-2 times, maintaining pace (need to actually slow down) and increasing slowly, maybe to up to 10 miles before race day for the 50k then again before the 100….

But this physical comeback is part of a much larger, more complicated story.

I recently realized that many of my chronic health challenges—irregular periods, ovarian cysts, cervical precancerous cells (requiring insanely painful procedures), miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, insulin resistance, infertility, thyroid issues, gestational diabetes, endometriosis, and extreme weight fluctuations – and the list goes on —are all likely at least related to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – which my new brilliant doctor (finally) confirms I have.

I’m not even including the part about waking from a coma and learning to walk again and the related brain injury and lifetime of trigeminal neuralgia etc — I am just talking about the ‘being a woman’ stuff!!!!

For years, I thought, “this is just me.” Only recently did I learn that many of these symptoms are influenced by naturally produced GLP-1 agonists—hormones that, when the body stops making them, can often be replaced only through expensive prescriptions.

There was a decade when I trained intensely—running 5Ks five times a week, lifting regularly, completing marathons and ultras (50 in a decade) —and it kept me healthy. But as my career grew and life got heavier, fitness slipped to the background.

Two years and seven months ago, I reached my highest adult weight. With a GLP-1 medication, strict intermittent fasting, and exercise, I lost 48 pounds in ten months. Then I gained 20 back—despite staying on the highest dose—during one of the most toxic and stressful professional experiences of my life. My shoulder injury and surgery didn’t help.

That season taught me an important truth: for me, diet and exercise alone didn’t work; diet and exercise with the peptide did—but the peptide alone did not. I’ve tried nearly every plan, cleanse, and supplement, and I regret how often I chased results at the expense of my long-term health.

Five months ago, I decided to rebuild differently—sustainably. Now, I’m at my lowest weight in a decade, but more importantly, I feel strong, energetic, and pain-free. I’m sleeping well, eating normally, and protecting my body from old injuries (sciatica, foot, hip, knees, and shoulder).

At the same time, I’ve been exploring perimenopause, and it still amazes me how often women are told that debilitating symptoms—mood swings, temperature shifts, hair thinning, weight changes—are simply “normal” and must be endured. Often, after decades of other painful challenges, we’re expected to just keep coping quietly.

So, if hormone replacement therapy can help other people feel aligned with their truest selves, why shouldn’t I pursue what restores mine? My labs confirm perimenopause, and my doctor plans to prescribe progesterone once I finish a few screenings. But for now I am doing what I can naturally with supplements and a rigorous but safe, consistent and rewarding workout routine with smart nutrition.

Our experiences aren’t a competition; suffering isn’t a hierarchy. Every person doing their best with the body and circumstances they were given deserves acknowledgment and care.

For me, that means continuing to grow—physically, mentally, and spiritually—as long as I’m able, and modeling resilience and self-compassion for my sons and, hopefully, their future families.

Be well.
Rock on.