Thoughts and BELIEFS:
(BELIEF is my chosen word for 2026 - what is yours?)
Hello Reader,
For years, International Women’s Day (IWD) would have meant one thing for me: a long run on a spring afternoon while training for Boston.
This year, I went for a long walk instead.
Many of you know I won't be running the marathon this year, and I didn't want to admit the reason was my body. I have come to accept the reason as a gift, which I get to share with you.
Menopause moved the goalposts in my physiology.
It hijacked my running.
And for a while, I genuinely thought I was losing my mind.
Ironically, I kind of was.
Perimenopause actually starts in the brain.
I have been helping runners get "unstuck", training them, and sharing my expertise from the past 25 years as a runner/PT.
For the first time, I had a problem with MY running that I wasn't able to "fix" right away.
The answers weren't in a textbook.
I had to listen to my body, my experience, and a lot of quiet intuition.
I've done a deep dive into midlife transition and started hearing the intuitive whispers for yet another change.
Humans are designed to evolve.
And women’s running has quietly led me to something bigger than running itself.
Running will ALWAYS be a part of me. I will continue working with runners and sharing our stories and information with you.
But I'm also answering a new call: advocating for active midlife women.
Helping them understand these new rules and rise into their second act.
I help active midlife women understand what the hell is happening to their bodies so they can keep moving and doing what they love.
If your body has suddenly started playing by different rules in your 40s or 50s — you're not imagining it.
You're not weak.
And you're definitely not alone.
I don’t have the entire roadmap yet.
But I do know this:
active midlife women deserve clear information, real support, and a stronger voice.
And I intend to help create it.
A friend of mine loves to tell me "take a leap" and that's what I'm doing by sharing this with you on IWD.
Consider this my leap.
I hope you'll come along for the ride.
Walking (or running) beside you — one step at a time.
Coach Nikki
Walktalk Thoughts:
One of many reasons midlife women become frustrated is information via social media.
One of the reasons I get frustrated is mixed messaging.
Which one is easier - raise someone up, or put them down?
Kellyn Taylor
- 4 kids, 39 years old, shattered Austin Marathon course record 3 weeks ago
- Her Instagram comments should get her another medal
Second marathon in three weeks
2:27:36
2nd place at the LA Marathon
But that’s not really what stayed with me
Somewhere between the miles and the rhythm of one foot after the other, it hit me…this is it. I’ve found my happy.
Running may no longer be my job, but I still get to do it. I still get to be out here hurting, pushing, and finding out what’s on the other side of the hard. And that feels like a privilege.
I saw something recently that stuck with me.
It is a privilege to wake up.
A privilege to have opportunity.
A privilege to be challenged.
A privilege to build a life you are proud of.
You only get one shot at this thing.
That made me think and the word that best comes to mind is thankful
This next chapter is still unwritten, but I know I’m thankful and excited for it. Running isn’t going anywhere…I’m just learning what it looks like in this new season of life.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far.
In many ways… it feels like it’s only just beginning.
Next stop, Fire Academy to learn from the best! 🚒
LET ME HELP YOU!
Stop wasting time "guessing" about your issues, and talk to an expert that speaks running better than AI :)
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Let me know if you have any questions or requests for topics in these emails. Thank you so much for reading, and forward to your running friends as well!
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