Why stopping running was a blessing in disguise

A few months ago, probably towards the end of 2025, I started suffering with plantar fasciitis.

If you’ve ever experienced it, you’ll know just how painful it can be. It starts with that horrible pain in the heel of your foot and, if you keep aggravating it, it can become a much bigger problem.

And being an avid runner, although I did ease up, I didn’t ease up enough.

Eventually, I had to stop running.

And honestly, that was huge for me.

I’ve been running since my late teens. Running has always been my way of processing things. My way of getting into that almost zen-like state where I could think, work things out and find solutions.

There’s always been a little joke that running was my way of running away from things. And maybe, sometimes, it was. But more often, it was my way of finding my way through things.

So when I couldn’t run anymore, I felt like I’d lost something that had been part of me for decades.

But looking back now, I can see that it was actually a blessing in disguise.

Because it forced me to find something else.

Weight training.

I’d done weights on and off for years, but they were always the thing I did in between my runs. Running was the consistent part. Strength training was something that came and went.

Until I couldn’t run.

And suddenly, strength training became my focus.

And wow… what a difference it has made.

Not just to my body and my shape, but to how I feel.

I feel stronger.

My arms are more defined than they’ve ever been. I’m much more conscious of what I eat and making sure I’m giving my body the nourishment it needs.

But more importantly, it's the feeling strong.

And I think that becomes incredibly important as we get older.

Because we naturally lose muscle and strength as we age, and during menopause our bodies are changing again.

But I don’t believe we have to simply sit back and accept that as our fate.

We can choose to become stronger.

Physically stronger.

Mentally stronger.

Emotionally stronger.

Spiritually stronger.

I could have said, “Well, I can’t run anymore. That’s it. I’m hanging up my running shoes.”

But I didn’t (partly because it was something my Dad always teased me about and therefore a sense of resistance!)

I listened to my body.

I found another way to move.

I walk every day with the dog, which I absolutely love, but I’ve also discovered something in strength training that I never knew I needed.

Sometimes what feels like a loss is actually an invitation to discover something new.

Something that might be even better for the version of you that you are becoming.

And perhaps that’s one of the beautiful things about menopause too.

It can feel like so much is being taken away from us.

But what if, instead, it’s an invitation to become a stronger version of ourselves?

That’s exactly the philosophy behind my Akashic Menopause Programme, which begins on 10th September.

It’s going to be a very small, intimate group—a sacred 12-week journey where we explore, through the Akashic Records, what might be holding you back, what you’re ready to release, and what might be stopping you from fully embracing this next chapter of your life.

Because sometimes, the thing we think is taking something away from us…

is actually leading us somewhere we were always meant to go.

All my love,

Lorraine xx