Running - differences pre and post transition?

[Guest MsPerseveres]

I'm an avid runner, with a training goal of 1:30 for a half marathon in Sep 2012. I'm just starting the process of transitioning, meeting with a gender therapist, but I expect to continue down this path fairly quickly.

For anyone in a similar position, what did you notice about your performance as a woman vs. your performance in a fully male body? Can you achieve similar times, or do you have the typical gender fall-off in performance that you see with cisgendered individuals (i.e. that the women's fastest times tend to be significantly slower than the men's)? It doesn't matter to my transitioning, but I like to know what to expect .

Hugs, Brenda

[Drea]

You will likely see some fall off in performance, but will probably still find you won't drop down into the same percentile for women. In other words, if your performance is within the top 25 percentile for men, you like won't end up in the 25 percentile for women. You could find yourself in the top 10 percentile. At least something like running. Things such as longer stride and joint structures that favor males would still be present.

[Guest spunky monkey]

hello,

you will discover muscle loss but if you need proof it won't be that much look at the intersexed runner, she was fast as, i need too start running,i have the 260 dollars runners, its just too damn boring....how doi beat the boredom.

love rachelle.

ps....runners of choice asics keyanno

[Guest MsPerseveres]

Spunky Monkey, I beat the boredom with music! I'm constantly playing tunes, loud, energetic, motivating. After a while, the running becomes its own reward, but I still listen to the music :-). However, to each her own - running isn't for everyone, and you shouldn't feel that it's the "only" solution to fitness. I like it because it's high payoff for the time invested (in general fitness and calorie burn), and it lets me do more of my first love - eat!

Thanks Drea - I kind of expected that, but I wasn't sure about the muscle loss impacts of estrogen from the waist down. It seems to be less (or maybe just less covered) than upper body, so that works out well for me.

Hugs, Brenda