Sports events to help to strength train during menopause but have low blood pressure, hyper mobility and young kids!

[stillsleeptraining]

I really need some incentive to start exercising again and thought a planned event might help. But I have little time, would like to ensure I commit to strength training (I.e. don’t skip it because I have to choose what to do and running seems most logical if I commit to running).
My recovery is pretty poor even with creatine because of my low blood pressure etc.
I've considered trail running and live some lovely countryside but my (fairly mild) hypermobility could end that quickly with a rolled ankle.
Help please!

Strength training is weights in the gym. You could look at Hyrox, Crossfit or powerlifting competitions. Not sure what other strength training events there are.

Sounds like you may need to do strength training to make sure you don’t get injuries whilst running. Since you fancy running you may as well do that but see strength training twice a week as part of your running training

then park run ?

btw o don’t know about low blood pressure

Thanks, both. I was thinking more about an event that isn’t pure strength but would be a core part of it. No idea what that would be though!

Running is very high impact and not a good idea for hypermobile people, even with high end running shoes it’ll still acrobats your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back.

If you currently do no regular exercise try reformer Pilates, build some baseline strength and then look into a weights plan with a personal trainer. Because you have to prebook and prepay for these kinds of exercise you’ll not skip the sessions because it’ll waste your money.

Acrobats?? FFS autocorrect. Aggravate. Aggravate.

Not as an immediate goal, more of a work towards - try a tri. Basically, a mini triathlon so would require swimming, cycling, running. The swimming and cycling would be lower impact on your joints. A try a tri is typically shorter distances for all three events. You would probably want to incorporate 2 days strength training to support what you’re asking your body to do.

Re hypermobility - maybe start off with body weight exercises before incorporating weights. Maybe some sessions with a PT or even a physiotherapist, if your budget allows. This would be important for building good form and maybe having some exercise routines put together for you. With POTS, you’d need to manage hydration and salt intake well and patiently build up tolerance to exerting yourself without pushing yourself too far. Rest and good nutrition are important too.

Just some ideas but would probably be best to see if you can find someone who can work with you especially if they have knowledge of these conditions.

Pilates is a good starting point for hyper mobility as you need to build up strength around your joints, plus it will help with your core stability and balance.

you do want strenth training. I'm hypermobile and my physio says I don't have issues with it only because I lift weights, so my muscles keep it all together. And you won't get that from running.
Could you try to find a gym buddy so if one is not feeling it, other one would drag her to gym anyway? Weights are great and become addictive once you start seeing results - nowadays I don't need to force myself to gym, I literally need to force myself to take a rest day.

I don't know about event

But if you look around, you'll probably find some set challenges like specific ones that run over a period of weeks

They're usually attached to a gym but there is an outdoor group in My area they use some of the outdoor equipment in the local park

i used to run and would find entering a race a good motivator.
i dont run anymore. I do yoga/pilates (almost) everyday - the challenging type. I have my own goals (at first it was being able to do a push up, now it is doing a hand stand) and i book “events” to go to as well (in September i booked a 3hr workshop on King cobra pose). I find it works well to keep me motivated/engaged. It is good for strenght too. Some pilates classes use dumbbells and that helps with strenght training (and arm definition!!)

Rowing? Low impact but uses quite a few muscle groups and ticks the cardio box. Find a localish club that offers a beginner class. If you like it, progress from there. It’s very much a team-based sport, so there’s an accountability aspect plus camaraderie. Remember - at the start you’re rowing not racing, so don’t be put off by thinking you won’t be fit enough. It’s a lovely form of exercise and also fairly social.

As an ex-rower I'm quietly chuckling at it being 'a lovely form of exercise'.

If you did try rowing you would need to let the club know about your low blood pressure if it means you could faint unexpectedly.

Fair and very important point about the low blood pressure @MagpiePi and thanks! Absolutely a lovely form of exercise. I felt so peaceful probably because my focus was completely in the boat and I love being outdoors. Was lucky to find a place that was welcoming to people with no experience and supportive of learning a new craft.