Carolyn, 63. In my mid-fifties, I discovered my sport.

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I dealt with heavy periods for a long time

I suffered for quite a while thinking the really heavy periods after my third child was just normal.

It was frustrating because I’d want to go do things with the family, but I’d go through two tampons and a pad. I was also a teacher and it was so stressful because I never knew when the flood would come. What do you do? You can’t leave your young children to run down the hall. It was very stressful trying to teach in that situation, not knowing when my body would blow a fuse.

I ended up having an IUD put in and it was a blessing. When it was taken out, I was finished with menopause. But I had suffered for years with the stress of heavy, heavy periods and I wish I had sought help earlier. I didn’t have to miss out and suffer as long as I did.

Retirement is great

Less stress. I love teaching but it was very stressful, especially during COVID. I taught brand new English speakers, a lot of them have experienced a lot of trauma in their lives. So it was a challenge because of what they had gone through. I miss my students but I don’t miss the stress. My husband just retired, so that’s really nice. Now we both have time.

I’m excited about time with my family

I’m looking forward to spending time with our three kids and three grandkids—they’re all coming to visit us next week. The grandkids are five and one and a half.

I discovered my sport in midlife

One thing led to another, you know? The first event I entered was a duathlon, where you run, bike and then run. I hadn’t run for 25 years, so I entered this event thinking, “My goal is to finish.” But the gun went off and I didn’t realize I had this animal inside me that wanted to win. That was the beginning of things.

People would mention things like, “Oh, you should try gravel riding.” I tried it and absolutely loved it. So in my mid-fifties, I discovered my sport—long-distance gravel cycling. I came to it late but I just love it.

You’re so focused on your career and on your children. So I’m rediscovering a part of myself that’s always been there but had to take a back burner. It’s been really nice to find a part of myself that’s been dormant and be able to celebrate those things that I have always loved and now get to do more of.

It’s a hobby that’s gotten a little crazy—but it’s fun.

We did the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder, which is 360 miles of off-road riding with over 30,000 feet of climbing in a five-day stage race. I also did a three-day bike-packing race in northern Minnesota that was three days with over 100 miles every day. I have over 4000 miles on my bike already this year.

The biggest challenge I’m facing

I was diagnosed with lichen sclerosis a year and a half ago, so that’s been a challenge. Fortunately, medications keep that pretty well under control, but it’s made intercourse uncomfortable—which makes it less appealing. So that’s been a struggle because I don’t seek out intimacy. It’s even harder, just guilt-wise for me, and harder for my husband. So we do other things to meet his needs, but it’s not ideal.

I’m at a point where I don’t miss sex, I’m fine. I don’t care anymore. But I do care about my husband, so that makes me want to care. It’s hard because I’m a little bit ambivalent but I don’t want to give up yet.

So I’m still working on figuring that part out. It’s not just the physical, it’s a lot of the psychological. My Midday health coach Janet is helping me get the courage to see what else I can do.

I’m thankful for my good health

I want to take advantage of our good health to go do the things we want to do and enjoy the things we want to enjoy. I exercise partially because it keeps me in good health, but mostly because I love it. So it’s not like I’ve had to make sacrifices and drag myself to the gym because I’m just doing what I love.

We eat really healthy. My husband was prediabetic so he changed his diet completely and he’s the one that cooks for us. We eat really healthy and he’s been able to control his blood sugar really well.

I’m just thankful for the good health we have and we just want to stay healthy and enjoy life. If I see something I really want to do, I can’t say, “Maybe I’ll do it in 10 years.” I probably won’t be able to, you know? So maybe I should do it in the next few months.