Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Becky Croft. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Becky, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

After enduring several surgeries, 2 rounds of menopause, and eventually a full hysterectomy caused by Endometriosis, I searched for younger menopausal endurance athletes like me. It was clear from my searches that resources for younger menopausal athletes who want to perform in their sport that resources did not exist. I had to make my own way back to faster paces and longer distances in a new body without hormones. My journey through surgical menopause set me on a new path to become an expert and advocate for other women who have similar experiences and need support along the way.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I didn’t start running until I was an adult. P.E. wasn’t exactly my favorite class and I wasn’t pushed into team sports by my parents. It wasn’t until I felt like I had a little weight to lose in my early 30s that I started exploring running through the Couch to 5k app. Running challenged me immediately and I never dreamed I would stick with it, let alone become the go-to coach for Masters and Menopausal runners.

Looking back, I can see how running literally kept me moving forward in life and a long journey with Endometriosis. While exercise isn’t a replacement for therapy, it is a form of therapy and the one that helped me process each surgery along the way to an eventual hysterectomy. Each run or race I completed helped me process my emotions until I could get to the other side of becoming a Menopausal runner before becoming a Masters runner.

The mourning that came with a hysterectomy and giving up the dream of becoming a mom led me to vulnerability. I started sharing my experience online and redefining my dreams by becoming a certified Chi Running Instructor. Through my years of running, I found Chi Running as a way to make my running more efficient. Running form is something many virtual run coaches speak about but they don’t always have an opportunity to see their clients running form. The opportunity to become a certified Run Coach through the Game Changers program came a bit later after establishing my business.

Since becoming a coach, I’ve been able to expand my services from gait analysis and running form workshops to offer virtual coaching, custom pre-designed and personalized training plans, guides, courses, and fitness-related products in the shop section of my website.

While I coach athletes of all ages and abilities, my main focus is on Masters and Menopausal athletes. Old ways won’t open new doors and I encourage athletes to train smarter instead of harder by making small adjustments to their training. They’re able to tap into new levels of performance by embracing curiosity and grace along the way to their goals.

The coaching industry is heavily dominated by male coaches and I’m able to offer female athletes a different experience. I understand their challenges with perimenopause firsthand since I was thrown into menopause abruptly and have already had similar symptoms they’re suddenly experiencing naturally.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think that embracing vulnerability by sharing my personal experiences with Endometriosis and surgical menopause online has connected me with others who are experiencing similar symptoms or struggles. I have different perspectives which help me educate others and speak about lesser-known symptoms or approaches to training differently than most coaches.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

“Let Your Mind Run” by Deena Kastor with Michelle Hamilton opened the doorway to a growth mindset for me, both as an athlete and a coach. In the book, Deena says “I told myself: Find a thought that serves you better. The more tired I got, the easier it was to be negative, and the more relentless I had to be.”

This is still something I carry with me daily and strive to teach my athletes. Running will continually challenge us to overcome our limitations, whether they’re physical or mental. If we embrace progress over perfection and keep showing up in our training, it will pay off in dividends. Before we know it, we’ll have a whole new mindset.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hustle-eat-thrive.myshopify.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach.croft
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coach.croft