Pelvic power

One thing that puts some women off running is the impact on their pelvic floor after childbirth and as they approach menopause. ‘If you’re leaking urine, feel heaviness, dragging or bulging, then you should seek advice before running because your symptoms may worsen,’ says Emma Brockwell, a physiotherapist.

If you’re feeling OK down there, it’s still important to do pelvic floor exercises as you get older, because the decline in oestrogen levels can lead to weakening of the pelvic floor (as many as half of women over 50 experience some urinary leaking regularly). ‘Pelvic floor dysfunction does not mean you can’t ever return to running,’ says Brockwell. ‘You may just need to build up gradually with a programme of strength training and pelvic floor exercises, but it’s important that you do this with the right help and advice.’

In the meantime, fast walking offers many of the benefits of a run without the same high impact on the body.