Any trans endurance runners? Especially in Florida?

[Michelle S.]

Hey everyone!

So I have what I like to think is a pretty cool job, providing event management services and timing for endurance races (marathons, triathlons, mud runs, etc.). In my travels all over Florida and a couple other states, I've yet to find any trans athletes. Obviously, being stealth is probably the reason why. So, what better place than Susan's to see who's out there? If you're from Florida, that's even better!! I'd love to see if I've actually provided services for a race you've done in the past! Anyways, I would love to get into it myself (ironic, I spend all my time at work at foot races yet I couldn't run a quarter mile myself  ) and would love to hear about your experiences as an athlete in the world of endurance racing!

[Tristan]

If one wasn't stealth I would say yes I know of two in Florida

[RedFox]

I've been trying to train for endurance running for the past few years.  However a foot injury that lasted a year and is still lingering and a deployment to Kuwait have both set me back.  Before all that happened I was running 6-8 miles a night and could do a comfortable half marathon on a weekend.  Was registered for a few marathons when I got hurt and had to stop everything.  In the past few weeks I've gotten back to 5-6 miles (easy 10ks daily) without any issues and I'm hoping to be doing 26+ by the end of the year.

Ultras are really what I have my sights set on.. but I'm a barefoot runner and this foot issue keeps popping up... just hoping I can train past it.

So far I haven't noticed any debilitating effects of being on HRT and my endurance.  My biggest issue is what to wear when I run... just over two months on HRT and I'm now stuck in the middle.. do I wear just a sports bra and shorts - or do I put on a bra and t-shirt?... minimalist shoes or barefoot and show off the painted piggies? 

[warlockmaker]

I've been an endurance athlete and have represented my country at the Ironman World Championships  in Kona Hawaii, 3 times and have run over 20 plus marathons around the world. Plus so many other races. Endurance does not disadvantage a person on HRT as females have in general better endurance. I've only been on HRt for 3 months and my breast is showing - but have you noticed that there are so many men with big man boobs? I still swim in ultra races ( 2 to 6 k) with a sun protection lycra top made of a hevier lycra material and compete as a male. No noticable difference in my performance yet and no comments on my breast. 

I would like to hear from other MTF who have been on HRT longer also as I wonder what the effects are on performance.

[Zoe Snow]

So I have what I like to think is a pretty cool job, providing event management services and timing for endurance races (marathons, triathlons, mud runs, etc.).

Thats awesome, I do something very similar to that as well.  We mainly do timing for cycling events in the midwest.

As for events, I did a sprint triathlon back in 2007 in Florida (part of the Wildman Triathlon Festival).  I also participated in the Collegiate Triathlon Nationals in Tuscaloosa, AL that year as well.  I also haven't transitioned yet (still undecided), so I wouldn't have been racing as a trans athlete per say.  I stopped training after that, went from being in the best shape of my life to the worst in about a year.  I'd like to get back into triathlons again at some point.  I recently started training again, though just swimming for now (I'm addicted to swimming now).  I've been back in the water since March of this year, and I've already seen quite a change in my fitness level.  Dropped 45 pounds in the last 4 months, still have another 90 to go to get down to my goal weight of 175.   Running will probably be the last sport I re-add to the mix, which I may do sometime after the next couple of months.  Running while overweight is not very much fun.  If I do decide to transition, it will most likely be after I get my weight down, which puts it at 8 to 12 months out, if I continue to drop weight at the rate I am currently.  I've heard it becomes harder to lose weight once you go on HRT, and since I'm still undecided about transitioning, 8 to 12 months should hopefully give me some time to work through and come to terms with my dysphoria issues.

[Sammy]

I am probably not an endurance runner, but like one of the posters above, I do tend to run 10 km per day and I am increasing this distance gradually. I might not be able to run a full marathon, but I would like to try the half-distance. So far, I have not noticed any decrease in my performance, but bewbs are slowly starting to become a problem .

[Horizon]

I keep trying to get into endurance running, but I just don't have the attention span.  What do all of you think about when running?  I try to daydream about my future, but I can only think the same thoughts so often before I get bored.

I'm more of a bicyclist.  I get to go fast enough that my only thought is "WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

[Zoe Snow]

I keep trying to get into endurance running, but I just don't have the attention span.  What do all of you think about when running?  I try to daydream about my future, but I can only think the same thoughts so often before I get bored.

I'm more of a bicyclist.  I get to go fast enough that my only thought is "WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

You should try swimming sometime.  I have a hard enough time keeping track of har far I've swam during each interval.  Something about restricted breathing and high intensity makes doing math in my head extremely difficult...

[Sammy]

I keep trying to get into endurance running, but I just don't have the attention span.  What do all of you think about when running?  I try to daydream about my future, but I can only think the same thoughts so often before I get bored.

I'm more of a bicyclist.  I get to go fast enough that my only thought is "WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Hey, I am cyclist too . I do not think when I am running, but I need the music to go on, so my player is full with different tracks and I just switch them on the course as I need extra motivation . Nice ambient celtic melodies, viking metal, music from movies and when I coming close to finish and feel like I cant no more I just turn on the Terminator theme and it keeps me going . I never do this while I cycle though, since I prefer to keep all my senses aware.

[Christine167]

Well I'm not a runner but I am a rower who is out of practice. And I live in the Georgia/Carolina area.

Depending on how my job interviews go and if I get hired there is a pretty good chance I'll be moving or visiting Florida soon.

All I've been doing lately is bicycling and working out to lose the weight and get in shape.

[Katie]

I live in Florida and am an athlete. I have been playing a fully contact womens sports for about five years. I don't discuss my trans with anyone! Not saying I am stealth just that its no their business to know.

As far as the running. I only do that to stay in shape.

Katie

[Michelle.]

I'm from South Florida, but are a rather lazy ole gal. I need to start working out more.