She Decided to Run Her Way

In this heartfelt return episode, join me as I share the internal adventure I went on after reaching a significant milestone – turning 50. After years as a dedicated running coach and personal trainer, today’s episode dives into my decision to retire those roles and fully embrace my identity as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP), along with my struggle to release a long-held identity and embrace a new chapter in the next phase of my life. From the challenges of acknowledging the need for change to the ultimate decision to let go, this episode is an honest reflection of me finding clarity and stepping into a future shaped by purpose and passion with the exciting announcement of my new podcast, "Living Free from Chronic Fatigue." This fresh endeavor is not just a podcast; it's a lifeline for women who, like me, have struggled with chronic fatigue and health issues while trying to prioritize an active lifestyle. If you'd like to continue hanging out with me over on the new podcast, "Living Free from Chronic Fatigue," CLICK HERE! Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

In today’s podcast episode, I’ll be sharing with you 12 common causes of chronic fatigue. If you're a female runner who’s where I was a few years ago…fed up with feeling poorly, frustrated because you can’t do the physical activities that you used to be able to do and experiencing chronic fatigue that’s really messing with your life, then I feel confident that today’s episode is gonna help you identify where to start, encourage you to ask more questions, and begin to help you find answers to what’s really causing your fatigue. Join me! Episodes mentioned: Episode 77: 3 Types of Fatigue: Are You Struggling to Run Because of Fatigue? Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

Have you noticed that you're gaining weight, you’re losing the strength you had, and you're not feeling confident in your body like you used to? Your unrelenting fatigue and health issues are making your weight pretty darn challenging to manage. Well, in today’s podcast episode, I share the silly thoughts that flooded my brain recently the moment I saw myself in a photo because of my weight, what shift I’ve made to help me manage those thoughts, and even two years into restoring my body and healing, how I still struggle and how I believe those struggles can help you if you're feeling the same. I hope you'll join me! Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

How many women do you know who are trying to do what they’ve always done with their running, despite the fact that their health has changed, their energy is dwindling, and they’re really struggling? Feeling pulled or pushed to keep up with a running group or a running buddy, when inside they know they’re running way too fast, running way too far, and doing too much, while not enjoying it one bit! Well, that’s exactly what I want to talk about on today’s podcast episode - How to keep running with the same running group or running buddy when your health issues are impacting your running. In this episode, I offer you both a reminder about your running, as well as some recommendations on how to navigate this. Mentioned in this episode: Episode 078: Trying to Run, Feeling Fatigued, and Pretending I Was Just Fine Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

I’m sure you’ve heard of the term oxidative stress, right? It’s a harmful process that can negatively affect several cellular structures in your body. When it kicks in and there’s an imbalance between free-radical formation and available antioxidants, and your body isn’t able to neutralize them, then these cellular structures get damaged. Not such a good thing for a runner unless you’re in good health and you have a healthy functioning body that’s able to manage that process. But what if you’re a runner who’s dealing with fatigue or other health issues - should you still be running and will this “stress” cause more damage to your body? Well, in today’s episode that’s exactly what I want to talk with you about - running, stress, and inflammation. So join me today on the podcast as I answer the question, “Is Running a “Good” or “Bad” Stress On the Body?” and I dive deeper into the topic! Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

There’s absolutely no way that I would have been able to continue coaching clients over the years and run races, while secretly struggling behind the scenes with my health issues without this method! It’s the method I used before I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue and even before I had any energy issues at all. It’s how I’ve run since 2005 and it’s the only way I will ever run. In today’s episode, I’m going to share with you what this method is and how I use it differently than I did when I started using it back in 2005 to manage my energy and move my body while doing other holistic things in my life and with my nutrition to reduce and reverse my chronic fatigue. Join me on today’s episode to find out what it is! Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

Today’s episode is the second in a 3-part training series all about the 3 methods that have helped me to manage my energy and fatigue, while still being able to run. The sole purpose in putting this series together for you is to give you practical tools where YOU’RE in the driver's seat with managing your fatigue and energy, so that your fatigue isn’t managing you! In this episode I share the 3 biggest benefits of this method: I also explain: Join me to find out what it’s all about! Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

Today’s episode is the first in a 3-part training series all about the 3 methods that have helped me to manage my energy and fatigue, while still being able to run. I’m pretty confident that the method I’ll be sharing is one you’ve already heard about, but maybe you never considered using or you never really understood. And that method is…Heart Rate Training. Now, if you’re someone who does in fact know about Heart Rate Training and you’ve already been using it with your running, I want to encourage you to continue listening because much of what I’ll be sharing, you may not have known. I’ll be going over 7 key areas to Heart Rate Training so that by the end of this episode you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of it and you can start using it. Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

Today I want to talk with you about the biggest misconception that I think many women are led to believe when it comes to running and chronic fatigue. But first I want to ask you - what do you think that misconception might be? Well…I’m here to tell you that if any of those things are what you’ve been told…it just ain’t true. I’m proof of that. Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

Pretty, perfect, and “buttoned up beautifully” takes a lot of work. And for years I worked so hard to do that. To hold it all together, put a smile on my face, and pretend I was just fine until…my body began to break down and fall apart. On today’s podcast episode, I’ll share how the compounding effect of extreme stress, in the combination of adrenal exhaustion, chronic reactivated EBV, and an autoimmune disorder finally hit their limits and resulted in chronic fatigue, why I’m not pretending to hold it all together anymore, and how I hope I can help you avoid falling apart if you’re doing the same darn thing. Join me! Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

Have you ever gone for a run and right out of the gate, maybe 15-20 minutes in you’re struggling to maintain an easy-effort pace? Does your body feel like it’s working 10 times harder than what the numbers on your Garmin are showing? Or…maybe you went for a long run and you hit a point where your body just couldn’t run anymore? You had to turn around and head back walking because you just couldn’t muster up the energy to run one more mile, much less another minute? Or possibly you’ve been feeling wiped out and completely exhausted after your regular runs or workouts for the past few months and you need to lay in bed for hours afterward because that’s what it takes to feel better and function for the rest of the day? If any of these scenarios sound familiar, then it’s highly likely you’re dealing with fatigue. But what type of fatigue is it exactly? Well, that’s exactly what I want to talk with you about in today’s podcast episode. Today I’ll be diving in and explaining 3 different types of fatigue that might be at play with your running, how to know which one you’re dealing with, and what to do about it! Mentioned in this episode: Episode 53: My Top 3 Pre-Run Whole-Food Fueling Ideas Based on Popular Diets Episode 46: My Top 8 “Go-To” Whole Food Fueling Sources During a Run Episode 37: Quick & Simple Pre-Run Fueling Ideas to Keep You From Feeling Crappy, Sluggish, and Down-Right Fatigued During Your Runs Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

I often get asked as a running coach, “what should I eat, what’s the best fueling strategy, or what should I eat before a run, during a run, or after a run?” All of which are great questions, because I absolutely think you should have an intentional fueling strategy. But rarely do I get asked these questions: optimizeinjuryillnessI really think these questions are much better questions to be asking. And because they’re not being asked, and I really think they should be, I just thought, heck…I guess today I’ll just bring them to your attention. So in today’s episode, I’ll be talking about how these “better” questions can be answered by taking a Nutritional Therapy approach vs. a “fueling” or “nutrition” approach, as well as why it matters and why I really think you should be focusing on Nutritional Therapy instead of “fueling” or “nutrition.” Mentioned in this episode: Episode 071: “Where are Electrolytes and Other Minerals Leaking In Your Life?” Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

The world is really running on caffeine! Drinking tea and coffee has become one of the most popular traditions today. Around the world, it’s something that’s consumed by almost every single culture and for many, it’s a daily ritual that is truly treasured. Today I want to offer you a suggestion - making connections. Walk away making some connections with how you’re feeling, what type of coffee or tea you’re consuming, and why you drink it in the first place. As well as really thinking about unexplained symptoms you might be experiencing that are negatively impacting you and that could also impact your running. In today’s episode I’ll be sharing 3 things: Join me today and I promise - I’m not gonna tell you to give it up altogether. I’ll let you make that decision for yourself after listening to today’s episode. Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

Often times during the colder months, you might cut back on your running and training because well…it’s frickin’ cold outside, and sometimes the roads are iced over and slippery to run on. Plus you may not want to run on the treadmill all Winter long. So instead of losing all those gains you’ve made during the Fall with your running, adding in snowshoeing in place of one of your long runs or one of your maintenance runs, will help you get outside safely, move your body, and maintain what you’ve already built. In today’s episode, I’ll share the 4 benefits snowshoeing can provide your running and why I think you should add it to your fitness mix! Mentioned in this episode: Episode 028: How to Use the Winter Months to Realign Your Running and Focus on Your Weak Links Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

Today I wanted to share with you a little “behind-the-scenes” of my most recent accomplishment and how I almost quit…twice. You see, I set a goal for myself many years ago that by the time I turned 50 I’d do this BIG thing, and as the years kept ticking away and I got closer and closer to turning 50, which I will be early next year, this desire kept tugging at my heart and surfacing in my head. And as that happened I found myself pushing it away and talking myself out of it because I just didn’t know how I could pull it off with all that I had going on. My brain was constantly directing my thoughts to how hard it would be and all that I didn’t have. But regardless of those thoughts I still took the leap and I jumped all in! This is why the intention of today’s episode is to share with you my struggle, explain my reasons for pushing through, and more importantly encourage you to not give up or quit if you’re possibly standing in a place of wanting to. Join me for this “behind-the-scenes” and find out what my most recent accomplishment was! Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

Often times I think we get in the habit of thinking things are out of our control when it comes to our time - not having enough for our running and training. We've gotten used to responding to everyone else's needs before our own. And as a result, we're not where we'd like to be with our running, fitness, weight, body, or health, and we're a little resentful. Join me today as I dive into the topic of "Asking for What You Need with Your Running" so that you get back your time and the results you want…without being resentful! Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

You might be surprised to know that even the fittest people, who have the healthiest diet can leak minerals that are essential to their bodies. Today I’m diving deep into some of the most common symptoms people experience which are signs of mineral deficiencies and mineral imbalances. I’ll also explain 7 areas in your life or things you might be doing that can cause them to leak, as well as offer ideas on how to support getting more of them and holding on to them once you get them! Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

Today’s episode is simply a little “food for thought.” I wanted to share with you an idea or a shift in your thinking that you may be craving right now with your running and your fitness. This idea stems from my ability over the years to overcome my deeply engrained running patterns and beliefs that kept me from having a sustainable running practice that I actually enjoyed. You might be currently standing and stuck where I once was: justshould Well if that’s you, then this episode is 100% meant for you! Let me just say up front that those thoughts, beliefs, and patterns of training (that I’m all too familiar with) are the quickest way to break down, burn out, and quit altogether. Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

Today’s episode is all about overstriding - why I think it’s helpful to minimize or prevent it if you’re someone who’s possibly doing it. If you’ve been running for some time and you think you already know all there is to know about overstriding, I’d like to challenge you to stick around today, because I truly believe you’ll snag at least one new insight from today’s episode because often times, as we go about our running there, are times that we’re either in a different state of mind when we listen to something or at a different stage with our running, and we often hear things differently or need the information when we maybe didn’t need it before. So if that’s you, I hope you’ll consider hanging with me for a bit today as I share with you: Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook

Do you feel tired, exhausted, and worn out from driving yourself into the ground trying to fit it all in, running and working out in a way that’s based on other people’s expectations of you, not your own? Agendas and expectations that you adopted without ever asking yourself “why?” In today’s episode, I want to encourage you to strip away those expectations, and intentionally decide for yourself what you want your running and fitness to be about, so you can get to the heart of what makes you happy. Let's Connect! pamela@pamelaotero.com LinkedIn Facebook