Trail runner, writer, and BRCA1 gene carrier Sara Aranda grew up watching breast and ovarian cancer devastate the women in her family and ultimately lost her mom while she was in college. This week, she brings us her story–what it was like choosing prophylactic mastectomy and bilateral salpingo‑oophorectomy in her mid‑30s, going from FKT‑strong to surgical menopause overnight, and the collision of relief and grief that follows. Sara shares how she used a massive “lowest to highest” FKT and a prayer run for missing and murdered Indigenous women as both metaphor and preparation, how she’s navigating hormone therapy, sleep, body composition, bone worries, and shin splints, and why she wants other medically and/or surgically menopausal athletes to know they are not alone.

Sara Aranda is a creative writer, trail runner, and coach who is passionate about craft, community, and challenging perceived notions of language and body, notably what it now means for her to be an athlete in surgical menopause. From adventure storytelling to posting too much on Strava to sweeping run club runs to attempting FKTs, she is both young and menopausal, and still very much full of dreams. Past accomplishments include receiving a Notable Mention in the Best American Essays 2019 anthology, placing 1st Female at the Colossal Vail 50/50 55K, setting 22 FKTs, and receiving the Spirit of No Man's Land Award at No Man's Land Film Festival for her 2025 film, Ofrenda.

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