When people ask me what it’s like to train as an endurance athlete without a thyroid, the answer isn’t always about races or big accomplishments.
Most of the time, it’s about the small daily routines.
Training without a thyroid teaches you something important: your body becomes your greatest teacher.
You learn to pay attention to energy, recovery, nutrition, and timing in ways you may never have thought about before.
For me, every day begins the same way.
Because I no longer have a thyroid, I take T3 and T4 medication each morning. I always wake up about an hour before my first class so I can take my medication and give it time to absorb. It needs to sit in my stomach for at least 15 minutes before I even think about touching coffee.
And trust me… coffee is usually the next thing on my mind.
Most mornings I don’t eat right away. I typically wait until after I finish teaching my classes. However, if I’m teaching multiple classes and planning a run afterward, I’ll have something small with simple sugars before I head out.
Sometimes it’s gummy bears.
Sometimes licorice.
Sometimes Black jellybeans.
And yes… my favorite are Peeps.
It might not look like the perfect endurance nutrition plan, but over the years I’ve learned what works for my body.
And that’s the key.
Your body will teach you — if you’re willing to listen.
This week I also started adding running back into my schedule as I prepare for my first race coming up in April.
Here’s what my training week looked like.
Monday
The week started a little rough because I was still feeling sick. But movement is part of my routine, so I got up and taught my morning classes.
6:00 AM – Pilates
7:00 AM – Cardio Essentials
Even on days when energy is low, showing up matters.
Tuesday
Still feeling a bit run down, but the morning schedule continues.
5:00 AM – TRX
6:00 AM – Strength
7:00 AM – TRX
Later in the afternoon I added a light baby jog to start easing back into running again.
Wednesday
Early morning coffee and a 3-mile run before heading to the YMCA.
7:00 AM – Cardio Essentials
Quick trip to run my daughter to school
Then back to the YMCA for:
9:00 AM – Pilates
Thursday
Another early morning start.
5:00 AM – TRX
6:00 AM – Cycling
Later in the afternoon I added a steady 6-mile run as part of building back toward race training.
Friday
6:00 AM – Pilates
7:00 AM – Cardio Essentials
And in the afternoon:
6-mile run
Some weeks feel strong.
Some weeks feel like you’re just holding the pieces together.
But endurance sports — and life — aren’t about perfect weeks.
They’re about continuing to show up, adjusting when needed, and trusting that consistency over time builds strength.
Training without a thyroid has taught me to listen more closely, adapt more often, and appreciate every mile my body allows me to run.
Because every workout, every step, and every small effort adds up.
And at the end of the day, a small step still takes you forward.
— Danniela
Iron Sunshine #nothyroidathlete☀️
