Episode 84: Is RED-S Real? The Nuances of Low Energy Availability, The Wellness Industry, and Athlos Track

In Episode 84 of Trail Society, hosts Corrine Malcolm and Keely Henninger take a critical look at the contentious topic of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), diving deep into a recent article that questions the syndrome's validity and its implications for athlete health. They engage in a lively debate about how RED-S is diagnosed and whether it risks becoming a catch-all term, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to athlete care. The episode also touches on the broader issues surrounding the wellness industry, prompted by findings from Lulu Lemon's Global Wellbeing Report, which highlight the societal pressures that can lead to “wellbeing burnout.” Additionally, the hosts celebrate the Athlos track meet as a pivotal moment in elevating women’s running, sharing updates on significant race results, including Tara Dower's remarkable FKT on the Appalachian Trail and Careth Arnold's course record at The Bear. With listener questions and personal anecdotes, this episode challenges listeners to rethink their understanding of health and performance in the athletic realm   Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail www.freetrail.com - subscribe and JOIN US IN SLACK & Our Title Sponsor is The Feed!!! Follow the link to get $20 to spend every quarter ($80 every year!): https://thefeed.com/trailsociety + a cool Trail Society water bottle! Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us! @trail.society Sources/Links: Athlos Track Meet by Christine Yu https://christinemyu.substack.com/p/a-night-at-the-track?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ6HOiHhRZjKv4GqQIqNUw-BT7ByRjhVDH2vva5vCHzBnOpHAPSWUXM6vo_aem_5iYrgqcOkEqp70qYE6_tsw Lululemon Wellness Industry Report: https://sportswirewomen.com/lululemons-global-wellbeing-report-shows-the-pressure-to-keep-up-with-wellbeing-is-making-people-feel-unwell/ Does Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) Syndrome Exist? https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-024-02108-y  McKenndre Hickory House Fire fundraiser: https://www.freefunder.com/campaign/hickory-house-fire

In this episode Keely, Corrine, and Hillary start it off by diving into some races, including Run Rabbit Run, The Rut, and The Golden Trail Series.  Then they discuss both the lack of period products and porta-potties for women at TDS and how that may have impacted women runners.   For the rest of the episode they tackle two issues. First, they talk through the mental side of dropping out of or choosing not to start a race, how to give yourself some grace, and when to pull the plug.  Whether you choose to drop at mile 5 or mile 95 of a one hundred mile race, your decision is valid and we must learn to be okay with them. Then, they discuss a new article out by Ryall and team looking at the distribution of birth control use among female endurance athletes. This study highlights the popularity of hormonal IUD’s in athletics but the lack of research on the effects of this form of birth control on performance.   Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us! @trail.society Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail (www.freetrail.com) - subscribe and JOIN US IN SLACK Our Title Sponsor is The Feed!!! Follow the link to get $20 to spend every quarter ($80 every year!): https://thefeed.com/trailsociety + a cool Trail Society water bottle!   Articles: Ryall, S. et al. Contraception Choice for Female Endurance Athletes: What’s Sport Got to Do With It? A Cross-Sectional Survey (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-024-02078-1)  

In this episode of Trail Society, we dive into the UTMB races, discussing the fast race times, podiums, breakthrough performances, and top USA athletes. We also spotlight the latest advancements in the WNBA and NWSL, and discuss the impactful “Here For the Women’s Race” initiative that is reshaping women’s trail running. Our conversation reveals how these developments are driving change and opening new opportunities for female athletes at every level. Hillary shares an intimate and insightful account of her recent UTMB race experience, detailing her training journey and the pivotal moment when she chose to prioritize her health and happiness over finishing the race. Her candid reflection on why she decided to stop rather than push through underscores the importance of listening to one’s body and the long-term value of maintaining passion for the sport. This episode offers a powerful blend of race analysis, sports evolution, and personal wisdom, making it a must-listen for anyone passionate about running and female athleticism. Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail (www.freetrail.com). Subscribe and JOIN US IN SLACK. Our Title Sponsor is The Feed!!! Follow the link to get $20 to spend every quarter ($80 every year!): https://thefeed.com/trailsociety + a cool Trail Society water bottle! Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us! @trail.society   Articles: Support Tara: https://support.girlsontherun.org/fundraiser/5607331 Past TS episodes on Hydration: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3RuFrJPbF46NlCdq4hTtbm?si=XAMscA3xSFuhEBfTRQiA4g  

This week’s podcast kicks off with a recap of recent competitive races, including record-breaking performances and intense competition. We discuss standout moments from the Leadville 100-mile and Headlands 50km, celebrating impressive achievements and new champions. Then, we delve into a recent study on the impact of bone stress injuries in female runners, revealing key insights from recent research. We explore which factors are linked to high-risk stress fractures and what this means for athletes aiming to stay injury-free. In our main segment, we tackle a thought-provoking issue: the role of envy and other traits in athletic performance. Can the drive to succeed come at the cost of personal integrity? We dissect this intriguing question, examining how competitive traits might shape not just an athlete’s career but their character. Tune in for a deep dive into the intersection of sports, values, and the pursuit of excellence!   Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail or head to www.freetrail.com to subscribe and JOIN US IN SLACK & Our Title Sponsor is The Feed!!! Follow the link to get $20 to spend every quarter ($80 every year!): https://thefeed.com/trailsociety + a cool Trail Society water bottle! Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us! @trail.society  Articles: Tenforde, et al. High v. Low Risk BSI in Female Athletes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11110515/ Article on Cheating by Sabrina Little: https://aeon.co/essays/does-it-take-a-bad-person-to-be-a-good-athlete Article on Olympics, Nike, and Ultrarunning by Sabrina Little: https://www.irunfar.com/what-we-learn-from-paris  

In this episode, Keely and Corrine delve into the 2024 Olympics Games, which marks the first Olympics to achieve gender parity. They discuss notable moments in sports that emphasize mental health, embracing femininity, and celebrating all body types. They also highlight some of the top moments in sports witnessed at the games. Furthermore, they candidly reflect on their own experiences with injuries and burnout, discussing coping mechanisms, the role of sports in shaping identity, and providing valuable tips for overcoming the challenges posed by injuries.   Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail www.freetrail.com - subscribe and JOIN US IN SLACK & Our Title Sponsor is The Feed!!! Follow the link to get $20 to spend every quarter ($80 every year!): https://thefeed.com/trailsociety + a cool Trail Society water bottle!   Articles: Gender Parity at Olympics 2024:https://www.npr.org/2024/07/31/g-s1-14470/paris-games-is-gender-equal-olympics Post injury depression in athletes: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/149233074.pdf Narrative review on injury and mental health: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/50/3/145.short Sports Injury and Stress Disorders: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9189434/#:~:text=Traumatic%20stress%20disorder%20is%20seen,from%20returning%20to%20 Visualization techniques in sport: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344587632_Visualisation_techniques_in_sport_-_the_mental_road_map_for_success

In this episode, Corrine, Keely, and Hillary talk with Shalaya Kipp. Shalaya Kipp was an All- American out of CU Boulder and a 2012 Olympian in the 3000m steeplechase, among other amazing running endeavors.  She got her feet wet in exercise physiology by studying the energetics of the steeplechase and energetics of super shoes at CU Boulder where she got her Masters in integrative physiology. She then obtained her PhD from the University of British Columbia in exercise physiology with an emphasis on the respiratory system focusing on sex and age and is now at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota as a research fellow.    In this interview we dive into some of her early work on the development of the super shoe, think Nike 4%, talk about her Olympic career and the transition to full-time research candidate and mother, and finally dive into her latest work with a deep dive into sports bras.  You can follow Shalaya here: @shalayakipp If you are a 40+ Master's athlete who has been in endurance sport for a long time and are interested in her latest study, find more here: www.mayoclinic.org/athlete Sponsors: www.thefeed.com/trailsociety  $ 20 feed credit to spend  That’s a $20 every quarter! $80 year   Links: Knix and your Period: https://knix.com/blogs/knix-blog/megan-rapinoe-talks-about-period-stigma-and-the-sport-your-period-campaign-with-knix-founder   Sports Bra Restriciton on Respiratory Mechanics: https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/abstract/2024/06000/sports_bra_restriction_on_respiratory_mechanics.18.aspx   Running economy improved with high support https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9237383/  

In this episode, Keely, Corrine, and Hillary discuss various life events and races before delving into recent research. First, they explore the current state of menstrual cycle research, highlighting areas of improvement and those that still have a way to go. They then discuss the impact of menstrual-related symptoms on mental health and spatial performance. As coaches, they share their approaches to addressing the menstrual cycle for athletes who menstruate, including tracking the cycle and adapting training to meet individual athletes' specific needs. Finally, they touch on Low Energy Availability (LEA) and RED-S, highlighting recent research showing that LEA can manifest in as little as 3 days. They also discuss coaching strategies for helping athletes recover from short-term and long-term LEA periods. Disclaimer: This podcast does not provide medical advice, but rather shares recent information in these two areas. Listeners are advised to always discuss their unique needs with a licensed professional.   Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail www.freetrail.com - subscribe and JOIN US IN SLACK & Our Title Sponsor is The Feed!!! Follow the link to get $20 to spend every quarter ($80 every year!): https://thefeed.com/trailsociety + a cool Trail Society water bottle!   Articles Referenced: Menstrual Cycle and Performance: Smith ES, Weakley J, McKay AKA, McCormick R, Tee N, Kuikman MA, Harris R, Minahan C, Buxton S, Skinner J, Ackerman KE, Elliott-Sale KJ, Stellingwerff T, Burke LM. Minimal influence of the menstrual cycle or hormonal contraceptives on performance in female rugby league athletes. Eur J Sport Sci. 2024 Jun 15. doi:10.1002/ejsc.12151. PMID: 38877892.   Menstrual Cycle and Birth Control Nolan, David, et al. “The Effect of Hormonal Contraceptive Use on Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy, Power and Strength Adaptations to Resistance Exercise Training: A Systematic Review and Multilevel Meta-Analysis.” Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 27 Sept. 2023, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37755666/, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01911-3. Accessed 15 Oct. 2023. Ihalainen, Johanna K., et al. “Self-Reported Performance and Hormonal-Cycle-Related Symptoms in Competitive Female Athletes.” Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, vol. 32, no. 1, 2 July 2024, journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/wspaj/32/1/article-wspaj.2023-0102.xml, https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2023-0102.     Menstrual Cycle, Behavioral, and Cognitive Parameters   Ronca,F., et al. Attentional, anticipatory and spatial cognition fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle: Potential implications for female sport. In- Press. Neuropsychologia 17 May 2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393224001246?via%3Dihub     Kullik, Lisa, et al. “The Prevalence of Menstrual Cycle Symptoms and Their Association with Mental Health and Sleep in German Exercising Women and Athletes.” Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 1 Feb. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2024.02.008.   LEA, return to sport, impacts of short-term LEA, and menstrual dysfunction   De Souza, Mary Jane, et al. “Randomised Controlled Trial of the Effects of Increased Energy Intake on Menstrual Recovery in Exercising Women with Menstrual Disturbances: The “REFUEL” Study.” Human Reproduction, vol. 36, no. 8, 24 June 2021, pp. 2285–2297, https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deab149. Accessed 25 Nov. 2021. Hutson, Mark J, et al. “High‐Impact Jumping Mitigates the Short‐Term Effects of Low Energy Availability on Bone Resorption but Not Formation in Regularly Menstruating Females: A Randomized Control Trial.” Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, vol. 33, no. 9, 26 June 2023, pp. 1690–1702, https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14437. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023. Hutson, Mark J., et al. “Effects of Low Energy Availability on Bone Health in Endurance Athletes and High-Impact Exercise as a Potential Countermeasure: A Narrative Review.” Sports Medicine, vol. 51, no. 3, 21 Dec. 2020, pp. 391–403, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01396-4.

In this episode, Keely, Corrine, and Hillary discuss their experiences at both the Western States 100 and Lavaredo trail races from last weekend. They kick off the episode by talking about the “Here for the Women’s Race” movement at the Western States 100 and then dive into a viewer question about hiking versus running on steep terrain and how to determine when one is more efficient than the other.   The Western States 100 produced the fastest times in history, with Katie Schide and Jim Walmsley winning the women’s and men’s race, respectively, in the second fastest times in course history. They talk about the rest of the field, fun storylines, and Keely talks through her experience pacing Rachel Drake to a top 10 finish. Disclaimer: they got skunked!   Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail www.freetrail.com - subscribe and JOIN US IN SLACK & Our Title Sponsor is The Feed!!! Follow the link to get $20 to spend every quarter ($80 every year!): https://thefeed.com/trailsociety + a cool Trail Society water bottle!   Articles: Running versus hiking on steep terrain: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26607247/ https://freetrail.com/climb-the-mountain-when-to-run-hike-or-pole/   WS 100 results: https://www.irunfar.com/2024-western-states-100-results#:~:text=And%20in%20the%20end%2C%20after,dramatic%202024%20Western%20States%20100.

In this episode, Corrine and Keely delve deep into the women’s elite field at the Western States 2024. But first, they discuss the importance of running shorter, harder races and workouts in ultra and trail running. They also talk about some new research on sports bras and the impact of improper fit on breathing mechanics. Then, they delve into how athletes who are mothers, first-timers, and masters athletes may impact the race this year for the infamous cougar in Auburn.   Sports bras and breathing mechanics:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38350462/ Sports bras and running mechanics: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19401901/   Sponsors!   This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail www.freetrail.com - subscribe and JOIN US IN SLACK & Our Title Sponsor is The Feed!!! Follow the link to get $20 to spend every quarter ($80 every year!): https://thefeed.com/trailsociety + a cool Trail Society water bottle!  

In this episode, Corrine, Keely, and Hillary cover some fascinating topics. They start off by discussing the recent UTMB press release about their new drug testing policy and the involvement of WADA. Then, they dive into the importance of maintaining iron stores in athletes for optimal recovery and performance. Finally, they explore the significance of prioritizing recovery after races and how this can vary based on factors such as race effort, season placement, and race result. They also share some uplifting stories about the positive impact of effective post-race recovery, highlighting its essential role in an athlete's success.   Links:   UTMB Drug Testing: https://andorra.utmb.world/races-runners/runners/anti-doping-resources   Iron Overview in Athletes: Sim M, Garvican-Lewis LA, Cox GR, et al. Iron considerations for the athlete: a narrative review. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2019;119(7):1463-1478. doi:10.1007/s00421-019-04157-y   Oura Perimenopause study: https://ouraring.com/blog/clue-berkeley-perimenopause-study/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email   Sponsors!   This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail www.freetrail.com - subscribe and JOIN US IN SLACK & Our Title Sponsor is The Feed!!! Follow the link to get $20 to spend every quarter ($80 every year!): https://thefeed.com/trailsociety + a cool Trail Society water bottle!