Trail Society FREETRAIL

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 Poten

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!

We are officially in trail racing season! This episode contains a lot of valuable information. Keely discusses a couple of recent studies. The first study focuses on master’s level trail runners and body image, while the second covers the performance detriments associated with Low Energy Availability in female athletes. Then Corrine and Hillary delve into race results, covering the Cocodona 250, Tillamook Burn weekend, Transvulcania, and some UTMB races. After that, they all reflect on their respective races at Transvulcania, discussing the highs and lows, mental health going into the race, and fueling wins and losses. Finally, they end with some society slams and advice for female athletes navigating health challenges.
 
Sign up for the studies we talked about below!

FASTR Study for females >18 years old running the 2024 Western States: email fastrprogram@stanford.edu
 
Cycling study: Dr. Shaundre Jacobs (Sport Scientist and athlete manager at Department of cultural affairs and sport at Stellenbauch University) is doing research on elite women road cyclists. Contact her here if you are interested: sdjacobs@sun.ac.za 
 
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://www.thefeed.com/trailsociety + a cool Trail Society water bottle!
 
And our newest sponsor is For The Long Run Podcast! Head on over to their page and give them a listen! They deep dive into the mental side of running and have a ton of great interviews! 
 

Corrine and Keely recently had a conversation with Katie Schide, a professional runner for The North Face. They discussed Katie's journey into running, which started in New Hampshire's Black Mountains. They also talked about her transition to life as a full-time athlete and how she balances the newfound pressure to perform in a sport she loves. Katie shared her experiences of winning the Canyons 100k race in an impressive manner and also winning UTMB, a 100-mile race, while finishing second at the Western States 100-mile race last year. She also discussed her relationship with a fellow professional athlete and how they balance and support each other's goals. Additionally, they got an explanation about her "Cool Dad" nickname and asked her some rapid-fire questions to get to know her better, including her carbohydrate intake, favorite shoes, geomorphic features, and snacks. You don’t want to miss this!
 
Follow Katie here: @katieschide 
 
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!
 
And our newest sponsor is For The Long Run Podcast! Head on over to their page and give them a listen! They deep dive into the mental side of running and have a ton of great interviews!