In Episode 87 of Trail Society, the gang is back together for a deep dive into the intersection of ultra running and cognitive performance. Corrine, Hillary, and Keely unpack recent research from the world of Backyard Ultras, where a group of Belgian scientists explored the effects of extreme endurance on the brain. The study, conducted during an April 2023 event, found that while sleep deprivation and fatigue did slow reaction times, for the athletes that lasted the longest, physical performance remained stable. This episode explores how mental fortitude — the ability to push through the struggle to continue — might be just as critical as physical endurance in ultra running and beyond. Can the mental endurance required for these extreme races teach us how to better manage our effort and focus in other areas of life?

We also shift gears into the world of self-esteem and positive self-talk, exploring how these mental strategies can enhance athletic performance and improve overall well-being. With insights from psychological research, Hillary guides us through the latest findings on how positive self-talk can boost motivation and confidence in athletes. Whether you're running a race or tackling a big challenge in life, the ability to stay focused, motivated, and positive can make all the difference. Tune in for a conversation on how ultra runners and everyday athletes alike can leverage their mental game to go further, faster, and stronger.

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This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail

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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!

 

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Articles: 

Outside: How Often Should You Replace Your Sports Bra? https://www.outsideonline.com/health/wellness/how-often-should-you-replace-sports-bra/

Outside Debrief on Backyard Ultra Article by Alex Hutchinson: https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/effects-of-backyard-ultras/

Backyard Ultra: De Pauw K, Ampe T, Arauz YLA, Galloo X, Buyse L, Olieslagers M, Demuyser T, Corlùy H, Lamarti S, Provyn S, Jones AM, Meeusen R, Roelands B. Backyard running: Pushing the boundaries of human performance. Eur J Sport Sci. 2024 Oct;24(10):1432-1441.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11451558/

 

Self Esteem and Self-talk Articles:

Orth, U., & Robins, R. W. (2022). Is high self-esteem beneficial? Revisiting a classic question.American Psychologist, 77(1), 5–17.

https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2022-48842-002.html

 

Park SH, Lim BS, Lim ST. The Effects of Self-Talk on Shooting Athletes' Motivation. J Sports Sci Med. 2020 Aug 13;19(3):517-521. PMID: 32874104; PMCID: PMC7429435.

 

In this episode of Trail Society, join hosts Keely and Corrine as they dive into an inspiring conversation with Hannah Allgood, who secured second place at her first 100-mile race, Javalina Jundred. Hannah shares insights into her season, which included diverse races like Chuckanut 50k, Gorge 30k, Transvulcania, and Istria 101k, detailing her preparation and the strategic choices behind each race. She discusses her journey leading up to Javelina, emphasizing the importance of running her own race, maintaining mental resilience, and her fueling plan—complete with the decision to shove gels into her bra to keep them cool. Finally, we touch on her coaching and work as a PT and how she combines them to develop trail-running specific strength programs for her athletes.

Additionally, Keely and Corrine explore a new study on NCAA D1 cross country athletes, highlighting concerns about body weight, energy balance, and the often-overlooked experiences of male athletes. Tune in for an episode filled with personal stories, valuable insights, and a deep dive into the latest in running research!

Follow Hannah @shesallgood or find her at freetrail.com/experts

Sponsors:

 

This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail

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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: 

Barney, et al. Dietary intake and diet quality of female and male ncaa D1 XC athletes . 2024: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299124024090

 

Join hosts Corrine Malcolm and Keely Henninger as they delve deep into the art of fueling for success, with a special focus on Corrine’s upcoming race at the Javelina Jundred.

In this episode, they talk about some of the latest research on carbohydrates, emphasizing individualization of carbohydrate ingestion and how body size and gender can impact glucose oxidation rates. With Javelina around the corner, Corrine reveals how she plans to implement her carbohydrate-rich fueling plan to ensure peak performance on race day.

Plus, they touch on the race results and the latest developments in women’s sports, including contract changes in the NWSL and the launch of Allyson Felix's new sports management firm designed to empower female athletes.

Sponsors:

This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail

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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:

Alyson Felix Launches Female Focused SM

NSWL announces disciplinary action to Angel City FC

Women's Marathon Record Goes Down - NPR

Exogenous Glucose Intake and Body Size

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.