REDS / LEA

Every once in a while, I read something on social media that makes me stop scrolling. Last week was one of those times. Someone forwarded me an Instagram post that read, "Hot take: The lighter you are, the faster you are." Normally, I don't comment on posts I disagree with. Maybe it's because I don't enjoy conflict. Maybe it's because there are simply too many opinions on the internet to chase down. But this one genuinely made me angry because it was so irresponsible. Over th

No runner wants to be put in a walking boot or be told they need crutches. Yet, there are a few running injuries severe enough to warrant these precautions, and stress fractures, or what healthcare providers call bone stress injuries (BSIs) are one of them. Receiving a BSI diagnosis can feel devastating, especially if it happens during the beginning or middle of a season, when training for a big race, or after returning to running post-hiatus. Bone stress injuries occur when

Low energy availability (LEA) happens when you don’t eat enough to support both your training and your basic body functions. It’s not about being hungry or tired. LEA can happen to any athlete even if they are trying to fuel enough. LEA happens when an athlete is under eating relative to what their body needs, and it shows up in more ways than you think. Most runners dealing with LEA aren’t doing it on purpose. Some are trying to “eat clean” or cut sugar. Others just don’t re