Episode 107 of Trail Society kicks off with life updates from Keely and Hillary, before diving into listener-submitted news and research. They discuss a BBC story where undercover officers highlighted the prevalence of street harassment, with 94% of local women reporting experiences of catcalling. This transitions into a conversation around exercise during pregnancy, sparked by a listener question about heart rate guidelines. The hosts review current research showing that, for athletes already active, higher intensity exercise can be safe and even beneficial during pregnancy, lowering risks like gestational diabetes and improving newborn Apgar scores. They emphasize that heart rate is an imprecise measure, and individualized approaches are important.

The main feature of the episode is an interview with Anne Flower, an ER physician and elite trail runner who recently won and set a new course record at the Leadville 100, her debut 100-mile race. Anne shares how she balances training at a world-class level with her demanding medical career, and how lessons from the ER and ultrarunning inform each other. She reflects on her road-to-trail transition, the highs and lows of Leadville, and her mindset of tackling hard things as practice for resilience. Anne also discusses her role as Chief Medical Officer for Mountains to Mountains, her future racing goals, and offers advice for women entering the sport. The episode closes with listener shoutouts, stories of recovery after long races, training adaptations for different terrains, and heartfelt community support, reinforcing the podcast’s commitment to uplifting women in endurance sports.

SPONSORSHIP:

We are so excited to be partnering with rabbit as our primary apparel sponsor this year! Send us some DMS about your favorite apparel and what you would like to see built for the trail running space! So snag some of the new Trail Society x rabbit line before it’s gone!

New Code through the end of August—> HOPPER10

Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us!

FOLLOW US on Instagram: @trail.society

And go follow our NEW youtube channel @trailsociety_podcast

Pregnancy and Exercise Research Citations:

Dalhaug EM, Sanda B, Bø K, Brown WJ, Sundgot-Borgen J, Haakstad LAH. Exceeding the guidelines: A descriptive study of exercise, pregnancy, maternal and neonatal health outcomes in elite and recreational athletes. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2025 Apr 23;25(1):475. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07572-6. PMID: 40269794; PMCID: PMC12020307.

Worska A, Laudańska-Krzemińska I, Ciążyńska J, Jóźwiak B, Maciaszek J. New Public Health and Sport Medicine Institutions Guidelines of Physical Activity Intensity for Pregnancy-A Scoping Review. J Clin Med. 2024 Mar 18;13(6):1738. doi: 10.3390/jcm13061738. PMID: 38541963; PMCID: PMC10971148.

Episode 106 of Trail Society opens with the hosts catching up after a busy stretch of travel, training, and transitions, sharing experiences from Alaska fast-packing, Wyoming family visits, and runs on hometown singletrack. The conversation then shifts to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, highlighting Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s long-awaited victory and the breadth of her multi-discipline cycling career. While her win came after a calculated, team-guided performance plan that included a 4 kg weight reduction, the hosts discuss how such strategies can raise health concerns, especially in a sport with a history of under-fueling and the belief that “lighter is always better.” They explore the risk that focusing on weight, both in training and in media coverage, can perpetuate unhealthy body standards, particularly for young women who may try to emulate elite athletes without the same medical oversight or resources. The discussion considers how to balance performance optimization with athlete well-being and how coverage could better reflect the complexity of such decisions.

The episode also examines new research on self-efficacy and fatigue, showing how endurance limits are influenced by the brain’s ability to predict and sustain effort. Studies on subliminal cues suggest that positive mental inputs can extend performance, reframing fatigue as partly a perception-driven process. Listener “Society Slams” bring forward concerns about limited access to women’s race coverage, suggestions for scenic, low-altitude trail races ideal for groups, and lighthearted reflections on dream race snacks that don’t sit well mid-run. Through these segments, the episode blends athlete health, sports science, and community conversation.

SPONSORSHIP:

We are so excited to be partnering with rabbit as our primary apparel sponsor this year! Send us some DMS about your favorite apparel and what you would like to see built for the trail running space! So snag some of the new Trail Society x rabbit line before it’s gone!

New Code through the end of August—> HOPPER10

Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us!

FOLLOW US on Instagram: @trail.society

And go follow our NEW youtube channel @trailsociety_podcast

This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail

Articles:

Sweat Science: Why exercise makes us tired: https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/why-exercise-makes-us-tired

Cycling Weekly: Double Standards in Cycling :https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/4kg-the-weight-of-a-double-standard-pauline-ferrand-prevot-climbed-into-history-and-all-we-talked-about-was-her-body

In Episode 105, the Trail Society crew recaps big performances at recent races, including Katie Schide’s record-setting win at Hardrock 100 and fast times from Cascade Crest and HiLo. They highlight events pushing for gender parity on start lines and discuss the return of athletes post-injury and pregnancy. There's also a quick rabbit x Trail Society product update and a listener Q&A about traveling with poles and gear for multi-day run ventures.

The second half of the episode shifts to research: Keely breaks down new studies exploring the effects of RED-S, amenorrhea, and chronic low energy availability on fertility and pregnancy outcomes. The team discusses IVF timing, egg freezing, and whether current training loads may impact reproductive health in elite athletes. They also review a study on total energy expenditure during and after a 100-mile race, highlighting the prolonged physiological stress of ultrarunning and its implications for recovery.

SPONSORSHIP:

We are so excited to be partnering with rabbit as our primary apparel sponsor this year! Send us some DMS about your favorite apparel and what you would like to see built for the trail running space! So snag some of the new Trail Society x rabbit line before it’s gone!

USE CODE through the end of JULY—> STATES10!

Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us!

FOLLOW US on Instagram: @trail.society

And go follow our NEW youtube channel @trailsociety_podcast

This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail