Episode 101: Caring for Female Athletes with Dr. Lauren Puretz: Hormones, Birth Control & Fertility
Release Date: 06/03/2025
Trail Society
In this electric post-race episode of Trail Society, Corrine Malcolm sits down with co-host and freshly minted Western States Top Ten finisher Keely Henninger to relive the highs, lows, and hard-earned triumphs of this year’s race. Keely reflects on her fourth go at WSER, this time arriving with a deeply personal approach, hard-won confidence, and zero obligations to perform for a brand—just herself. From a ferocious women’s field to a historic showing by international athletes, Corrine and Keely break down everything that made this year's race unforgettable, including the dramatic chase...
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In this episode, ultrarunner, OB/GYN board certified physician, and mom of two Lauren Puretz, DO, returns to the podcast to dive deep into women’s health with a focus on athletes navigating fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum. Lauren discusses complex reproductive health conditions like PCOS and endometriosis, especially how they present uniquely in athletic populations. She emphasizes the importance of proper diagnosis, individualization of treatment, and how these conditions can affect energy levels and performance. She offers practical advice for athletes with insulin resistance and...
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In Episode 101 of Trail Society, OB/GYN, ultrarunner, and mom of two Dr. Lauren Puretz joins Corrine, Keely, and Hillary for a candid and insightful conversation about puberty, birth control, and fertility in female athletes. Drawing from both her medical practice and personal experience as an elite endurance athlete, Dr. Puretz breaks down complex topics like energy availability, menstrual health, and hormonal birth control, offering practical advice for athletes navigating these issues. The discussion highlights how puberty and menstruation are affected by training load, the importance of...
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Welcome to Episode 100 of Trail Society! We could not have made it to 100 episodes without all of your support! In this special AMA-style celebration, Corrine Malcolm, Keely Henninger, and Hillary Allen are back at it—fielding your most thoughtful, hilarious, and heartfelt questions. From Tiger Claw race recaps (hello Big Cat challenge!) to recovery updates and favorite gear drops (psst... the new rabbit Venture shorts are awesome), this episode is packed with stories, reflections, and realness. We’re diving deep into what we’ve learned from each other—and from you—over 100...
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In this milestone 99th episode of Trail Society, we go all-in on Keely Henninger’s third-place finish at the Canyons 100K, earning her a coveted Golden Ticket to Western States. Keely walks us through her decision to return to Western States, how she managed training on reduced mileage while in med school, and the strategies she used to stay consistent under immense pressure. We dig into the physiology, planning, and mindset shifts that made this comeback possible—including how stepping away from sponsorship has reshaped her relationship with competition. Listeners will get detailed...
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In Episode 98 of Trail Society, Corrine, Keely, and Hillary recap a big weekend at the Gorge Waterfalls races, touching on standout performances, course records, and the ongoing shift toward spring in the Pacific Northwest. Hillary shares a candid update about choosing to skip a race for safety reasons, tying back to last week’s episode on trail harassment. The team also celebrates Abby Hall’s last-minute golden ticket to Western States, and they highlight key results from Desert Rats, Mad City, and Lake Sonoma. The main interview features Sports Dietitian Claire Shorenstein, who breaks...
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In Episode 97 of Trail Society, hosts Corrine Malcolm, Keely Henninger, and Hillary Allen dive into a wide range of topics, including the latest news in the world of sports and personal updates from their busy lives. They cover the historic election of Kirsty Coventry as the first female president of the International Olympic Committee, along with the growing momentum of women’s basketball, highlighted by record-breaking viewership during March Madness. The episode also touches on the latest developments in sports science, including intriguing research about the impact of marathons on brain...
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In this exciting episode of Trail Society, hosts Corrine Malcolm, Keely Henninger, and Hillary Allen dive into a diverse mix of topics ranging from science news to runner safety. The episode kicks off with a reflection on Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, followed by a discussion on recent sports science advancements, including a groundbreaking study on the possibility of female athletes breaking the 4-minute mile barrier. The trio explores a new study modeling how drafting could potentially help elite female runners like Faith Kipyegon achieve that incredible...
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In episode 95 of Trail Society, hosts Corrine Malcolm, Keely Henninger, and Hillary Allen sit down with two standout researchers from Stanford University—Dr. Morgan Smith and Naiomi Hunter—for an insightful conversation about the intersection of women's health, athletic performance, and wearable technology. Dr. Smith, a sport scientist, coach, and postdoctoral fellow with the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance at Stanford, is passionate about how physiology and metabolism influence performance, especially for women in sport. Her research is grounded in the real world, as she also coaches...
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Join hosts Corrine Malcolm and Hillary Allen as they recap their experience at the Tarawera Ultramarathon in New Zealand. They discuss the challenges of balancing different training demands, listening to their bodies, and not letting one race result define them. The conversation includes reflections on training blocks, race outcomes, and personal experiences, highlighting the importance of goal alignment and processing setbacks. They also dive into the importance of teamwork in addressing mistakes, as well as the highs and lows of race day, from the weather to the wildlife. They share insights...
info_outlineIn Episode 101 of Trail Society, OB/GYN, ultrarunner, and mom of two Dr. Lauren Puretz joins Corrine, Keely, and Hillary for a candid and insightful conversation about puberty, birth control, and fertility in female athletes. Drawing from both her medical practice and personal experience as an elite endurance athlete, Dr. Puretz breaks down complex topics like energy availability, menstrual health, and hormonal birth control, offering practical advice for athletes navigating these issues. The discussion highlights how puberty and menstruation are affected by training load, the importance of not masking menstrual irregularities with birth control, and how coaches and caregivers can support young athletes during this pivotal time.
The conversation also explores fertility concerns in current and retired athletes, including whether period loss during early athletic years may impact long-term reproductive health. Dr. Puretz discusses proactive steps athletes can take, such as hormone testing and fertility planning, and the growing trend of egg freezing among those delaying parenthood. Her honest and empowering perspective sheds light on the lifelong health journey female athletes face, from adolescence to adulthood, and sets the stage for a deeper dive into pregnancy and postpartum care in the next episode.
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