Feisty Women's Performance

How do female ultra-endurance athletes experience, interpret, and cope with pain—and when does pushing through become too much?
Erin Ayala, PhD, speaks with sport psychology researcher Dr. Britta Maria Sorensen about the complex role pain plays in women’s ultra-endurance sport.
Dr. Sorensen explains why pain is more than a physical sensation. Biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors can all influence how athletes interpret discomfort, respond to it, and decide whether to continue or stop.
They also explore the relationship between endurance sport, emotional stress, and past trauma; the difference between harmonious and obsessive passion; and how athletes can recognize when training is supporting their well-being versus becoming a form of avoidance.
This conversation offers practical strategies for managing pain, reducing burnout risk, and building a healthier, more sustainable relationship with performance.
In this episode:
Why pain should be understood through a biopsychosocial lens
What qualitative research reveals about how women cope with extreme discomfort
How past trauma and emotional stress may shape participation in ultra-endurance sport
The difference between using sport as a healthy outlet and using it as avoidance
Practical tools such as body scans, progressive self-talk, fueling, hydration, and properly fitted gear
Why scheduled rest and recovery can help prevent compulsive training patterns
How coaches, therapists, partners, and support systems can help athletes stay balanced

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Dr. Sorenson's Open Access Research Article
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What does athlete safety look like beyond preventing physical injury?
In this episode, Erin Ayala, PhD, speaks with Dr. Gretchen Kerr, professor of kinesiology at the University of Toronto and an internationally recognized expert on psychological abuse, interpersonal violence, and maltreatment in sport.
They explore why psychological harm is the most common—and often the least recognized—form of abuse in athletics, how win-at-all-costs cultures can normalize harmful behavior, and why some safe-sport reporting processes may unintentionally re-traumatize athletes.
Dr. Kerr also shares evidence-based strategies for prevention, including shifting the definition of success toward athlete well-being, enjoyment, and belonging; strengthening communication among coaches, parents, and administrators; and using practical tools that address harmful behavior before it escalates.
This conversation offers clear, actionable guidance for coaches, athletes, parents, sport leaders, and anyone invested in creating healthier, safer, and more positive sport environments.
In this episode:
Why psychological abuse is so common in sport—and why it often goes unnoticed
How safe-sport reporting systems can unintentionally cause additional harm
Why athletes need ongoing support beyond the initial reporting process
How win-focused performance metrics can contribute to unhealthy environments
The importance of prioritizing well-being, enjoyment, and belonging
Preventive approaches, including quality-coaching tools and restorative practices
How transparent communication can help protect athletes

About Dr. Gretchen Kerr
Dr. Gretchen Kerr is a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on psychological abuse, interpersonal violence, athlete maltreatment, and the development of safer, more supportive sport systems.
Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and share this conversation with a coach, parent, athlete, or sport leader who is working to create a safer and more supportive culture.
Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/
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In this episode, Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with Mireille Siné, MPH — a certified running coach, lupus endurance athlete, and advocate for athletes living with autoimmune and chronic conditions.
Mireille has lived with lupus for 13 years and now coaches athletes who are navigating autoimmune disease, chronic illness, flares, fatigue, and identity shifts — while doing endurance sports.
Together, Erin and Mireille discuss:
Why autoimmune athletes carry a “double load”
How training stress can interact with immune dysregulation
How to distinguish overtraining from a possible flare
Why “push through it” can be harmful advice
The importance of symptom tracking and medical self-advocacy
What coaches should ask athletes with autoimmune conditions
How to build flexible training plans
Why performance is not just pace, PRs, and finish lines
How to stop chasing the athlete you used to be and build toward who you can still become

Mireille Siné is a USATF and 80/20 Endurance-certified run coach, 14-time marathoner, and ultramarathoner based in Los Angeles. She is the founder of Coached by Mireille LLC, a virtual coaching practice specializing in runners and endurance athletes managing autoimmune conditions and chronic illness. Mireille coaches with the philosophy "train with compassion" — building training plans that account for the full reality of her athletes' lives, not just their race goals. She has been featured in Runner's World and has spoken at the AIP Summit and Skadi Sports Psychology Athlete Summit. Living with lupus herself, Mireille brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, helping athletes redefine what strength and performance can look like with a chronic illness diagnosis.
Follow Mireille on Instagram
Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/
Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:
https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/
Follow us on Instagram:
@feisty_womens_performance
Visit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcasts
Support our Partners:
Use code PERFORMANCE for 20% off at http://cozyearth.com
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We're welcoming registered dietitian Alex Larson to help us dive deep into the critical (and less critical) nutrition trends of coming in 2026.
Alex and your host, Dr. Erin Ayala, discuss the realities of the supplement industry, bust myths surrounding women's sports nutrition, and explore evidence-based nutrition strategies to enhance your performance.
Key Takeaways
What supplements should you really be taking? Learn how to evaluate supplements critically and determine which ones really matter.
Creatine benefits: The latest research on creatine, particularly its effects on female athletes and why it's worth considering.
How women can effectively implement high-carb fueling strategies for running, biking, and getting the most out of themselves.
GLP-1s: What should you know about the rise of GLP-1 weight loss medications and their implications for active women.
Fiber Maxing: Is this the craziest nutrition trend hitting the internet!

Alex Larson is a registered dietitian and founder of Alex Larson Nutrition. With a focus on practical nutrition strategies for athletes, Alex empowers her clients to achieve their goals while maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
Resources mentioned:
Alex Larson Nutrition: alexlarsonnutrition.com
Endurance Eats Podcast: Listen Here

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps us reach more women who are eager to elevate their performance. Join our community and stay connected for more evidence-based nutrition conversations!
Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/
Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:
https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/
Follow us on Instagram:
@feisty_womens_performance
Visit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcasts
Support our Partners:
Use code PERFORMANCE for 20% off at http://cozyearth.com
Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first order
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Annie Thorisdottir has stood on the CrossFit Games podium six times and built a career as one of the most recognizable and respected athletes in the world. But some of the most defining moments of her life happened far from the competition floor.
In this episode, Annie opens up about the raw and disorienting experience of seeing herself just days postpartum and not recognizing the woman in the mirror. That moment became part of a much bigger story — one not just about winning, but about identity, resilience, recovery, motherhood, and learning how to rebuild on the other side of elite sports.
Annie shares:
why she waited years to write a book
what her sports psychologist taught her about the “neutral zone,”
why setbacks often became her most reliable path forward.
the cultural shift needed around postpartum recovery and how she is now channeling what she's learned into programming that helps women work with their bodies

Order Annie's memoir Iceland Annie
Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/
Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:
https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/
Follow us on Instagram:
@feisty_womens_performance
Visit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcasts
Support our Partners:
Use code PERFORMANCE for 20% off at http://cozyearth.com
Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first order
Wahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/0GAByR
Tifosi Optics: Use code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at https://tifosioptics.com/