Episode 107: Anne Flower on Flexibility, Self-Belief, and Using Her Leadville 100 Victory to Elevate Mountain Communities

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.

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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.