This episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition podcast is with lifelong competitive runner and mother of 2, Jen Saint Jean. After an active childhood and running in high school, Jen walked on to her collegiate cross country and track team and has never looked back! We talk about how her athletics journey evolved to where now, aged 49, she is training to be faster than ever in her #fasterasamaster project. We highlight the inclusiveness of running, as well as the impact female coaches can make for all athletes. As a coach, Jen shares how she intentionally helps girls and young women understand their menstrual cycles so they can better manage symptoms and optimize training. We explore the evolution of women’s sports in the last 50 years, and how women like Jen and myself are able to continue progressing and achieving athletic goals even after becoming parents and as we get older.

We talk about Jen’s experience dealing with chronic Lyme disease, the signs and symptoms that led to her diagnosis, and her management strategies. Jen speaks about the key role of nutrition for treating her Lyme disease, together with training modifications and bloodwork. Jen and I discuss ways of feeding a family with different nutrition requirements, alongside fueling for performance as an aging athlete. For Jen, this meant increasing her protein, while younger athletes should focus more on increasing their carbohydrates, as well as food flexibility and always eating enough. Jen shares more of her running goals as a master’s athlete and you can follow her journey and thoughtful writing on her website here.

TOPIC TIMESTAMPS:

6:00 Jen's athletic background and natural running talent; the inclusiveness of cross country running

11:30 College athletics recruiting and being a "walk-on" athlete

16:15 The power of female coaches

21:05 Coaching young athletes; Puberty and performance in boys and girls

26:00 Performing on your menstrual cycle

31:20 Jenn's goal to be faster as a master's athlete than she was in her 20s; Women's high performance throughout the lifespan.

38:00 Balancing motherhood with athletics 

41:15 Lyme disease: symptoms and diagnosis 

46:50 Treating Lyme disease through nutrition and training changes

52:40 Feeding a family with different nutritional needs and fueling as an athlete; the importance of eating enough and food flexibility 

1:00:15 Nutrition changes throughout life; higher protein needs for aging athletes

Reach Jen on Instagram @jensaintjean and follow me, your host Lindsey Cortes, @female.athlete.nutrition 

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