Training With Your Cycle: 5K Time Trials, RED-S & Female Running with Lydia O’Donnell
Description
The Women’s Running Collective Podcast
This week on the pod, Hayles and Jussie are back with a big catch-up on life, running, and those 5K time trials 😮💨. We chat all things pacing, nerves, race-day lessons, and why time trials are just as much a mental workout as a physical one. Spoiler: mistakes were made, lessons were learned, and growth is happening.
We also squeeze in some festive chaos, post-run reflections, and plenty of laughs before sitting down with our incredible guest, Lydia O’Donnell is the co-founder of Femmi.
Lydia is a former elite marathoner and Nike Pacific Running Coach who’s now leading the charge in changing how women train. We talk openly about disordered eating, RED-S, menstrual cycle education, and why so many women have been training against their bodies for years without even realising it. Lydia shares how aligning her training with her cycle completely changed her performance, health, and relationship with running — and how Femmi is helping other women do the same.
This episode is powerful, educational, and honestly a must-listen for any woman who runs (or wants to).
Episode Breakdown
00:00 Welcome to the Women’s Running Collective
00:20 Christmas vibes, festive chaos & recent run trials
00:40 The 5K time trial – pacing, prep & post-run emotions
08:47 What we learned (the hard way) & race-day reflections
11:21 Christmas party shenanigans
13:48 Meet Lydia O’Donnell, co-founder of Femmi
22:55 Big dreams, elite running & chasing athletic goals
23:16 Lydia’s journey into Nike & the world of high-performance sport
23:45 Using sport to inspire and empower others
24:27 Gender barriers in running and high-performance environments
25:32 Coaching women & creating better opportunities
26:31 Founding Femmi and challenging outdated training models
26:58 Personal struggles, RED-S & reconnecting with her body
30:19 Why menstrual cycle education matters for runners
32:30 How Femmi is empowering female runners
43:43 Mindset, confidence & visualisation techniques
48:33 The power of community and shared experiences
52:40 Final thoughts, recommendations & wrapping up
Accelerate 3" High-Rise Running Short
If you’ve ever felt confused, frustrated, or disconnected from your body as a runner — this one’s for you. Don’t forget to subscribe, share with a run friend, and let us know what hit home 🤍🏃♀️
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