Guest: Alexa — Glenbard West High School (IL) senior, University of Wisconsin commit

Episode summary:
Alexa shares her running journey — starting with family fun runs, joining middle‑school track for the joy of the sport, and building a thoughtful high‑school cross country and track career. She opens up about recovering from an eating disorder and period loss, and credits a collaborative team (high‑school coaches, caretakers, nutritionist, and mental‑health therapist) for helping her recover and refocus on fueling and wellbeing. Alexa discusses trust in coaching, being coachable, quality over quantity in training, yoga and visualization, and why having female coaches made it easier to discuss female‑specific issues. She also describes her gentle college recruiting process and why Wisconsin felt like the right fit.

Episode highlights:

How Alexa fell in love with running: family runs, local races, and finding joy over competition.

Transition from middle school to high‑school training: building a strong base and learning the sport.

Honest conversation about eating disorder recovery and period loss — the role of a multidisciplinary support team.

The shift to “fueling for sport and recovery”: practical changes in mindset and nutrition
Importance of coachability, trusting the process, and prioritizing quality training.

Benefits of yoga: recovery, race visualization, and mental rest.

Impact of female coaches on open conversations around female athlete health.

College recruiting: Alexa’s outreach, visits, and why the University of Wisconsin was the perfect fit.

Training philosophy: mid‑mileage focus, avoiding overtraining, and fundamentals (drills, dynamics, mobility).

Practical tips from Alexa:
Eat from all food groups; focus on fueling for activity and recovery

Pre‑activity carbohydrate target example: ~60 g carbs (easy sources like fruit strips, rice crisps, or Gatorade with sugar)

Post‑run recovery: chocolate milk; add a banana on yoga/recovery days for extra energy

Prioritize quality over quantity in workouts; do drills, dynamics, and mobility consistently

Be coachable: listen to coaches, trust the training plan, and lean on the people in your corner

Why this matters:
Alexa’s story highlights that athletic development and mental/physical health go hand in hand. Recovery is possible with the right team, nutrition, and a balanced approach to training.

Call to action:
Share this episode with a female athlete or coach you care about. Good luck to Alexa in her 2026 outdoor track season — go Badgers!