WHOOP Podcast Training and Recovering As An Elite Runner with Olympian Colleen Quigley
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Oct 29, 2025 Colleen Quigley, an Olympian middle-distance and steeplechase specialist, shares her journey from NCAA champion to athlete empowerment through her team, Team Meridia. She discusses the challenges of injuries and overtraining in elite sports and contrasts her experiences with Nike and Lululemon's athlete-first approach. Colleen emphasizes the significance of a proper recovery routine and highlights the role of technology in modern training. She also touches on fueling practices, the impact of female physiology on performance, and the importance of strength training for longevity.
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Pause And Let Your Body Decide
- Colleen paused training when she felt burnt out and let her body dictate readiness to return.
- She emphasizes nervous system balance as the primary route to physical recovery.
What Steeplechase Really Is
- Colleen explains steeplechase as a 3000m race with barriers and water jumps every lap.
- She says the event forces presence because obstacles and other runners constantly demand attention.
Success With A Costly Culture
- Colleen recounts training with a top Oregon group and achieving Olympic success while accumulating injuries.
- She links the team's win-at-all-costs culture to escalating injuries and overtraining.