Trail Society Episode 111: Discipline or Disorder? The Psychology of REDs in Ultra-Endurance Athletes with Jill Colangelo
In this episode of Trail Society, Corrine, Keely, and Hillary sit down with researcher Jill Colangelo to unpack their newly published review, "Exploring the Presentation of REDs in Ultra Endurance Sport." This conversation dives deep into the intersection of low energy availability (LEA), disordered eating (DE), and exercise dependence (EXD), issues that are all too common yet rarely discussed openly in the ultra-endurance community.
Many athletes are unknowingly underfueling, especially for efforts lasting over two and a half hours, and whether this is intentional or unintentional, the consequences can be profound. The discussion explores how extreme training volumes, psychological pressures, and cultural norms around toughness and body image make ultra athletes uniquely vulnerable to both the physiological and psychological components of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs).
Together, Jill and Keely break down what current research tells us, and what's still missing, about fueling, recovery, and mental health in endurance athletes. They also tackle one of the hardest questions for athletes and coaches alike: how do we tell the difference between being disciplined and being disordered?
This episode challenges assumptions, questions long-held beliefs about "grit" in sport, and offers a more compassionate lens on what it means to truly care for the athlete's body and mind.
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Citations:
Colangelo, J., Smith, A., Henninger, K. et al. Exploring the presentation of REDs in ultra endurance sport: a review. J Eat Disord 13, 210 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01381-0