177. Nutrition Culture in Pro Cycling + Eating Disorder Struggles to Ultra Running Success with Becca Windell

Female Athlete Nutrition

This episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition podcast is with elite trail and ultra runner and wildlife biologist Becca Windell. Becca has a remarkable story from professional cycling in her early 20s, to retiring from sport due to an eating disorder, then returning to competitive sport as an elite ultra runner in her 30s, and recently earning a Golden Ticket into the Western States 100 mile race. We discuss the disordered nutrition culture Becca experienced as a professional cyclist, and how the pressure to be lighter was the catalyst for a severe eating disorder and falling out of love with sports. Becca shares about stepping away from sports to fully recover, which allowed her to find her passion for wildlife biology and animals. We talk about Becca’s journey back into elite racing as a fully fueled trail and ultra runner, and how she developed a happy and healthy relationship with sports as part of David and Megan Roche’s Team SWAP. Becca gives the listeners plenty of fueling tips for before, during, and after workout nutrition, emphasizing the power of high-carb fueling for optimal performance: more fueling equals better training and racing!

TOPIC TIMESTAMPS:

7:45 Becca’s PhD in wildlife biology

11:20 Becca’s former pro cycling career

19:10 Disordered eating culture in pro cycling; Becca’s nutrition journey

21:20 The harm of commenting on bodies

27:55 Healthy vs harmful nutrition education

29:30 Eating disorder struggles as a pro athlete

33:20 Becca’s ED recovery and changing relationship with sport

35:25 Identity and life changes outside of athletics

39:30 Meat vs vegan diets in athletics and ED recovery

42:10 Returning to competitive sports in a healthy and happy way: becoming an elite ultra runner

47:10 Workout fueling tips; pre/post training snack ideas

54:20 High carb fueling for better performance; training and race day nutrition

1:01:30 End of the podcast questions

We mentioned Dr. Megan and David Roche (Becca’s coach) and Team SWAP. Tune into episode 35: Run like a Puppy, Fuel with Taco Tuesday to hear them on the Female Athlete Nutrition podcast.

Find more about Becca on her website: www.beccawindell.com

Follow Becca on Instagram @beccawindell and me, your host Lindsey Cortes, @female.athlete.nutrition

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