In 2014, Mary Cain was one of the fastest female runners in the world at the age of 17. After struggling with multiple injuries though, Cain had to stop running professionally. Similarly, Allie Ostrander was another young runner who won the NCAA D1 steeplechase three years in a row. In 2021, Ostrander stepped away from professional running, shocking everyone who expected her to head to the Olympics. Both of these women were at the top of their field and expected to make it to the Olympics, but both of their careers were cut short by the same unfortunate condition, RED-S.
RED-S, or relative energy deficiency in sport syndrome, is related to disordered eating while participating in intense sports and leads to reduced bone density, menstrual disorders, and lifelong health consequences. Female runners are particularly prone to this condition due to the widespread culture in running that encourages and sometimes forces female athletes to be at dangerously low body weights in order to be as fast as possible.
Ostrander and Cain both fell victim to the same culture, but their stories are different. Right after an outstanding performance at the 2014 World Junior Championships in Athletics, Cain joined the Nike Oregon Project. The coaches at this project forced an outrageously low weight they wanted Cain to achieve, shaming her if she didn’t meet it. A few years after starting this regime, Cain had suffered five bone fractures and wasn’t been able to replicate her past success from 2014.
On the other hand, no one had forced Ostrander to lose weight. Rather, she was influenced by the culture around her. As girls go through puberty, they naturally gain fat that is necessary for healthy development. Ostrander, along with many other young runners, believed that by delaying this weight gain, she could avoid the slump in performance that is usually seen in female runners at this age. This worked, but only temporarily. Eventually, Ostrander was plagued by injuries and poor mental health that ultimately hurt her career.
Now, both women have recovered from the disordered eating that took away their athletic careers and are vocal about the changes that need to be made to protect other girls in the sport.
This issue runs deeper than a bad sport practice. Rather than prioritize an athlete’s long-term health, the culture prioritizes temporary success. Women’s and men’s bodies are incredibly different, both medically and athletically, and need different methods of training. Male runners have less trouble maintaining and improving their performance while going through puberty, but expecting girls to adhere to this is damaging the lives of female runners and the sport as a whole. Female long distance runners peak in their mid to late 30’s, so there’s no reason not to allow a small backslide in favor of future success. But more importantly, girls shouldn’t be pressured to damage their bodies for athletic success. It’s time to get rid of this practice and start listening to Mary Cain, Allie Ostrander, and every other woman about what’s right for their bodies.
