Understanding the Female Athlete

About this episode

The episode explores the unique training needs and phases of female mountain athletes throughout their life stages.

In this special International Women's Month episode, host Chantelle Robitaille sits down with coach Alexa Hasman to explore what it truly means to train as a female mountain athlete. Together they walk through the physiological realities of each major life phase — from the menstrual cycle and pregnancy to postpartum recovery and menopause — not as limitations, but as distinct training phases requiring smart adaptation. Anchored by the guiding principle that "ability is the measure of permission," they challenge women to reject the noise of external opinion and cultivate a deep, data-informed understanding of their own bodies. The conversation covers practical strategies at every stage: cycle-tracking tools and red flags to watch for; trimester-by-trimester training modifications during pregnancy; the often-overlooked realities of diastasis recti and pelvic floor recovery postpartum; and why strength training becomes non-negotiable during perimenopause and beyond. Alexa and Chantelle make a compelling case that women's athletic identity is not fixed to any single phase — it evolves — and that with the right coaching, community, and self-advocacy, female athletes can pursue big…

People in this episode

Host: Chantelle Robitaille

Guest: Alexa Hasman

Topics covered

• female athletes
• training phases
• menstrual cycle
• pregnancy
• postpartum recovery
• menopause
• strength training

Keywords

• female athlete
• training adaptation
• cycle tracking
• diastasis recti
• pelvic floor recovery
• perimenopause
• strength training

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Uphill Athlete

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