If you’ve ever felt mentally foggy or struggled with decision-making during or after a long training session, this episode is for you.Dr. Sara Gross and Dr. Erin Ayala sit down with Katherine Boere, a Ph.D. candidate in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Victoria, whose research explores how the brain recovers from cognitive depletion—especially under the demands of endurance sports.With a background in biomedical engineering and personal experience recovering from brain injury, Katherine brings a unique lens to how physical exertion impacts cognitive resilience, decision-making, and mental recovery.Her research shows:

• The real cognitive toll of fatigue—particularly in high-performance environments
•  How low energy availability affects brain function, especially in female endurance athletes
•  Why fueling and hydration are essential for mental performance, not just physical output
• The cognitive benefits of outdoor exercise over indoor settings
• How mindfulness and decision delegation can reduce mental strain during training and racing
• Simple, everyday strategies to support brain health and cognitive recovery

Whether you're an athlete, coach, or someone curious about boosting brain performance, this conversation offers research-backed strategies you can use right away.

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