Women’s Running Collective

Training With Your Cycle: 5K Time Trials, RED-S & Female Running with Lydia O’Donnell


Listen Later

Time Trials, Training with Your Cycle & Tackling Taboos with Lydia O’Donnell

The Women’s Running Collective Podcast

This week on the pod, Hayles and Jussie are back with a big catch-up on life, running, and those 5K time trials 😮‍💨. We chat all things pacing, nerves, race-day lessons, and why time trials are just as much a mental workout as a physical one. Spoiler: mistakes were made, lessons were learned, and growth is happening.

We also squeeze in some festive chaos, post-run reflections, and plenty of laughs before sitting down with our incredible guest, Lydia O’Donnell is the co-founder of Femmi.

Lydia is a former elite marathoner and Nike Pacific Running Coach who’s now leading the charge in changing how women train. We talk openly about disordered eating, RED-S, menstrual cycle education, and why so many women have been training against their bodies for years without even realising it. Lydia shares how aligning her training with her cycle completely changed her performance, health, and relationship with running — and how Femmi is helping other women do the same.

This episode is powerful, educational, and honestly a must-listen for any woman who runs (or wants to).

Episode Breakdown

00:00 Welcome to the Women’s Running Collective

00:20 Christmas vibes, festive chaos & recent run trials
00:40 The 5K time trial – pacing, prep & post-run emotions
08:47 What we learned (the hard way) & race-day reflections
11:21 Christmas party shenanigans
13:48 Meet Lydia O’Donnell, co-founder of Femmi
22:55 Big dreams, elite running & chasing athletic goals
23:16 Lydia’s journey into Nike & the world of high-performance sport
23:45 Using sport to inspire and empower others
24:27 Gender barriers in running and high-performance environments
25:32 Coaching women & creating better opportunities
26:31 Founding Femmi and challenging outdated training models
26:58 Personal struggles, RED-S & reconnecting with her body
30:19 Why menstrual cycle education matters for runners
32:30 How Femmi is empowering female runners
43:43 Mindset, confidence & visualisation techniques
48:33 The power of community and shared experiences
52:40 Final thoughts, recommendations & wrapping up

Femmi Instagram 

FEMMI 

Lydia Instagram

SHOKZ OPENDOT ONE

Accelerate 3" High-Rise Running Short

If you’ve ever felt confused, frustrated, or disconnected from your body as a runner — this one’s for you. Don’t forget to subscribe, share with a run friend, and let us know what hit home 🤍🏃‍♀️

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Women’s Running CollectiveBy Womens Running Collective

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

2 ratings


More shows like Women’s Running Collective

View all
No Filter by Mamamia Podcasts

No Filter

591 Listeners

Mamamia Out Loud by Mamamia Podcasts

Mamamia Out Loud

654 Listeners

Australian Birth Stories by Sophie Walker

Australian Birth Stories

181 Listeners

The Quicky by Mamamia Podcasts

The Quicky

104 Listeners

KICPod by LiSTNR

KICPod

165 Listeners

The Imperfects by Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg

The Imperfects

379 Listeners

The Women's Running Podcast by Esther Newman

The Women's Running Podcast

88 Listeners

Lise and Sarah by Those Two Girls

Lise and Sarah

52 Listeners

Something To Talk About by Stellar

Something To Talk About

88 Listeners

The Nutrition Couch by Susie Burrell & Leanne Ward

The Nutrition Couch

71 Listeners

The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show by A Crap Housewife Production

The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show

48 Listeners

Cheeky Run Club by Phoebe & Anna

Cheeky Run Club

6 Listeners

The Runna Podcast by Runna

The Runna Podcast

43 Listeners

Ready or Not by ODd Network

Ready or Not

1 Listeners

Vain-ish by LiSTNR

Vain-ish

36 Listeners