What if you could shatter world records while excelling as a top pediatric surgeon? Join us for a compelling conversation with Ellen Reynolds, a master swimmer extraordinaire and recently retired pediatric surgeon, who has done just that. Ellen who hails from Boise, Idaho, opens up about her journey from learning to swim at age three to setting 20 national and/or world records this year alone. We explore her groundbreaking medical career, including her innovative work with pectus excavatum patients, and discuss how she managed to balance her intense professional life with her passion for swimming. And how these two have pursuits have been synergistic.

In this episode, we delve into Ellen's meticulous training regime that evolved after 20 years of consistency in the pool. Discover how she initially focused on fitness routines involving walking, elliptical workouts, and strength training before ramping up her swimming workouts. Ellen shares the strategic importance of balancing hard and easy sessions, and why the myth of endless long-distance training is just that—a myth. Her experience illustrates how adapting workouts to fit an unpredictable career can lead to outstanding athletic achievements.

As we wrap up, Ellen offers invaluable insights into the community aspect of master swimming and the impact of hormone replacement therapy on women's health. We discuss her plans post-retirement, her personal motto, and some fun facts that give a glimpse into the champion's life outside the pool. Listen in for an episode filled with inspiration, practical advice, and the powerful message that it’s never too late to pursue your passions and achieve greatness.

The Menopause Society mentioned in the interview can be found at  https://menopause.org/

Ellen's current swimming achievements:

• Meet results for Ellen M Reynolds (389 swims)
• Top Ten achievements (255 individual, 3 relay)
• All-American Honors (14 years pool individual, 6 years long distance individual, 1 years long distance relay)
• All-Star Honors (1 years long distance, 9 years pool)
• USMS Records
  (pool individual: 53 currently held, 72 lifetime ,
  pool relay: 1 currently held, 1 lifetime,
  long distance individual: 4 currently held, 5 lifetime records)

Email us at [email protected]. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.