Trail Society – Details, episodes & analysis

What does it really look like to pursue excellence over a decade — through injury, uncertainty, quiet rebuilds, and breakthrough moments that seem sudden only from the outside?

In this episode of Trail Society, host Corrine Malcolm sits down with one of her closest friends and most compelling athletes in the sport: Abby Hall. Fresh off her 2025 Western States 100 victory, Abby reflects on the long road that led there — and why the “messy middle” matters just as much as the podium.

This conversation is less about one race and more about a philosophy: making it "cool to care," showing up honestly, and staying in it when things don’t go to plan.

Together, Corrine and Abby dig into the rhythms of professional running beyond the highlight reels — from late-day training runs and household logistics to mindset shifts, team alignment, and the vulnerability of saying “I want to win.”

Whether you’re chasing podiums, consistency, or just a deeper connection to why you run, this episode offers a powerful reminder: there’s no one right way to do this — but there is value in doing it fully.

It’s a thoughtful, funny, deeply human conversation about longevity, grit, and what it means to grow alongside a sport that’s also growing up.

Support our partners:

This episode is brought to you by rabbit. If you're looking to treat yourself after the holidays or upgrade your winter running kit, head to www.runinrabbit.com and use code TRAILSOCIETYJAN in January for 10% off.

Trail Society is newly a part of the Feisty Media podcast network. Learn more about Feisty, a women's sports and health media and education company, at feisty.co

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Join Feisty at the Grand Traverse in Duluth, MN on October 3rd! Use code FEISTY20 for $20 off when you register at https://feisty.co/events/the-grand-traverse/

@feisty_media

@trail.society

Episode 116 is a year end reflection with Corrine Malcolm, Keely Henninger, and Hillary Allen, released just ahead of the New Year. The conversation opens with lighthearted check ins on holiday routines, winter training, and how each host plans to ring in 2026. From there, the episode moves into results, news, and science, including a detailed discussion of new findings from the ReFUEL study examining menstrual recovery, estrogen exposure, and ovulation in endurance athletes with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea. The hosts unpack what it actually means for cycles to return, why multiple consecutive cycles matter, and how this research informs coaching, athlete health, and family planning conversations.

The second half of the episode is a wide ranging reflection on the year that was. Corrine, Keely, and Hillary look back on major themes from Trail Society in 2025, including athlete contracts, travel and racing highlights, fertility, resilience, fatigue, recovery, and women's sports milestones. They reflect on favorite conversations and guests, moments that surprised them, trends they are ready to leave behind, and ideas they hope shape the future of the sport. The episode closes with personal roses and thorns from the year, Society Slam listener questions, and an exciting announcement about what's coming next: a short break, a new weekly format in 2026, and even more long run listening ahead.

Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by rabbit. If you're looking to treat yourself after the holidays or upgrade your winter running kit, head to www.runinrabbit.com and use code HOPPYHOLIDAYS in December for 10% off.

Citations

Mallinson, R. J., et al. (2025). Multiple eumenorrheic cycles are necessary to observe a significant increase in estrogen exposure and ovulation in exercising women with functional hypothalamic oligo/amenorrhea undergoing a nutritional intervention: Insights from the REFUEL study. PM & R: The Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.70024

Episode 107 of Trail Society kicks off with life updates from Keely and Hillary, before diving into listener-submitted news and research. They discuss a BBC story where undercover officers highlighted the prevalence of street harassment, with 94% of local women reporting experiences of catcalling. This transitions into a conversation around exercise during pregnancy, sparked by a listener question about heart rate guidelines. The hosts review current research showing that, for athletes already active, higher intensity exercise can be safe and even beneficial during pregnancy, lowering risks like gestational diabetes and improving newborn Apgar scores. They emphasize that heart rate is an imprecise measure, and individualized approaches are important.

The main feature of the episode is an interview with Anne Flower, an ER physician and elite trail runner who recently won and set a new course record at the Leadville 100, her debut 100-mile race. Anne shares how she balances training at a world-class level with her demanding medical career, and how lessons from the ER and ultrarunning inform each other. She reflects on her road-to-trail transition, the highs and lows of Leadville, and her mindset of tackling hard things as practice for resilience. Anne also discusses her role as Chief Medical Officer for Mountains to Mountains, her future racing goals, and offers advice for women entering the sport. The episode closes with listener shoutouts, stories of recovery after long races, training adaptations for different terrains, and heartfelt community support, reinforcing the podcast's commitment to uplifting women in endurance sports.

SPONSORSHIP:

We are so excited to be partnering with rabbit as our primary apparel sponsor this year! Send us some DMS about your favorite apparel and what you would like to see built for the trail running space! So snag some of the new Trail Society x rabbit line before it's gone!

New Code through the end of August—> HOPPER10

Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us!

FOLLOW US on Instagram: @trail.society

And go follow our NEW youtube channel @trailsociety_podcast

Pregnancy and Exercise Research Citations:

Dalhaug EM, Sanda B, Bø K, Brown WJ, Sundgot-Borgen J, Haakstad LAH. Exceeding the guidelines: A descriptive study of exercise, pregnancy, maternal and neonatal health outcomes in elite and recreational athletes. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2025 Apr 23;25(1):475. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07572-6. PMID: 40269794; PMCID: PMC12020307.

Worska A, Laudańska-Krzemińska I, Ciążyńska J, Jóźwiak B, Maciaszek J. New Public Health and Sport Medicine Institutions Guidelines of Physical Activity Intensity for Pregnancy-A Scoping Review. J Clin Med. 2024 Mar 18;13(6):1738. doi: 10.3390/jcm13061738. PMID: 38541963; PMCID: PMC10971148.

Bonus intro recorded separately: Keely and Hillary chat about their races at the Gorge Waterfalls 50k and 100k.

This episode of Trail Society discusses how to plan out a race season and use some races to build for "A" goals. Then it dives into how to best plan out your fueling for races.

Links:

NCAA women's basketball ads: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8LQojlqTkw

Free Trail Subscription!:https://freetrail.com/

Oura Ring: https://ouraring.com?mct=P3yNJl9q

Episode 106 of Trail Society opens with the hosts catching up after a busy stretch of travel, training, and transitions, sharing experiences from Alaska fast-packing, Wyoming family visits, and runs on hometown singletrack. The conversation then shifts to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, highlighting Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's long-awaited victory and the breadth of her multi-discipline cycling career. While her win came after a calculated, team-guided performance plan that included a 4 kg weight reduction, the hosts discuss how such strategies can raise health concerns, especially in a sport with a history of under-fueling and the belief that "lighter is always better." They explore the risk that focusing on weight, both in training and in media coverage, can perpetuate unhealthy body standards, particularly for young women who may try to emulate elite athletes without the same medical oversight or resources. The discussion considers how to balance performance optimization with athlete well-being and how coverage could better reflect the complexity of such decisions.

The episode also examines new research on self-efficacy and fatigue, showing how endurance limits are influenced by the brain's ability to predict and sustain effort. Studies on subliminal cues suggest that positive mental inputs can extend performance, reframing fatigue as partly a perception-driven process. Listener "Society Slams" bring forward concerns about limited access to women's race coverage, suggestions for scenic, low-altitude trail races ideal for groups, and lighthearted reflections on dream race snacks that don't sit well mid-run. Through these segments, the episode blends athlete health, sports science, and community conversation.

SPONSORSHIP:

We are so excited to be partnering with rabbit as our primary apparel sponsor this year! Send us some DMS about your favorite apparel and what you would like to see built for the trail running space! So snag some of the new Trail Society x rabbit line before it's gone!

New Code through the end of August—> HOPPER10

Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us!

FOLLOW US on Instagram: @trail.society

And go follow our NEW youtube channel @trailsociety_podcast

This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail

Articles:

Sweat Science: Why exercise makes us tired: https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/why-exercise-makes-us-tired

Cycling Weekly: Double Standards in Cycling :https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/4kg-the-weight-of-a-double-standard-pauline-ferrand-prevot-climbed-into-history-and-all-we-talked-about-was-her-body

In Episode 105, the Trail Society crew recaps big performances at recent races, including Katie Schide's record-setting win at Hardrock 100 and fast times from Cascade Crest and HiLo. They highlight events pushing for gender parity on start lines and discuss the return of athletes post-injury and pregnancy. There's also a quick rabbit x Trail Society product update and a listener Q&A about traveling with poles and gear for multi-day run ventures.

The second half of the episode shifts to research: Keely breaks down new studies exploring the effects of RED-S, amenorrhea, and chronic low energy availability on fertility and pregnancy outcomes. The team discusses IVF timing, egg freezing, and whether current training loads may impact reproductive health in elite athletes. They also review a study on total energy expenditure during and after a 100-mile race, highlighting the prolonged physiological stress of ultrarunning and its implications for recovery.

SPONSORSHIP:

We are so excited to be partnering with rabbit as our primary apparel sponsor this year! Send us some DMS about your favorite apparel and what you would like to see built for the trail running space! So snag some of the new Trail Society x rabbit line before it's gone!

USE CODE through the end of JULY—> STATES10!

Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us!

FOLLOW US on Instagram: @trail.society

And go follow our NEW youtube channel @trailsociety_podcast

This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail

This week on Trail Society, the team celebrates Hillary's selection to Team USA for the World Mountain Running Championships before diving into a timely and thought-provoking conversation on coaching young athletes. Guests Rachel Sanford and Jennifer Anderson-Ehrlich—leaders from Sportswomen of Colorado—share insights into mentoring girls through sport, navigating puberty in athletics, and creating cultures of confidence, leadership, and joy. Whether you're a coach, parent, or athlete, this episode offers a playbook for supporting the next generation. Don't miss the post-interview Society Slam, where the crew reacts to a new women's sports bar, listener questions about trail bathroom etiquette, and the call for more visibility of historic women in trail running.

SPONSORSHIP:

We are so excited to be partnering with rabbit as our primary apparel sponsor this year! Send us some DMS about your favorite apparel and what you would like to see built for the trail running space!

USE CODE through the end of JULY—> STATES10!

Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us!

FOLLOW US on Instagram: @trail.society

And go follow our NEW youtube channel @trailsociety_podcast

This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail

In this electric post-race episode of Trail Society, Corrine Malcolm sits down with co-host and freshly minted Western States Top Ten finisher Keely Henninger to relive the highs, lows, and hard-earned triumphs of this year's race. Keely reflects on her fourth go at WSER, this time arriving with a deeply personal approach, hard-won confidence, and zero obligations to perform for a brand—just herself. From a ferocious women's field to a historic showing by international athletes, Corrine and Keely break down everything that made this year's race unforgettable, including the dramatic chase to crack the top ten.

They dive into Keely's evolving mindset, her take on the lead women going out hot, how it felt to go "on the hunt" post-Foresthill, and how finally nailing her fueling strategy played a pivotal role. The episode touches on gear freedom, team dynamics, and what it's like to finish with joy instead of just survival. With questions from listeners and big-picture reflections, this conversation is a celebration of grit, growth, and the power of running on your own terms.

In this episode, ultrarunner, OB/GYN board certified physician, and mom of two Lauren Puretz, DO, returns to the podcast to dive deep into women's health with a focus on athletes navigating fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum. Lauren discusses complex reproductive health conditions like PCOS and endometriosis, especially how they present uniquely in athletic populations. She emphasizes the importance of proper diagnosis, individualization of treatment, and how these conditions can affect energy levels and performance. She offers practical advice for athletes with insulin resistance and stresses the importance of advocacy when pain is being overlooked in clinical settings.

The conversation then shifts into training during pregnancy and the often-overlooked postpartum period, where Lauren draws from both medical expertise and personal experience. She breaks down trimester-specific considerations for athletes, safe return-to-sport strategies, and how tools like belly bands can help. The hosts and Lauren tackle common but under-discussed challenges such as postpartum hormone shifts, fatigue, and breastfeeding demands on athletes. The episode closes with a powerful question on what changes Lauren would make in the medical system to better support female athletes across their reproductive lifespan, highlighting the need for more inclusive, evidence-based care and research for all stages—from puberty to perimenopause.

SPONSORSHIP:

We are so excited to be partnering with rabbit as our primary apparel sponsor this year! Send us some DMS about your favorite apparel and what you would like to see built for the trail running space!

USE CODE JUNEBUNNY for 10% OFF in JUNE!

Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us!

FOLLOW US on Instagram: @trail.society

And go follow our NEW youtube channel @trailsociety_podcast

This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail

In Episode 101 of Trail Society, OB/GYN, ultrarunner, and mom of two Dr. Lauren Puretz joins Corrine, Keely, and Hillary for a candid and insightful conversation about puberty, birth control, and fertility in female athletes. Drawing from both her medical practice and personal experience as an elite endurance athlete, Dr. Puretz breaks down complex topics like energy availability, menstrual health, and hormonal birth control, offering practical advice for athletes navigating these issues. The discussion highlights how puberty and menstruation are affected by training load, the importance of not masking menstrual irregularities with birth control, and how coaches and caregivers can support young athletes during this pivotal time.

The conversation also explores fertility concerns in current and retired athletes, including whether period loss during early athletic years may impact long-term reproductive health. Dr. Puretz discusses proactive steps athletes can take, such as hormone testing and fertility planning, and the growing trend of egg freezing among those delaying parenthood. Her honest and empowering perspective sheds light on the lifelong health journey female athletes face, from adolescence to adulthood, and sets the stage for a deeper dive into pregnancy and postpartum care in the next episode.

SPONSORSHIP:

We are so excited to be partnering with rabbit as our primary apparel sponsor this year! Send us some DMS about your favorite apparel and what you would like to see built for the trail running space!

USE CODE JUNEBUNNY for 10% OFF in JUNE!

Keep sliding into our DMs with your messages, they mean so much to us!

FOLLOW US on Instagram: @trail.society

And go follow our NEW youtube channel @trailsociety_podcast

This episode is brought to you by Freetrail @runfreetrail