Let’s see how much attention this gets - Jen Rhines shares her thoughts

Ummm Shalane Flanagan has said she has never missed a period, either. Pretty sure she was at the top of her game.

I'm surprised at Jen's piece only because it directly contradicts Sonia O'Sullivan's, another runner who graduated Villanova just a few years before Jen. Sonia mentions that 114 was a number that was thrown around on the Villanova team (https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/sonia-o-sullivan-weight-issue-the-elephant-in-room-for-many-athletes-1.4082052). I find it hard to believe Jen did not experience or witness any of this weight shaming because this is apparently a problem that's been evident on the Villanova women's team for decades. I know women who have graduated within the last ten years who were overrun by eating disorders at that school - whether or not that is Gina Procaccio's doing or their own, I'm not sure, but I really find it hard to believe Jen wasn't exposed to any of this during her time at Villanova.

I know you guys have this irrational view of Shalane's career, but she ranks 114th on the woman's all time list for the marathon. She's good for an American, but not that good in the grand scheme. She's also a liar if she said that she has never missed a menstrual cycle.

Just askin' wrote:

And for the record; a woman CANNOT run 3:55 and still have a menstrual cycle. No way, no how! Glorified hobby joggers that call them selves professionals like Papas others like her most likely are telling the truth about not having menstrual issues. Those are not the people we are talking about. Mary Cain said she wanted to be the "best female athlete ever." If you still have a menstrual cycle, there is no way in hell that will happen. It's a lie to tell people that they can be the best and still have a functioning reproductive system. Science doesn't work like that.

Are you some sort of medical professional? Where is the research to back up your claim that a woman cannot be a world class runner and still have her period? Ever hear of Mary Keitany? She still has hers.

Runnerchx44 wrote:

Are you some sort of medical professional? Where is the research to back up your claim that a woman cannot be a world class runner and still have her period? Ever hear of Mary Keitany? She still has hers.

I never said it goes away forever. At the training loads required to run a 3:55 the body would no longer support reproduction and menstruation would stop. Just as your body shunts blood flow during exercise, so does it reallocate resources during extreme training cycles and since reproduction is unnecessary, it will shut it down. Yes, you can be a professional and run fast and not lose your period. No, you cannot be THE BEST EVER female distance runner, especially in events between 1500 and 5000 meters, and still have your period. And yes, I'm a medical professional.

I have no sources for you, just science.

Just askin' wrote:

Runnerchx44 wrote:

Are you some sort of medical professional? Where is the research to back up your claim that a woman cannot be a world class runner and still have her period? Ever hear of Mary Keitany? She still has hers.

I never said it goes away forever. At the training loads required to run a 3:55 the body would no longer support reproduction and menstruation would stop. Just as your body shunts blood flow during exercise, so does it reallocate resources during extreme training cycles and since reproduction is unnecessary, it will shut it down. Yes, you can be a professional and run fast and not lose your period. No, you cannot be THE BEST EVER female distance runner, especially in events between 1500 and 5000 meters, and still have your period. And yes, I'm a medical professional.

I have no sources for you, just science.

Dude you are no kind of professional because you clearly have no idea what you’re talking about. Starving women, either anorexic or in war torn countries, have gotten pregnant. Geriatric women have gotten pregnant. Life ‘finds a way’. Fertility isn’t so clearly defined as being only for women above a certain body fat percentage or below a certain mpw training program.

I can say as a female athlete who lost her period for SIX YEARS that it was not simply weight or training adjustments that brought it back. And I ran far better and was leaner when I had my period vs when I didn’t. The difference for me was nutrition.

Goucher saw Dr. Brown before ever meeting Salazar. Cain said Salazar belittled her once in two years about her weight and hated nop so much she begged to come back. Their credibility is zero.

I am a dorky hobbyjogger but am female and 5'7, 140 lb at age 40. (I don't really care if you think I'm fat or not, bc that is not the point of my post.) I run 30 mpw and sometimes swim or strength train, working out a total of 5 days a week.

About 3 years ago I dropped to around 125 trying the intermittent fasting thing. My period stopped. Not kidding. My doctor told me to gain some weight. So I am thinking when people's periods stop is also partly genetic bc even I know 125 isn't a big deal.

In high school I was 120-125 and didn't have a period for 3 years doing track and volleyball. I thought it was the greatest thing in the world but got it back in college when my running was more sporadic.

To answer the threads subject line, it is not getting much attention outside of LetsRun. And of course Cain \ Goucher \ Magness haven't commented on it since they only share Nike hater stories

Also Tara Welling's story hasn't been shared very much either.

Amazing how much attention you get if you play the #metoo card and attack successful people and corporations.

Yeah, that's why you're mentally soft and run for a sh8te D1 team, by your own admission.

How the F’ do you NOT know who Jen Rhines is? One of the longest and most productive distance running careers in US history, Male or Female.

It was nice to see Jen's post on this topic. She clearly is a three-time Olympian, multi-NCAA champ and multi-time U.S. team member for more reasons than just good genetics and hard work.

I hope her approach to and level-headed attitude about this sensitive subject becomes more common. Most female runners I know share her attitude - it is just one of many factors that contribute to success.

Just askin' wrote:

No, you cannot be THE BEST EVER female distance runner, especially in events between 1500 and 5000 meters, and still have your period. And yes, I'm a medical professional.

I have no sources for you, just science.

I assume "medical professional" means "billing clerk" or some such.

In any event, the research indicates that amenorrhea is caused by chronic calorie deficits and not by low body fat per se:

. There's a ton of research out there.

Just askin' wrote:

I have no sources for you, just science.

Sorry, but without sources, you are just another anonymous internet poster. And in case you aren't a native speaker, in English, "science" does not mean "I'm too lazy to look it up."

You tend to miss the obvious often?

But what about Sonia? wrote:

I'm surprised at Jen's piece only because it directly contradicts Sonia O'Sullivan's, another runner who graduated Villanova just a few years before Jen. Sonia mentions that 114 was a number that was thrown around on the Villanova team (

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/sonia-o-sullivan-weight-issue-the-elephant-in-room-for-many-athletes-1.4082052

). I find it hard to believe Jen did not experience or witness any of this weight shaming because this is apparently a problem that's been evident on the Villanova women's team for decades. I know women who have graduated within the last ten years who were overrun by eating disorders at that school - whether or not that is Gina Procaccio's doing or their own, I'm not sure, but I really find it hard to believe Jen wasn't exposed to any of this during her time at Villanova.

It's fair to take Rhines's account with an anti-revisionist grain of salt.

Not to mention it is looking like Mary will never sniff sub-15:00 or 31 for 10K.

Harlinsdaler wrote:

How the F’ do you NOT know who Jen Rhines is? One of the longest and most productive distance running careers in US history, Male or Female.

Alsoran on the world stage. She's no Deena or Joanie.

Are college runners today introduced to doctors, sports psychologists and nutritionists when they run for their college team? I'm interested in hearing from recent college runners on this subject.