In this episode of the Female Athlete Podcast, I talk with physiotherapist and host of the More Than Miles podcast, Dr Kate Mihevc Edwards. We start by discussing her work as a physiotherapist treating athletes. Kate explains how she sees the body holistically, looking beyond the injury site to find the route cause and prevent future issues from arising. We touch on what to look for in a physiotherapist, and how to find a trustworthy and knowledgeable professional. Kate shares her own story as an endurance athlete, an identity she held closely until a near-death experience brought that to an end. Despite being an accomplished runner and triathlete, Kate explains how training for a half-Ironman postpartum nearly ended in disaster. Throughout her training cycle, Kate describes how she battled increasing negative self-talk and overwhelming fatigue, things she attributed to being out of shape and new motherhood. After several episodes of hitting extremely high heart rates and chest tightness -episodes of cardiac arrhythmias that could’ve been fatal- Kate embarked on a year long diagnosis journey which saw her become more and more restricted in her activity habits. Kate was eventually diagnosed with a rare genetic cardiac condition, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), and underwent heart surgery. We discuss the warning signs Kate overlooked, despite being a medical professional herself: blacking out, confusion, dizziness and a racing heart rate. Kate explains how doctors continued to disregard her symptoms even though she knew something was wrong, underscoring the importance of trusting your gut, self-advocacy and finding a professional who specializes with athletes, such as sports cardiologist Dr Kim who we had on Episode 72 of the Female Athlete Podcast. This episode covers loss of athletic identity and finding joy outside of sport. Kate shares the work she is doing to treat athletes holistically, expanding their identities beyond sport.  Kate has written two books, ‘Racing Heart’ and ‘Stop and Pee’, which combine personal anecdotes with actionable advice and resources for us all. We touch on returning to exercise postpartum and exploring new activities during different times in life.   Use code RISEUPNUTRITION for 25% off any InsideTracker plan + free results review over phone/ email with a registered dietitian, me! Follow Dr Kate on Instagram @katemihevcedwards Twitter @KateEdw96114704 and Facebook @KateMihevcEdwards  Find more on her websites https://www.katemihevcedwards.com/ https://www.precisionpt.org/  Check out her podcast Mind Over Miles https://www.katemihevcedwards.com/morethanmilespodcastshow-notes  Dr Kate Mihevc Edwards’ Official Bio Dr Kate Mihevc Edwards is a physical therapist, author, speaker and educator helping to widen the lens on treating and caring for endurance athletes. Through 12+ years of successfully treating thousands of frustrated athletes while navigating her own injuries and health struggles, Dr Kate knows and believes that an athlete's success is so much more than their body or their sport. Dr Kate employs a holistic approach focusing on the whole athlete, as well as their identity outside of athletics. Dr Kate founded Precision Performance and Physical Therapy in 2015 and co-hosts the Mind Over Miles podcast. She is the author of two books: Go Ahead, Stop and Pee: Running During Pregnancy and Postpartum and Racing Heart: A Runner's Journey of Love, Loss and Perseverance, leveraging her position as an educator and a clinic owner to educate healthcare providers and athletes about cardiac disease in athletes.  Learn more about Lindsey's Services and the Team at Rise Up Nutrition: www.riseupnutritionrun.com Worried that you have RED-S? Curious to know how we could help or how you can recover fast?! Download the RED-S Recovery Race & see how you place for more support:www.riseupnutritionrun.com/reds