Matt Welcomes former professional runner, running coach, and author Lauren Fleshman to the show to celebrate the release of her autobiographical memoir, Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World. Lauren details her new book which uses her personal experience and the challenges she faced as a collegiate and professional athlete in a male-centric environment, as a catalyst to bring about significant change in women’s athletics. Matt and Lauren discuss women’s sports in a male arena and how to reframe the female experience in a way that is grounded in knowledge of the female body. They cover the taboo of female physiology embedded in the culture of the sport. Lauren dissects the toxic talk that hinders natural performance development, can lead to body dysmorphia, and can encourage disordered eating habits in athletes. Matt and Lauren offer applicable tools for developing a foundation of support for female athletes as coaches, teammates, and loved ones, to help foster positive and healthy growth, improved performance, and longevity. Whether you are a coach, a parent, a supporter, or an athlete yourself, this episode provides insight into the diversity of voices and experiences at every level of sport. It inspires a call to action to create an environment that accommodates every type of athlete and helps nurture a deep love for sport. Lauren Fleshman - Highlights 5 NCAA championships at Stanford 2 USA Outdoor 5,000 meters championships 15-time NCAA ALL-American Former member of Nike’s Oregon Track Club Elite Brand strategy advisor for Oiselle, a fitness apparel company for women. Co-founder of Picky Bars, a natural food company. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times and Runner’s World. She lives in Bend, OR with her spouse, triathlete Jesse Thomas, and their two children. More on Lauren Fleshman More about the book Order Good for a Girl Episode Timestamps 00:00 - 04:16 - Welcome and Episode Introduction 04:24 - 1:09:16 - The Meat and Potatoes - Episode 249: Good for a Girl - A Woman Running in a Man's World (Interview with Lauren Fleshman) Purple Patch Video Podcast and More The Purple Patch Center is Open - Learn More and Schedule a Visit Free Live Webinar - Free Speed: Essential Strategies to Help You Align Trained Potential with Race-Day Performance Purple Patch Coaching Consultation Purple Patch and Episode Resources This episode is sponsored by our collaboration with INSIDE TRACKER. Inside Tracker and Purple Patch - Receive 20% off their services with code: PURPLEPATCHPRO20 Ask Matt Anything - Leave a voicemail question for Matt Learn more about Purple Patch Squad High-Performance Training Program Join Bike Squad - Don’t just exercise and work out; learn to train with our structured online cycling program Join Run Squad - Increase your running performance through our progressive, multi-sport approach to running Learn more about Purple Patch Fully Customized 1:1 Coaching Learn more about Purple Patch Strength Programming Purple Patch Swim Analysis Stay Up-to-Date with Purple Patch News and Events Purple Patch Upcoming Webinars and Events