NC State's Kate Putman on REDs, Period Pain, and Why She Adopted a Dog Mid-Season

What does it actually look like when a collegiate athlete decides to take women's health into her own hands, and bring her whole team along with her?

Kate Putman is a senior at NC State University running cross country and track for one of the most decorated programs in the country under Coach Laurie Henes. She's also a biological sciences student, a Lane 9 inaugural athlete ambassador, a steeplechase All-American, a summer research intern with REDs researcher Katie Ransberger in Munich, and — perhaps most importantly — pet-parent of Kaz, a mostly rottweiler who has attended team photo shoots and maybe even improved her race times. She's here to talk about all of it.

Heather and Kate cover the journey from excruciating period pain freshman year to fueling adequately to the support around her, what she learned watching low energy availability research happen in real time in Germany, and how a culture shift around fueling on her team has looked less like a lecture and more like popsicles on a long run trail.

Chapters

[00:05:00] Interning with REDs researcher Katie Ransberger in Munich — and what she brought back to NC State

[00:12:00] The fueling adjustment no one talks about: going from farm-fresh food to a college dining hall

[00:15:00] How her strength coach helped her reframe what a strong body looks like

[00:20:00] Joining the Lane 9 Ambassador Program — and why she wanted to be educated first

[00:28:00] What it means to actually fuel for endurance: carbs, timing, and breaking down the fear

[00:29:00] How fueling culture shifted on the NC State team — snacks, gels on long runs, and popsicle trail angels

[00:34:00] Period pain, birth control, and finding a doctor who actually explained things

[00:42:00] Why she adopted Kaz two years ago — and why she'd do it again in a heartbeat