Understanding the Female Athlete: Physiology-Based Training for the Mountains
Are you a female-bodied mountain athlete who feels like the standard training advice just isn’t working for you? Or a coach, partner, or supporter trying to better understand why female athletes often experience the mountains differently than what mainstream sports science suggests?
This recorded webinar features IFMGA Mountain Guide and strength & conditioning coach Lyra Pierotti, who dives into the science—and real-world application—of training female athletes for the demands of the mountains. Drawing on emerging research and years of high-level guiding and coaching experience, Lyra breaks down how female athletes can train, recover, fuel, and perform more effectively by working with their physiology, not against it.
For decades, sports science has centered male bodies, leaving many female athletes navigating mixed messages, outdated assumptions, and one-size-fits-all programming. This session cuts through the noise and offers a clearer, more supportive framework for long-term athletic development in alpine and expedition environments.
Whether you’re preparing for a big expedition, heading into a demanding guiding season, or simply want to feel stronger and more confident in the mountains, this webinar delivers practical tools you can actually use.
Rethink your training. Trust your body. And climb higher—on your own terms.
Here are a few recommended resources from Coach Lyra from the webinar:
- Roar by Dr. Stacy Sims – The groundbreaking book that revolutionized exercise, nutrition and performance for female athletes.
- Next Level by Dr. Stacy Sims – Your guide to kicking ass, feeling great, and crushing goals through menopause and beyond.
- Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes by Christine Yu – Sports and health journalist Christine Yu disentangles myth and gender bias from real science, making the case for new approaches that can help women athletes excel at every stage of life, from adolescence to adulthood, through pregnancy, menopause, and beyond.
Looking for more content aimed at women in mountaineering? Check out these excellent blog posts!
- Women on Top: Expert Advice from a Mountain Guide Webinar & Tips
- Hygiene in High Places: Webinar Recording
- Women’s-Specific Climbing Tips
