The Fueling Forward Podcast

This week is a special episode of The Fueling Forward Podcast where you get to hear from the Fueling Forward dietitians, Maddie Alm and Alexa Efraimson. After a listener asked to hear our stories, we decided to interview each other so you can learn more about the dietitians behind Fueling Forward.
In today’s episode we talk about:
How Alexa got her start in running, going pro right out of high school and running the American junior record in the 1500
How Maddie went from a walk on to an All-American while at the University of Colorado
What Alexa struggled with as a pro athlete that led her to discover the field of nutrition and pursue a career as a dietitian
How working with a dietitian in college helped Maddie learn the importance of fueling for performance, and the changes that inspired her to become a dietitian
What each of us hope to change when it comes to nutrition for runners, and the runners we work with to help them learn how to fuel for health and performance
Our answers to the end of episode rapid fire questions!
If you would like to learn more about Fueling Forward and the services and resources we have to offer, you can head to our website at www.fuelingforward.com

This episode is a Q&A episode where I answer questions that have been submitted by listeners.
Questions for today’s episode include:
I’ve been struggling with a bone stress injury since June 2025 and have been mostly cross training. I’m struggling with body image and acknowledging that I still need to fuel. Do you have any advice?
I know I should fuel with carbs before a run, but should I also be fueling before strength training sessions? If so, what would be a good example?
I’m a high school runner trying to dial in my nutrition. I have an hour commute after practice, should I be fueling during this window? If so, what should I be having?
I’m a collegiate athlete and have been struggling to fall asleep at night. Is there anything I can do from a nutrition standpoint to try to improve this?
Thanks so much to everyone who has submitted questions so far! If you would like to submit a question for future episodes, you can do so on my website HERE or email me at [email protected].

This episode is an interview with runner and pelvic floor PT, Jessica Dorrington. Jess grew up in North Dakota, where she fell in love with running and went on to run at the collegiate level. Through her experience with injuries, she was inspired to pursue a career in physical therapy. She went on to get her Master's in Physical Therapy, and became a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist and Certified Manual Physical Therapist. Throughout her time as a PT, she discovered that she was passionate about pelvic floor health and became Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certified, a certification that only 150 practitioners have nationwide. She is now the Director of Physical Therapy at Therapeutic Associates Bethany and Rock Creek, where she works with everyone from recreational to pro runners to help them manage injuries and a wide scope of pelvic health related issues.
On top of her incredible career as a PT, Jess has also finished 10 marathons and has run a sub 3-hour marathon twice, most recently at Chicago in 2025. She's also a mom of 2, and her experience with pregnancy and postpartum and working with athletes going through this phase inspired her to co-write the book Strong as a Mother with former professional runner Shannon Rowbury.
In today's episode, we talk about:
How Jess got her start with running and what the running and nutrition scene was like in North Dakota
What she learned navigating injuries and how this inspired her to become a physical therapist
The overlap between physical therapy and nutrition when it comes to preventing, managing, and treating injuries in runners
What pelvic floor PT is and why pelvic health is important for runners of all ages, genders and levels
How Jess balances fueling with a busy life schedule, and her tips for runners to help them stay on top of their needs
Her book, Strong as a Mother, and why she hopes it will help empower women to find the balance between staying active and listening to their body throughout pregnancy and postpartum
You can learn more about Jess and her services as a PT HERE and you can find Jess's book Strong as a Mother HERE.

This episode is a Q&A episode where I answer questions that have been submitted by listeners.
Questions for today’s episode include:
My husband and I are both former collegiate athletes and have noticed our bodies shifting as we enter our 30's. Is this normal, and if so can you explain the science behind why this might be happening?
I recently learned that calcium can block iron as well as other things. How do you recommend splitting it up at meals and with other supplements?
My daughter has to take thyroid medication in the morning and can't eat for 30 minutes before she runs. I don't want her to train fasted and she doesn't want to wake up earlier to take it. Is there anything we can do?
I lift a lot and have gotten bulkier in the off season, and I'm worried this will prevent me from running a PR during track. Do you have any advice on race weight?
Thanks so much to everyone who has submitted questions so far! If you would like to submit a question for future episodes, you can do so on my website HERE or email me at [email protected].
If you're interested in our free Zoom webinar that will take place on Wednesday 3/18/26, you can register for that HERE.

This episode is an interview with runner and coach, Amy Haas. Amy is from Columbus, Ohio and is better known on Instagram as Race Across the States because she has completed a half marathon in every single state. In addition to that accomplishment, she is also a sub 3 hour marathoner as well as a running and strength coach. Amy is expecting her first baby due in a few weeks, and has been able to train and even race throughout her pregnancy.
In today's episode, we talk about:
How Amy discovered her love for running, and how that love for running eventually turned into a way to control how her body looked
Amy's worsening struggles with her relationship with food and body image, and the rock bottom that ultimately served as her wake up call to make some changes
How increasing her fueling and not focusing on weight allowed her to go from a 1:58 to a 1:19 half marathoner, and why weight isn't everything when it comes to performance
Amy's journey to becoming pregnant, navigating a miscarriage, and experiencing pregnancy after loss
What it has been like for her to continue to train and race throughout pregnancy, and why it has been an important part of her pregnancy journey
If you'd like to keep up with Amy, you can find her on Instagram @raceacrossthestates and you can also learn more about her coaching business HERE.

***Trigger warning: this episode discusses pregnancy and pregnancy loss, so you may want to skip it if you're not in a place to hear about those topics.***