207. REDs in Men: Luke Vanderfeen’s Story of Recovery, Identity & Overtraining
Today we hear from Luke Vanderfeen, an Aussie physio and runner now based in London at The Running Room, where he works exclusively with runners. Luke recently went through a personal and professional turning point: being diagnosed with REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport).
In this honest and powerful conversation, Luke shares his experience of REDs from both sides of the treatment room — as a physio and as a patient. He talks about the warning signs he missed, what his training looked like at the time, and the physical and emotional toll of underfueling. Most importantly, he walks us through his recovery process, how he’s reframed his relationship with running, and the importance of identity beyond sport.
We discuss:
• What REDs actually is (and why it’s not just for elite women)
• Luke’s signs, symptoms, and training load at the time
• The treatment process and key turning points
• The impact of comparison, identity, and social pressure
• Why asking “why do I run?” can change everything
This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating performance, energy availability, or just trying to find balance in their training. Candid, insightful, and grounded in experience, Luke’s story is one so many runners will connect with.
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TSSP x