When Setbacks Spark Growth: My Injury & Discovery of RED-S

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Training Setbacks

I’ve often been told that “pushing my limits” is the only way to excel as a triathlete. In the spirit of champions like Lionel Sanders—Mr. No Limits himself—I’ve wholeheartedly thrown myself into an intense training regimen for the Ironman Lake Placid event. However, a recent injury in my gluteal area forced me to hit the pause button. Initially, I chalked it up to overuse or the typical aches of high-volume training. But as the pain intensified, I suspected a sacral stress fracture and scrambled for answers through an MRI and CT scan. None of those tests provided a clear diagnosis, leaving me puzzled—and sidelined.

A Hidden Culprit: RED-S

If you’re like me, you might assume serious health problems in sports always correlate with dramatic weight loss or disordered eating. But, after much digging, I discovered the root cause of my setback: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). It turns out that simply “eating more than you burn” isn’t always enough. Though I thought I was ahead—consuming nearly 2,000 calories beyond my daily expenditure—I was still operating at a crucial energy deficiency.

Our bodies are brilliant at adapting. Much like adjusting a basal metabolic rate to preserve energy when body fat levels are low, they can also mask underlying issues until they become real problems. RED-S can impact hormonal imbalances, weaken your immune system, and, as I learned, expose you to injuries like stress fractures. Sometimes, we view triathlon as purely a test of willpower, but this revelation reminded me of finance and exponential growth: if you don’t deposit enough “calories” in your training “bank,” your performance can’t compound or grow as it should.

Adjusting Course

Finding out I had RED-S forced an immediate decision: I had to withdraw from the Ironman Lake Placid. My first reaction? Disappointment, of course. Nobody trains day and night for a premier event and walks away without a sting. But as the dust settled, I realized it might be a hidden blessing. I’ve said many times that so-called “negative events” can reveal the greatest learning opportunities. Dropping out of a big race is never fun, but it opened my eyes to how I was sabotaging my

What caused the speaker to withdraw from Ironman Lake Placid?

The speaker was forced to withdraw from Ironman Lake Placid due to an injury linked to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), which affected his ability to continue his intense training regimen.

What is Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)?

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) is a condition that occurs when there is an energy imbalance between the calories consumed and the calories expended through exercise and metabolism. It can lead to health issues such as stress fractures, hormonal imbalances, and a weakened immune system.

How did the speaker realize he had RED-S despite consuming a high caloric intake?

The speaker understood that despite a high caloric intake, he was not consuming enough to meet the demands of his intense training. The realization came when he experienced symptoms of RED-S, leading to his injury and subsequent medical evaluation.

What steps does the speaker plan to take after discovering his energy deficiency?

The speaker plans to address his energy deficiency by adjusting his diet to include more calories to support his training and overall health. He sees it as an opportunity to improve his future performance in triathlons.