Lane 9 Project is on a mission to reduce REDs in women's sports, and keep athletes in the game.
Since 2017 Lane 9 Project (L9P) has been raising awareness of both REDs and eating disorders in women’s sports through athlete stories, resources, and events for women's sports teams and athletes. We produce a podcast, host workshops and professional development webinars, and connect athletes to Women’s Sport and Health clinicians who are ready to support them through REDs, eating disorders, and staying healthy in their sport.
We want to destigmatize the fueling, mental health, and body image struggles many athletes in women’s sports are navigating. And we’re passionate about normalizing eating enough, regular periods, and athletes that come in all bodies.
Lane 9’s mission is to reduce REDs in women’s sports.
We believe that by raising awareness and providing education around REDs, periods, and nutrition, we can support athletes to stay in the sports they love, for the long run.
Because we know:
— Menstrual health is foundational to performance and overall health.
— Athletes often struggle in silence, but they don’t have to.
— It takes a team—multidisciplinary clinicians, well-informed coaches and parents, and supportive peers—to navigate REDs.
We’re here to help you keep your periods regular, to share your stories, and help you build your care team.
Lane 9 Project was founded by Heather Caplan RDN, and Alexis Fairbanks MS, two former competitive athletes who experienced firsthand the effects of underfueling, the impacts of REDs, and the stigma around menstrual health.
We came together and wondered if we could do anything to change the culture of silence in sport, when it came to women athletes struggling with periods, nutrition, body image, and their mental health. We started by sharing our own REDs stories, and what happened next surprised us. Athletes found our stories, and wanted to share their own stories, through Lane 9.
From there, we grew to sharing these stories through our website, and then our podcast, and on social platforms. Athletes candidly share how they’ve struggled with eating enough, with body changes, with periods, and with knowing when to ask for help. They trust us with these stories, knowing that they are reaching fellow women who need to hear it, so they, too, will
know when to ask for help.
And now we have a place where athletes not only learn more about REDs, periods, and nutrition, but they can also build their unique care team, with Lane 9’s help.
