Renee McGregor is a world-renowned sports dietitian, ultra-runner, and advocate for women in sport. With over 20 years of experience working with elite athletes, she’s passionate about helping individuals fuel their adventures, align with their core values, and thrive in both sport and life. As a trustee of Black Trail Runners, Renee is also dedicated to making the outdoors more inclusive.
In this episode, we dive deep into Renee’s journey—both professionally and personally—since we last spoke in 2016. From launching her own consultancy and leading a team of eight, to navigating life changes, an autoimmune diagnosis, and the challenges of peri-menopause, Renee shares her honest and insightful perspective on resilience, performance, and wellbeing.
What to Expect in This Episode:
🔥 How Renee’s career has evolved over the years
🥗 The truth about carbs, sugar, and fuelling for endurance
🏃♀️ The impact of running on mental resilience and stress management
📖 Her latest book, Fuel for Thought, and why nutrition should be accessible for all
🎥 Unfiltered—a powerful and deeply personal film following Renee’s journey through endurance sports, advocacy, and resilience.
💡 Why trusting your body is key and the myths around glucose monitoring
🙌 Creating a supportive community in sport and beyond
Whether you're an athlete, outdoor enthusiast, or just looking for inspiration on navigating life’s challenges, this conversation is packed with wisdom, practical advice, and powerful storytelling.
🎧 Listen now and get inspired!
🎙️ Catch the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, dropping every Tuesday at 7 am UK time! Don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women.
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Previous TGP episodes with Renee
Jul 26, 2016 - A Leading sports and eating disorder specialist dietitian with over 15 years experience working in nutrition. Renee works with elite athletes, coaches and sports science teams to provide nutritional strategies to enhance sports performance.
Listen to Renee Now!
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Show notes
Who is Renee
Being known for her work and how it has changed over the years
Living in Cumbria
When we first spoke back in July 2016 and then in Dec 2016
What’s being going on over the past 9 years?
Carbs and sugar
How her life has changed since 2016
Starting up her own consultancy and working with a team of 8 people
Going through a divorce and focusing on her girls
Continuing to build on her running
Writing 2 more books
Her adult daughters
Working with different types of teams
Wanting to help athletes
Wanting to align with her core values
Having a high tolerance for distress
How her running has helped her to manage stressful situations
The running community and feeling supported
Being diagnosed with an auto immune condition
Creating a strong community on social media and using her platform to educate
Wanting people to find the joy in running and eating
NEW Book: Fuel for Thought A practical guide to fuelling for your adventures
Wanting food to be accessible for everyone
Her personal journey and what she’s learnt along the way
Wanting people to thrive
Wearing a personalised glucose monitor?
Why food is not the only thing that affects glucose levels
Why there can be false reading
Having a shot of cider vinegar before a meal….
The fear of glucose spiking
Being able to trust your body and losing site of that
Our genetic blueprint
Tracking periods and training
Her journey with peri-menopause
Changes in mood and dealing with anxiety
HRT?
New film - Unfiltered
How the film came about
Jenny Tough - SOLO film
Wanting to make a film about women and mothers
Suffering from racial abuse and not feeling welcomed
Wanting to help women to stop feeling so much pressure
Going on tour with the film
London Mountain Festival - 15th March 2025 - Riverside Studios, Hammersmith
How you can connect with Renee
Thinking about starting a substack?
Final words of advice - “There will be something to learn even from the pain”
Instagram @r_mcgregor
Unfiltered website - to find out where you can see the film
Fuel for Thought by leading sports dietitian Renee McGregor is a practical guide to sports nutrition. Cutting through the jargon and misinformation, Renee draws on over twenty years’ experience of working with sportspeople from a range of disciplines to provide straightforward, accessible advice about how you can fuel your adventures.
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