The Fastest Girl in America: Inside Mary Cain’s “This Is Not About Running” (Part 1)

When The New York Times featured Mary Cain’s Opinion piece, "I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike," in 2019, the running world, including elite athletes, was shocked. Behind her record-breaking success was a story of pressure, abuse, and survival. In Part 1 of this special two-part series for Set the Pace, Rob sits down with Mary to discuss her powerful memoir, “This Is Not About Running,” and her experiences as a young professional athlete with the Nike Oregon Project and Coach Alberto Salazar. Mary shares how harmful coaching practices, body shaming, and a culture that prioritized performance over well-being affected her physical and mental health, ultimately leading her to speak out and advocate for change. The conversation explores the lasting impact of those experiences, the importance of recognizing RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), and why creating healthier environments for athletes matters most.

Content note: This episode includes discussions of eating disorders, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts that some listeners may find difficult.

You can find Episode 1 of HSS's 4 part series on RED-S HERE

And hear our interview with Josh Kerr HERE!

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor & Para National Championships! NYRR members Get a 10% off discount code. Find your discount code on your Haku dashboard.


FOLLOW NYRR: Instagram | Facebook | X | TikTok | YouTube
SUPPORT: Support the Set the Pace podcast! If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

DISCLAIMER

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.