We’re excited to feature the PEAC: Train Like a Girl podcast episode, ‘Rebuilding Runners – Movement, Strengths and Smart Recovery’ featuring Denise Smith.

Created by girls in sport for girls and coaches in sport, PEAC is a safe space for female athletes.  It’s a place where they can learn, connect, and grow through honest conversations about the realities of competing, training, and thriving in today’s athletic environments.

In this episode, Denise shares her expertise on injury prevention, return-to-play, and smart training strategies for female runners. The conversation explores the importance of:

• movement quality
• sleep
• nutrition
• cross-training
• barefoot training
• how athletes can rebuild the critical brain–body connection after injury

This thoughtful discussion highlights why supporting young female athletes takes a team approach. It emphasizes the importance of coaches, clinicians, nutritionists, parents, and athletes working together.

Listen to the episode and join the conversation about building healthier, stronger futures for girls in sport.

About Denise:

Denise Smith is a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience specializing in manual therapy, functional movement, and athlete care. She founded Smith Physical Therapy+ in 2015 to help patients recover faster and teach athletes to move more efficiently.

Believing our bodies are made to move, Denise emphasizes strength, mobility, and healthy movement patterns to support performance at every stage of life.

A proud member of the Crystal Lake community, Denise serves on City Council, chairs the Youth Commission, and contributes to several local leadership boards, reflecting her commitment to service and community wellbeing.

If you’re interested in sourcing one of our experts for your podcast, please click here.