The L9P Athlete Ambassador Program is back!

Applications for the 2026 Lane 9 Athlete Ambassador Program are now open! We’re looking for collegiate athletes who are passionate about advocating for athlete health, period health, and improving team culture to become L9P Athlete Ambassadors.

Apply Now!

For full details on what a 2026 Lane 9 Project Ambassador will do, please review this link. If you have any questions, email us at lane9project@gmail dot com or shoot us a DM on Instagram @lane9project!

I (Alexis) was a collegiate runner from 2009-2013, before the social media landscape was what it is today. Facebook was for keeping up with high school connections and “friending” that girl you met at orientation, for her never to be seen again. Instagram was for selfies and blurry pictures of latte art with a zhuzhed up Nashville filter. Pinterest was a thinspirtation wasteland. It wasn’t the pressure cooker for perfection nor the vast educational tool that it is today.

When I was competing, I didn’t get a regular period. So I went on The Pill.

“You’re a runner, it’s normal,” they said.

They being the medical professionals I turned to for answers.

I deeply believed the myth that thinner equals faster. A myth seemingly confirmed when I looked at the girls winning cross country races. No matter the fact that those girls often ended up on the sidelines in a boot. No matter the fact that I did, too.

Somehow I understood I needed protein for recovery, so my teammate/friend and I would often make smoothies with cottage cheese after hard workouts, believing we were giving out bodies what they needed to adapt to our training and get faster. Other than that, I tried to eat as little as possible.

I had no understanding of carbohydrate needs, energy availability, or the consequences of spending every day in a calorie deficit. Training was training and the rest was on us to figure out.

There was no team dietitian.

There were no programs focusing on athlete mental health.

No one talked about The Female Athlete Triad (now REDs).

There were no voices on the internet counteracting harmful narratives.

We did the best we could with the limited information we had. But for many of us, it wasn’t enough. Our health and performance suffered.

The tide is changing in women’s sports, but there’s still work to do.

Social media has prompted conversations—about periods, body image, and eating enough—and made information more accessible than ever. But too often, athletes find the resources and stories they need after the fact. The Lane 9 Project Ambassador program is here to change that.

We aim to cultivate healthy team cultures by starting at the ground level, with the athletes themselves. We’re hoping that we can reach athletes before they’re injured and burned out. Our goal is to create small changes, season over season, that transform team culture and create a better future for incoming athletes. We know awareness is the first step to prevention.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably aligned with the L9P mission already. If you’re an athlete who is passionate about female athlete health and you’re ready to create change on your team, apply to become a Lane 9 Athlete Ambassador!

You don’t have to know everything, or even anything, about REDs. You don’t have to fully understand how to approach a teammate who may be struggling, or a trainer who is giving questionable nutrition advice. You don’t have to be the expert, that’s what we’re here for (along with our Clinicians). We’re supporting you, so you can bring these resources to the team and sport you care about.

Anyone competing at the college level in a women’s sports program! Doesn’t matter the sport, division, or location. We’ve primarily worked within the NCAA system, but understand there are other structures to collegiate sports. If you’re on a college women’s team, you may apply!

Our goal is to empower athletes with the information, resources, and tools needed to support their teams. The expectation is not that our athlete ambassadors are experts on female athlete health, but instead are a safe space to begin the crucial conversations we need to have to improve athlete health and well-being.

Our athlete ambassadors will engage in workshops with the Lane 9 team, connect with other ambassadors, hosts team conversations, and have access to our Lane 9 digital resource library.

For full details on what a Lane 9 Project Ambassador will do, please review this link. When you’re ready, apply here! If you have any questions, email us at lane9project@gmail dot com or shoot us a DM on Instagram.