Sophie Vecchione on Recovery, RED-S & Endurance Sport — 360 Life Stories

Sophie didn’t plan to work with runners in fact, she once hated running.Now she helps endurance athletes recover better, train smarter, and stay healthy.In this episode of 360 Life Stories, physiotherapist Sophie Vecchione shares her journey from psychology and neuroscience into physiotherapy, her time in the NHS, and what led her to build Run Free Rehab and specialise in endurance sport.We explore why recovery is often misunderstood, what relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) actually means, and how mindset, rest, and energy availability play a bigger role in performance than most people realise.In this episode, we cover:Why recovery is not the opposite of trainingWhat RED-S is, explained simplyThe guilt of leaving the NHS and how Sophie worked through itHow psychology and neuroscience shape her work with athletesWhy being open-minded and saying yes changed her pathA thoughtful, honest conversation about health, performance, and choosing a career that truly fits.