Hormone cycle may change how women handle tough workouts

This study looks at how natural changes in estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle affect a woman's readiness for exercise, how hard exercise feels, and recovery after a challenging downhill run. Researchers will measure perceived readiness, muscle soreness, and inflammatory markers in 30 healthy women aged 18-35 who are not on hormonal birth control. The goal is to understand how these hormones influence the body's response to exercise.