The Placeba Effect by ultra mama

pla·ce·bo ef·fect
/pləˈsēbō əˈfekt/

• 1. a beneficial effect, produced by a placebo drug or treatment, that cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient's belief in that treatment.

​At my retirement, I was a nurse/clinical research coordinator for a USC Hepatitis Research Center at LA County Hospitals. It was there that I became familiar with the "placebo affect". Once a patient has not responded to the standard of care treatment, they may be eligible for a clinical trial to be blindly randomized to (1) study drug or (2) placebo. Evidence that placebo sometimes helps the patient is when the patient's disease shows measurable improvement which is rare but does happen. An interesting observation is that placebo patients may report drug side effects like headache, weight gain, dry mouth and more. Of particular interest is how some placebo patients will report improved quality of life that may be related to the fact that study visits are often more detailed and personal than are routine physician visits so there may even be a placebo effect for all study patients from the personal attention they receive from their study team.

I see the relationship of Placebo Affect with Ultra Ladies. For 24-years, I've watched newbies show up for their first trail run and they all express familiar sentiments "OMG... I don't belong here... what have I gotten myself into? Truth is, the first few trail runs ARE scary if it's new to you but by the time you run your first ultra marathon, scary is replaced by nervous excitement.

How is this possible?

It's the PlacebA Affect!

PlacebA Affect is trail running with like-minded Ladies who have been where you are, who share the same worries and insecurities that women face. It's showing up for some very long and difficult runs knowing that trail has lessons to teach you about fear, weakness, humility and the women who run beside you are your partners in these lessons. 

This makes Ultra Ladies your PlacebA! 

Ultra Ladies running leads to growth... confidence... positivity... empowerment. These changes don't occur just from the running but from running on trail... with your trail sisters... and believing that positive changes will happen through the process.

​This is the PlacebA Affect!

​Through running with Ultra Ladies you will come to know "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think".