The Power of Women, the Power of Community: Health, Running, and Support Without Borders

The panel brought together experts in sports, medicine, and social inclusion, as well as inspiring female runners.

In the first part of the panel, we had the opportunity to hear from cardiologist Dr. Milica Vukićević, runners Bojana Kaličanin and Milica Živanović, BMR Club coach Jana Prodanović, and Nordic walking coach Marijana Milošević, who spoke about running and health in every stage of life.

We learned more about the importance of proper training, cardiovascular risks in women, and training adaptation. The esteemed panelists also spoke about metabolic aspects in different stages of life, such as perimenopause and menopause, as well as various challenges and nutrition. We discovered how running can help women navigate hormonal changes more easily and how it supports maintaining vitality and strength.

The second part of the panel focused on mental health and psychological resilience. Dr. Lušna Mehra, a psychologist from New York, joined via video link, speaking about the psychological benefits of marathons for women and how physical activity transforms our thoughts, emotions, and relationships. Runners Milica Novković and Natalija Živić shared how they cope with the pressures of today’s world and balance training, family, and work.

In the final part of the panel, the guests focused on social inclusion and how societal attitudes shape access to sports. Jelena Radivojević, Master’s professor of sports and physical education and expert associate at SSOSIB, and Ivana Planojević, president of the Society for Sports and Recreation of People with Disabilities Zvezdara, addressed the audience, sending a powerful message about the prejudices and barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing sports.

SSOSIB expert associate Dejana Bošnjaković and Belgrade Marathon participant with a disability, Zoja Milinković, shared their experiences with the audience and highlighted best practices from inclusive sports events.