Kate McLaughlin knows what it means to rely on sport when things get difficult.
A former Division I lacrosse player and longtime coach, she still draws on many of the things she learned as an athlete: repetition, hard work, relying on a team, and adapting when circumstances change.
Those lessons have taken on new meaning since Kate was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s in 2023.
Kate continues to train regularly, with boxing, strength, agility, and coordination work all part of her week. She and Eric reflect on how her diagnosis changed her approach to life, and how she’s had to adapt her mindset while finding her way forward. They also talk about adjusting expectations without losing the drive to keep pushing, the role her family and coaching community continue to play in her life, and how the Bigfoot Lacrosse Classic has allowed her to bring the sport she loves into the fight against Parkinson’s.
Key Takeaways
➡️ The athlete mindset carries beyond the field.
Kate sees repetition, discipline, problem-solving, and learning to rely on a team as skills that prepared her to face obstacles well beyond sport, including Parkinson’s.
➡️ Progress means adjusting what you compare yourself to.
Kate still feels the frustration of not being able to do what she once could. She is learning to recognize what her body can do today while continuing to train and challenge herself.
➡️ Training remains a priority.
Boxing, strength, agility, and coordination work are regular parts of Kate’s week. Her family understands how important that training is and helps her protect the time to keep doing it.
➡️ Community can turn uncertainty into action.
Family, friends, coaches, fellow athletes, and the lacrosse community have given Kate support through difficult days. Through the Bigfoot Lacrosse Classic, that community has also become part of her work to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research.
Key Moments
3:30 Lacrosse; First Signs Something Was Wrong
5:40 Son’s College Recruitment; Parkinson’s Changing Perspective
7:25 Athlete Mindset; Repetition, Obstacles & Adaptation
8:40 Parkinson’s Diagnosis; Early Symptoms & Diagnosis Experience
12:30 Community Support; Bigfoot Endurance & Finding Hope
15:20 Confirming the Diagnosis; Friends & Support
18:30 Family; Building the Right Parkinson’s Care Team
20:50 Dystonia; Running & Changes After Diagnosis
24:30 Second Opinion; Trying to Out-Train Parkinson’s
25:50 Telling Her Children; Choosing to Fight
27:15 Bigfoot Lacrosse Classic; Turning to Sport for Action
30:45 Isolation, Community & Finding Other Athletes With Parkinson’s
33:30 Family; Experiencing Parkinson’s as a Parent and a Daughter
38:30 Vulnerability; Losing the Feeling of Being Invincible
41:40 Comparing Past & Present Athletic Performance
43:15 Boxing; Training With Parkinson’s
46:30 Children, Young Athletes & Parkinson’s Advocacy
48:30 Coaching; What Sport Teaches Young Athletes
51:50 Bigfoot Endurance; Lacrosse, Fundraising & Parkinson’s Research
Connect with Kate
Instagram: @cr.icket8596
Bigfoot Endurance: http://bigfootendurance.com
2026 Bigfoot Endurance Fundraiser: https://give.michaeljfox.org/event/2026-bigfoot-endurance/e744653
About the Host
Eric Von Frohlich is a fitness entrepreneur, coach, and athlete living with Parkinson's who founded EVF Performance and Row House before his diagnosis in 2020. On the podcast he talks with athletes, experts, and people refusing to let a diagnosis be the end of the story.
Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey
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Disclaimer
This podcast shares personal experience and general education, not medical advice. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to medication, treatment, or exercise.
