Having just completed my first seven day run streak in many months since illness and injury and having topped it off with marathon equivalent distance in Eastbourne, I've decided that the best thing I can do for my running today is... not run. I've cycled to and from work though, so I think I'm still safely within the bounds of Juneathon and I certainly have something weighty and running-related upon which to blog and ponder...
It was something of a roller coaster ride of emotional responses when I read my July issue of Runner's World on Thursday evening. In February, I'd had a letter printed requesting a reprieve from the onslaught of 'Run Now Lose Weight Fast!' articles for a slightly more balanced (no pun intended) approach that might also offer advice to runners looking to; steady yourselves, gain weight. I've been having semi diagnosed health issues for a couple of years now, which have affected both my physical and mental well being, impacting variously on my running and frankly, I was thoroughly exasperated with the focus in most running related public discussions, be they in print or social media, around losing weight. Being 9 kg lower than your recommended 'ideal', is no more physically enjoyable or less inducing of poor body image than the (admittedly more common) counterpoint, but where's the help, encouragement and support for those with unhealthily low BMI? Trying to hide toast rack ribs in the gym changing room isn't any less humiliating than trying to mask your spare tyre. We tend towards the judgmental for any extreme and as my rant with regards to the thigh gap debate indicated, I don't believe too much focus on 'right' or 'wrong' on any one side of a story is beneficial to anyone. Balance please, on and off the scales!So, when Runner's World reported in March that over a third of their mailbag in February had been to echo my printed sentiment, I was delighted for two reasons, firstly that I'd been listened to and secondly that I wasn't alone in my struggles. |
Good news as it was, I didn't think much more of it beyond that until I received an email from Sam Murphy (the Runner's World Section Editor) informing me that following such a strong response, she was researching the requested article and asking more about my personal experience. I responded pretty frankly, I'm quite an honest bod really, and since a recent visit to the dietitian had gone well with 4 kg gained, I felt quite optimistic about it all. She didn't respond to my reply so as much as I gave it any thought, I guessed it hadn't really been what she was looking for. I realised, when I turned to the Off the Scales article on page 54 of the July 'Body' issue, sandwiched between (OK, that pun was intended) yet more weight loss advice, that this was likely to be the consolatory nod towards the issue. I wasn't expecting to be mentioned in it as the instigator however, and seeing my name printed, in black and white, along with details of my weight loss made my stomach lurch. Perhaps I should have realised that there was an unspoken assumption that information provided in my reply could be quoted but I didn't. Feeling quite physically sick and extremely exposed, I did what many runners do when it all gets a bit much and legged it to the sanctuary of the gym. |
When I got home and was a little calmer, I found the guts (the wordplay never stops!) to read the article properly and with a bit less egocentricity. I read with particular interest the stories of the other women who had perhaps more deliberately shared their stories and I reflected a bit on that. A whole article researched, responded to and written because of my initial expression of frustration. A platform for discussion about the importance of physically and mentally healthy attitudes as opposed to those fuelled by image alone. Experiences shared, advice given and if even one of that 31% who felt strongly enough to respond in support of my letter has found that reassuring or useful than that's more than worth a bit of vulnerability on my part. Nice one, Sam. I was drafting a complaint in my head at 7 pm on Thursday, but now I've got over that unexpected exposure, I feel very grateful that between us, and I mean all of us, we've addressed the issue with a bit more balance than has become the norm. Thanks for listening...