Hi aimee,
it is interesting that your post showed up at the time it did. I just
finished an excellent article ( alittle bit too general though) in the october
1998 edition of Running Times. The article was titled " Running on Empty" by
steven downes. It is funny how you used the example of the BMW, because the
article shows a picture of a cars gas gauge. RoE was basically about the
growing number of competitive runners who have anorexia and/or bulimia. It
stated the misconception that runners have that the less you weigh the faster
you can run. Of course if one is using her muscle as fuel than she wo'nt be
very fast for very long.
I too am a competitive runner (long distance) and am training for my first
marathon ( dec 6th, the california international marathon). I have ednos or
what is now being coined anorexia athletica. I am a compulisve exerciser and
fall into the problem of over training. I now realize this has been only
detrimental to my advancement in the sport ( had it not been for injuries
caused by excessive strain on the body, I would have run my first marathon
almost two yearas ago). I am wondering if you saw your performance level as
directly proportional to your weight loss or gain? In my own experience, my
performance fallows a bell curve. If I am at the normal weight my performance
is at its peak and if I get either to heavy or too frail my times start to
increase. I also think in the running community that eds can be easily hidden
since being ultra thin is acceptable and can always be attributed to the sport
and not a disorder? what do you think?
It is good to hear you are keeping with the positive mindset throughout your
recovery. Do you mind if I ask what made you stop your ed thoughts and
behaviour or at least made them less a threat? DId therapy help? Also how do
you confront the isuue of continuing to run while in recovery as it is in
itself a ed trigger ( at least for me and I also know Lara is dealing with this
problem right now as well). Keep up the good work
your running pal,
chrisitne