Allie O Admits Eating Disorder and Enters Therapy

allie is a great runner and a fun youtuber to follow. i think it's good that she put out this video. she probably has many subscribers who are girls or young women who will benefit from hearing the story. and like she said in the video, there is value to talking about the situation as it is happening and just being open about it.

Damn. i was looking forward to seeing her continue to improve in the steeple. given her background in trail racing, it seems like this could have been her gig. Hoping it still can be.

Man that video hurt to watch. Wishing her the best in her recovery.

Nonsense! wrote:

Wishing her all the best and pulling for a fast and safe recovery.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CP_ahvQrtrK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

You want to fast?

Come on son, that's cruel

It's good that she's getting help now and while it may be a bummer that she's not going to be at the Trials (not sure if this is confirmed) but she's got years left ahead of her. She'll hopefully be in a better spot for 2024, 2028 and maybe even 2032 if she chooses to go the marathon route.

Sham 69 wrote:

She turned off her YouTube comments. I don't think she wants to know people's opinions and just wanted to say what she wanted to say.

youtube turns her comments off . she hasnt been able to get them to give her control. check her previous video.

Allie is very tough. respect

She competed just a few weeks ago while in therapy so there is a chance she will still be at the USOT.

If people on LR are able to call out EDs accurately and consistently, do we really think coaches and schools can't see it? Maybe the NCAA needs a "health rule" like cycling had for hematocrit, though I'm not sure how to define that fairly. Many more people than you'd think are exchanging a couple years of good performances for lifelong health issues, and it shouldn't just be accepted.

tincan man wrote:

How do people feel about them threatening to drop her if she doesn't enter therapy? In a way it sounds noble, but in a way it sounds evil.

we have hardly any of the story. so its not very easy to judge. I have another favorite runner who I wish would be put into a position. to either prove her self correct or gain enough weight to protect herself. but I dont know. at the elite level. how these things are solved as certain. except for example bulemia. but just calorie restriction is part of the game and riddle. and health injuries associated with calorie restriction are all over in the elite world. people breaking bones just doing a workout or racing . the elite world isnt really a healthy place.

i think its fair to say my eating habits have been dang borderline all year. just trying to keep light and push" hard". many years ago i lost a ton of weight pursuing an endurance goal. I had to count calories in a journal for over a year to climb out of it and really im an idiot not to be counting still most of this year. but how would someone on the outside know that help is necessary when the goal is close to the line in the first place.

the reason i'm glad brooks etc stepped in is because at this point allie sounded convinced that they did the right thing. maybe it would be like that. maybe they could intervene on a few of the others I look up to, and she her self looked up to, and just help them be more careful for a month or two and then let the hopefully helpped person make their own decision , with a bit of new perspective if they have been helped or if they want to stay all close to the edge. or more likely over the edge.

but i have to guess this sort of situation is common.- look i took two naps today. and i still feel exhausted. but if i eat even a tiny bit more than yesterday i will gain weight, and in no time i will gain 10 lb. so i go on trying to figure the very least i can eat and recover and stay conscious most of the day and maybe not get all moody. so that i might stay about the same weight.

i think the idea of elites eating around a table in a group. while they stay strong. would help each other just seeing each other eat. so the twisted thing is. part of why i like allies blog is i was hoping to get a sense of what sane eating is. and she kicks my ass so i look up to her . she is tough. respect.

tincan man wrote:

How do people feel about them threatening to drop her if she doesn't enter therapy? In a way it sounds noble, but in a way it sounds evil.

Bulimia/anorexia can kill you and Ostrander said that this has been a long term issue that she never would have addressed on her own. They might have saved her life by giving her an ultimatum and by doing nothing they would have been complicit in her self-harm.

It's sad that it took so long for someone to finally step in and get her help. She seems like a really fun person, so I'm sure she has plenty of friends and people she is close to. People can be very good at covering up eating disorders, but there are usually some tell-tale signs that something might be off. It's pretty crazy how oblivious/nonconfrontational people can be.

I'm generally opposed to the social media overshare, but opening up about it in such a raw manner like she did might help other people wake up. It certainly left an impression on me. I'll be rooting for her big time once she's back in action.

Comments are on. She isn't hiding anything.

Hope she can get a handle on this and get healthy, mentally and physically. And, also persuade others with this issue to seek help.

I do agree with her that there should be some physical test at all levels of running that prevent those from competing that display the physical signs of an eating disorder.

Also, I would like to call out the mods for deleting a post (not mine) not too long ago that very clearly pointed out that Allie had an observable physical sign of an eating disorder.

Sometimes, LRC comments may be offensive and less than subtle, but often true.

tacomafan wrote:

I've been watching her Youtube's since this past winter and enjoyed them. I send my best thoughts her way.

But honestly, how many other high level runners probably need help? Allie never looked to me even CLOSE to the worst. I think almost any of us could name ten off the top of our head that look way more in danger than her.

the fallacy you fail to recognize is it's not about who looks the thinnest. you can't diagnose disordered eating by looking at a person's body (sure, sometimes there are telltale signs, but there don't have to be). and getting to a healthy weight doesn't mean struggles with disordered eating are over.

also, think about how often you've looked at a thin female runner and assumed she had an ED, and how rarely if ever you've had the same thought about a male one. it's not because guys don't have eating disorders.

sanchobaile wrote:

also, think about how often you've looked at a thin female runner and assumed she had an ED, and how rarely if ever you've had the same thought about a male one. it's not because guys don't have eating disorders.

+100.

There is a huge double standard when it comes to calling out EDs in women vs men.

Absolutely, I am rooting for her as well, she seems like such a nice young Woman and is so talented. It took a lot guts to make that YT video, wish her the very best.

I hope she has a speedy recovery. Cheering for you Allie!

What’s so bad about Boise states program? I know everyone says “Iowa state and Corey Ihmels is all you need to know.” But what actually happened at Boise?

Wishing her the best. I'm a big fan and think her mix of talent and personality are great for the sport. I chalked up her physique to genetics until all the injuries started and worried there was some problem but never felt comfortable saying it publicly.