The concern that growing women features detrimental to running is real, it's driven mostly dependent on genetics. At this point in your life, you need to make healthy choices for your body--you aren't making life changing money running. Take the best care of yourself (eating, exercise, and sleep) and let the genetic stuff fall where it falls.
anotherfemaleathlete wrote:
Don’t fight puberty. That will just lead to issues and health complications later that are so much worse than not having that muscular, lean look. These are some of the most critical years of your life for developing bone strength. It might not seem like a big deal now and you might think the stress fractures and tendon issues won’t happen to you, but trust me, they happen.
As a fellow female athlete, I really urge you to not think about your appearance and instead focus on your training and health. Although my situation is slightly different, I was also focused on looking lean. I took it too far (it’s easy to do and so many have done it) and lost my period for three years. I ran well for a year (this is a classic example of what happens), until I got into this injury cycle. I haven’t run in two years because of it. My sleeping is coming back and so is my energy and personality (I couldn’t sleep over three hours a night and was also moody), but I made my body fragile and it’ll take awhile for it to become strong and trust me again. I finally have my period, but my body NEEDED the weight and was sending me so many signs until it finally shut down. My example might be extreme, but you’re so much more than your appearance. You’ll most likely gain a little weight during puberty and then maybe lose it in a few years as your training load (slowly and gradually) increases. There’s no way to tell, but please don’t fight it.
One of my best friends in college was a little heavier than the classic distance runner. She always ate healthy and was shocked to learn that so many on the team had irregular periods. She was the only one who never got injured. Fast forward a couple years, and now she’s the leanest of everyone. She was able to slowly build her mileage over the years and be consistent in her training. She did it in a healthy, sustainable way. She doesn’t try to be lean, she just trains hard. Still has a monthly period and everything and just broke 2:30 in the marathon last spring. And she credits so much of her success to her nutrition (mostly quantity) so that she can hammer those 100+ mile weeks month after month.
As someone else mentioned, strength training will be your friend. Keep running. Focus on how you feel and getting strong. In ten years, you’ll be so happy that you didn’t get stuck in that trap. Being strong and healthy and happy is a billion times better for your body and mind. I understand it’s hard! But you have a really bright future if you choose the healthy path now.
/thread
Read this and leave this forum asap
Amazing amount of opinions on this thread. First since you’ve already seen a doctor as mentioned please don’t worry and let mature take it’s course. Plenty of girls beyond 15 when reaching puberty including my sister. Secondly remember that the majority of obesity and weight gain in the US is due to poor diet and lack of exercise. You’re a runner so one step ahead. There is no reason to think you will gain weight in puberty. I don’t recall any of my friends or childrens friends gaining weight during that phase of life.
more good advice than bad in this thread. ya, eat healthy. eat when you are hungry. the biggest thing that gets some runners in trouble is taking a 4 month season off and doing almost nothing. Eat well, stay active and let nature take it's course.
puberty wrote:
thank you!! this was so helpful :)) i appreciate you and everyone else who responded with good info. does anyone know how to start puberty (if that’s even possible)?? i also think i’m gonna go to the doctor again soon, to see what they say now that it’s been even more time.
Meeting with a pediatric endocrinologist, in addition to your regular pediatrician would be helpful. Particularly one that works with young athletes. There is more specialized testing that they can do.
Also echoing the thoughtful advice above to fuel your body as needed for the long haul.
Every girl gains weight during puberty because they grow taller and they grow breasts. It would be unhealty to not gain weight.