Chubby Chasers Unite wrote:
Cue all the fat acceptors that have over run LRC to attack anyone that wants to lose weight. Running fast means you have to lose weight, or are all the fat acceptors anti-science?
I think the issue is when people make this a binary issue...either every runner needs to lose as much as possible OR no runner should ever try to lose weight. But, duh, of course the answer is more complex.
A 30 y.o. 6'0" runner who is 170 and has been running for three years and is running a 39 min 10k on 40 mpw could shed a few pounds, but probably should focus on training and just eating well. There are gains that will happen if mileage bumps up and that will probably help the weight situation on its own. No reason to create an eating disorder in this person.
If it's a 30 y.o. 6;0" runner at 170 who has been running for 10 years and has a 2:38 marathon time on 100 mpw, then yeah, drop some weight. He's closer to maxing out and is running more than enough that it should keep him thin. Plus, that distance really punishes heavier runners.
Runners should always focus on good diet, otherwise they are leaving something on the table. And yes, most runners could stand to lose a few pounds, but their performance could also benefit from training at altitude, moved away from their families to cut out distractions, quit their jobs, etc. The point is that while some runners do need to focus on it, for others, running more is a better solution than trying to starve.