Runners world article today is about a fat female ultra runner

Good for Ms. Valerio. As for the dimwits taking pot shots at her in this thread, it's time to grow up.

E. Bonix wrote:

Good for Ms. Valerio. As for the dimwits taking pot shots at her in this thread, it's time to grow up.

Got no problem with Ms. Valerio, kudos to her for trying to be healthy and doing more than most people. But the premise of the article is straight BS.

soveriegn citizen wrote:

E. Bonix wrote:

Good for Ms. Valerio. As for the dimwits taking pot shots at her in this thread, it's time to grow up.

Got no problem with Ms. Valerio, kudos to her for trying to be healthy and doing more than most people. But the premise of the article is straight BS.

Is she trying to be healthy though?

Is she trying to get skinny or is she going to embrace the whole "yeah i'm an obese girl that 'runs'"?

Why would the author bring up Terry Fox in the article? Terry might have been running that pace, but he was running her weekly mileage every day of the week, week after week, while he was dying of cancer. He was doing it to raise money to save lives, she's running for selfies and social media promotion.

mediocresprinter wrote:

soveriegn citizen wrote:

Got no problem with Ms. Valerio, kudos to her for trying to be healthy and doing more than most people. But the premise of the article is straight BS.

Is she trying to be healthy though?

She is trying and failing.

While her trying is commendable, her failure should not be the model for others.

How many morbidly obese 70, 80 and 90 year olds do you see? Virtually none. The cardiovascular system does just not last as long when you are that large regardless of blood cholesterol and glucose levels.

Lrc phd wrote:

Blah Blah. wrote:

"Is it possible to be fat and fit?" No.

She is not an ultra runner. She is an ultra walker.

Actually it is. There are overweight and obese people who metabolically healtht in that they are not insulin resistant, have healthy blood glucose and cholesterol levels, no hypertension, etc.

Coversely, one of the complications of lipodystrophy (a condition where you don't develop functional fat) is insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

I remember reading that story when it came out, what bullshit.

As has been mentioned, she doesn't exercise that much. Then on top of that, (loosely quoted) "people think I stuff myself full of pizza and ice cream gallons every night," "dont wanna starve myself on unrealistic 1500cal diet"? Seems pretty likely she eats like shit. You don't need to be eating pizza and ice cream every night to overeat, 1500 isn't necessarily masochistical or unrealistic. A quick and dirty TDEE calculator gives 2200Kcal for her. I'd bet money she rarely if ever eats below 2500.

But sure, she's the special snowflake. "It's genetics! No matter what, can't shake the weight!" Which is possible. It's infinitely more likely she eats bad, justifies it as compensation for what little exercise she does, then plays the "I'm special!" card for self-justification and attention whoring.

It all hits a little too close to home as well, I used to be obese and picked up running to lose the weight. Had I had the same outlook, I would still be a fat slob. But hey, if I'd played my cards rights, could have attention-whored my way on to TV! Woo!

Gravy wrote:

She's making a living off of being fat. No way she'd jump off that gravy train.

Where does it say that her job as the spanish teacher and choir director for the school requires her to be fat? How is she making a living off of being fat?

Losers gotta feel important about their meaningless lives too you know! There's an abundance. All the other losers can relate and get a tenporary self esteem boost instead of eating a cake to do so!

Good for her. You don't have to be the best at the sport to enjoy it. let her be a proud and happy jogger. She enjoys what she does.

She's hurting no one other than herself. And she's helping encourage others to run. I don't buy the whole "you can be obese and healthy" crap because even if the insulin response is normal, excess weight puts excess load on joints and the heart. But I point that out just as a matter of fact, not to be judgmental. Being judgmental here: What she's doing is far better than what most Americans are doing. Good on her.

I´m impressed that so many people on Letsrun read Runner´s World...

WhitePony wrote:

Blah Blah. wrote:

The video will teach your kids it is ok for them to gain weight and become obese.

No, we use it more as a tool to understand that everyone is different and we should work to be the best person we can be, we also stress healthy eating.

My overweight kids already know they are over weight and most of them are overweight because of their parents poor eating and exercise habits, it is my job to start chipping away at those habits in favor of a more healthy lifestyle.

This lady is motivating others to run and improve themselves, what is so horrible about that?

So you show a video of someone not being the best they could be to teach your kids to be the best you can be? My kids are definitely going to private school....

I'm sad for y'all! I don't know how you can be so judgemental and critical of someone who is doing something they like and having some success. She seems happy and healthy despite having a heavier build than most endurance athletes. Yes, I'm calling her an athlete. Instead of criticizing and putting her down because of her weight, we should be embracing her willingness to work hard, strive and improve herself. Would you rather she was home sitting on the couch playing with her phone all day? She is an example for anyone who doesn't feel or look like a traditional athlete. If, through example, she can inspire someone who identifies with her age, gender, race, and/or body type then she has succeed at life! People look to others with whom they identify as examples and role models. When we see someone like us succeeding, we gain confidence and motivation because we see part of ourselves in that other person. Finally, undermining or criticizing others doesn't reflect well on you. There is no limit to success and happiness in the world. Just because someone else is happy and successful doesn't mean they are trying to take it from you, so don't act like it by treating them poorly.

abs disgusting wrote:

Absolutely disgusting

youre all major pieces of crap

I mostly agree, although she doesn't need to be eating pizza and ice cream to stall out; 2500 calories of chicken and broccoli is still 2500 calories. She's basically making two separate claims: 1. That she's genetically/biologically unable to lose weight beyond 240 lb, and 2. That a 1500 calorie diet is totally crazy and unrealistic (implying that genetics has less to do with it).

Sure 1500 calories/day for the rest of your life may be unrealistic, but runners and athletes of many sports rock the 1500-2000 calorie diet every offseason to lean up and get ready for hard training. 1500 is around maintenance caloric intake for an average woman of her height.

This woman has every right to love her body, feel confident, and run to her heart's content. However, implying that it's impossible to lose weight, or that it is possible to be an obese, but normally healthy human being into old age, is irresponsible.

One of the many amusing points made in the Rob Young thread when CC TV footage was being examined to see whether it was Rob Young going past at night or some guy walking erratically was to the effect of . . .

"Only in ultrarunning can you have a split opinion on whether you are watching an elite ultrarunner or a random crackhead".

reader1 wrote:

What is happening to our sport ?

http://rw.runnersworld.com/selects/ultra.html

5/10 RW, good effort at trolling, hurts a little though.

I'm the first person to call out obesity as a preventable disease and the last person to defend "body image". We can control our eating, and because people don't, our healthcare system is ridiculously messed up.

That said, I like this woman, and I think what she's doing is absolutely a positive thing. There's obviously SOMETHING going on with her body that's preventing her from losing weight. For the very vast majority of the population, that "something" is laziness or a lack of understanding about food. But this woman seems to be doing everything right, and her body just isn't letting her let go of the weight. It's rare, but there are some cases where a person's weight is somewhat beyond his or her control.

She seems like a winner in life (positive person, someone who likes actually doing things), and I think it's fantastic that she's doing what she wants to do in running in spite of her weight. Hopefully a doctor can figure out what's going on with her metabolism, environment, lifestyle, etc. and help her reach a healthy weight so she can continue to run even more than she is.

Seriously mate? wrote:

How many morbidly obese 70, 80 and 90 year olds do you see? Virtually none. The cardiovascular system does just not last as long when you are that large regardless of blood cholesterol and glucose levels.

I know one. My 75 year old mother in law. She's a pain in the ass. And fvcking science keeps her alive to make my life hell. She's on like 15 different medications, eats like total sh*t, has never worked out a day in her life. When can I expect her to finally kick off so I can get some peace?!?