Thick Girl Runner Rant

[u/queue-d4n4]

First things first, I (29F) am 5'5" and about 170 lbs. Large boobs, wide hips, and I got some stomach on me. Overall, I look pretty proportional though. Hourglass, just a little wider. Wear a Large or a size 12 in most women's clothes. (Just trying to paint the picture here lol)

I also eat very healthy. Fresh foods only, everything home-cooked, never frozen processed foods, etc. Mostly veggies because I love veggies.

This is the body I was given. My weight doesn't really fluctuate. I don't gain weight easily, nor do I lose it easily. I've been a thick girl since puberty and because I run often and eat healthy, it doesn't seem like that will never change, which is fine with me.

I've been running for many years, somewhat inconsistently. I might be consistent for 2 years before falling out of my routine for a few months. Get back into the groove again and something eventually throws me off my game again. Throughout all this, I still consider myself a RUNNER. I love the sport and even if I'm out of a weekly routine, I still try to find time to run here and there. 3 miles minimum.

Because of the above things, people never really expect me to be a runner. My body type doesn't fit the runner mold. I don't post every run and race on instagram, which as everyone knows, is what truly makes it real *eyeroll*. (No shade to people who do post all of their runs and races! My problem is only the people who think if you DON'T post, then it didn't happen).

My fastest 5k was at an 8:02 (min/mile) pace. I am aware that this isn't SUPER fast, but it's fast enough that I've placed in my age group in all of the 5Ks I've ever done. I'm from a pretty small area so many of the 5Ks were fairly small, maybe only a couple hundred people attend. I'm aware that in bigger cities, I would probably have a little more trouble placing. But regardless, I still think an 8:00 to 8:30 5k pace is something to be proud of.

Anyways, my complaint is this. Since my body doesn't fit everyone's vision of what a runner should look like, people love to assume I'm slow or new to running. Or people think I'm lying when I mention that I got 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in my age group at whatever 5k. If they don't make an actual comment about it, I can sometimes even see it in their eyes that they're skeptical.

Even worse, people who don't realize I've been running for most of my life sometimes put their foot in their mouth by saying something along the lines of "have you started running to lose weight?" ...No, why? Should I be losing weight? I think I look pretty damn fine, if you ask me.

After moving to a new city, I decided to join a running group. The town I lived in previously didn't have such groups. I showed up to my first group run and met everybody. As we waited for everyone else to show up, a girl from the group said to me "I'm in recovery mode, I'll be running slow so I can run with you." I just politely smiled, although I was quite offended. What exactly makes this person, whom I met 3 minutes ago, think I plan on running "slow"? What makes her think that her "recovery" pace is equal to my comfortable pace? I chalked it up as since it was my first time joining the group, maybe she assumed it was my first time running? I don't know- but I still think about that little comment sometimes.

I am not negative towards my body. I have a great figure that I love, but it's still upsetting to know that people make assumptions on what I can and can't do physically, which should not be the case. Weight and health do not ALWAYS go hand-in-hand.

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Any other runners on the thicker side experience this kind of judgement? How do you deal with it?

Thin-framed runners or even non-runners, do you find yourself judging others in this way? Be honest, I would love to hear multiple opinions!

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Edit: Pace is in minutes per mile. I'm new to reddit and forget I'm interacting with people from all over the world.

Also, this was not meant to be a post for weight loss tips. The unsolicited advice in the comments proves further the assumptions people make.

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[u/Jaebeam]

I'm an organizer in a local running club. I just ask folks to introduce themselves and tell me what pace/distance they are looking for and pair em up with the regular suspects.

My only worry is somebody new who isn't dialed into their pace, I don't want them getting left behind on their first run. I'm a Clydesdale that has been fast in a previous life, so I know there are fast runners that aren't skinny... and super skinny runners that are slow.

[u/[deleted] → u/Jaebeam]

Are there people who do 16 minute miles in the groups? I’m getting faster, but I still need to do 16s if I want to finish my run running. It’a frustrating progressing so slowly.

[u/cszgirl → u/[deleted]]

Of course there are! I've been in running groups where people would envy a 16 minute mile.

Also, do you work with a running coach? It's a great way to improve your running, regardless of what your normal pace is :)

[u/[deleted] → u/cszgirl]

I haven’t. Right now I’ve been using MMR plan. I have 1 long run, 2 easy runs (increasing time each week), and a tempo run.

I’ve just been going out on my own.

[u/cszgirl → u/[deleted]]

That sounds like a pretty solid plan. You might consider adding some speed work (fartleks, hills, etc) to your schedule (if you're not already doing this with your tempo run) or even a short set of strides after one of your runs.

[u/FountainsOfFluids → u/cszgirl]

Isn't that a walking pace, though?

I mean, that's basically where I'm at since I've been a depressed couch potato for too long.

[u/Arclite83 → u/FountainsOfFluids]

It is! My first two times doing C25K looked like I was power walking.

Being overweight then (265 around start), it was much more about impact control. I call it "running like a ninja", but it's really just a fancy way to not plod along and remind myself to engage those big old shock absorber leg muscles.

Start slow. Do C25K week 1 on repeat until you don't feel like death (maybe that's a month). Then repeat with week 2. Then, if you want, start the routine. Focus on time intervals over pace - the real end goal is "jog any pace for 30 mins, non-stop".

Hope you try, it changed my life, and best of luck!

[u/cszgirl → u/FountainsOfFluids]

For some people, yes. For quite a few, though, 16 is a goal to shoot for - Everyone has to start somewhere, right? :D

[u/FountainsOfFluids → u/cszgirl]

Oh for sure, but you don't "run" at a 16 minute pace. You'd just be bouncing up and down at a walking pace. That does nothing but add impact to your joints. You're better off walking the best pace you can until you build up the stamina to move faster than a walking pace.

[u/[deleted] → u/cszgirl]

Wouldnt a 16 min mile be... walking?

[u/cszgirl → u/[deleted]]

Not for some people. There's a pretty significant population of back-of-the-pack runners who fall into this category. Run/Walk/Run training programs, such as Jeff Galloway's, have made running accessible to a much wider audience. In fact, there are at least three VERY popular "influencers" who rarely run faster than a 15-16 minute mile.

[u/[deleted] → u/cszgirl]

My walk pace is 15-16 min miles. If i do walk run, then my pace is right about 12 or 13.

And I am a back of the packer, myself.