First of all, congratulations on your run. Notable achievement, in recovery from a long term eating disorder. To be frank, I am questioning the intensity of how hard you pushed yourself during marathon training, and your motivation for a full run, given that you do not have a lot of distance from your compulsion to exercise. For me, contemplating spending so much time every day to going on runs, and gym workouts, would set me back into relapse. As much as you have stated that you've been careful not to veil this training as an ed symptom, are you being genuinely honest with yourself? Long distance running is Intense, and grueling. Does that not take you back to being very sick, in the throes of illness while you're hitting the road so often? Also, a lot of your content is taken in reflective/mirror images, that show you dressed in workout gear. Correct me if I'm off base here, but it seems like a lot body checking, in my view. I'm commenting on this, as someone who has experienced ed's for most of my life, and I know how bloody hard it is to completely let go of obsessions. My question to you is, are you Absolutely Positive daily exercise is just about challenging yourself, bc completing a marathon has been a goal, or is it a reason to keep the restorative weight gain you've made, in check.? It just seems like too much to put your body thru, given how long you've had anorexia. Yes, you've documented the volume of foods you've been eating to keep up with training, yet is your mind free from the need to compensate by exercising?!? Btw it is not my intent to be offensive in this comment.) However, I am curious about how why you chose to do this run, on the heels of recovery.
You are asking extremely personal questions that she owes you no answers to. If you have a problem with her content, simply don't watch. She is an adult.
I don’t think you are the only person with these questions. I too have wondered the same thing! And I think given the content and all she has revealed, those are completely fair questions and I am curious of the answers too! Me personally, could not do that without relapse….but that is just me!
Hi there. Thank you for commenting in such a respectful way - that’s important to me. I’m aware that given my history with an eating disorder and committing to recovery and weight gain, training for a marathon may seem confusing and difficult to understand. As I’ve shared my weight gain and recovery journey with you guys, a lot has happened since then and I believe I am mentally in the best state of mind I have ever been. I am not exercising for compulsive reasons anymore. I know this, because I have been in the past. However, I do not disagree with you and say that yes, I have lost weight during this training and I’m absolutely not happy with it. I especially noticed it, when I saw myself, running the marathon. However, it’s not a step back into a disordered mind but a realisation that I know I need to put the weight back on which I lost during training. I didn’t push myself harder than I ‘normally’ would. I’ve always been someone wanting to do my best to make myself proud. I’ll share more of what I eat etc. very soon and I am excited myself to gain more strength back and a lot (a lot!) more weight since I do not wish to stay like this for both my physical and mental long term health :)
Your energy is so refreshing, so proud of what you’ve acomplished and how far you have become since I started watching your videos when you were recovering 🫶🏼
theses lasts weeks, I began to watch a lot of videos of differents people about marathon training. But your videos, are by far the best ones. I don't know how explain, but you carry me across your video and I feel just so connected. I never comment videos usually, but today, I very wanted to tell you thank you to sharing us your adventure, and be the most authentic possible. I will run my first marathon the next week, and you will be one part of my motivation during the race, to not give up !
I am so inspired to run a marathon now! I ran a kids marathon once when i was 11, i believe. I've always been an athlete but over time i developed an eating disorder and now im in recovery. My goal is to heal my relationship with exercise again and to be healthy to run a marathon. Thanks Katherina!!
Firstly, huge congratulations! Amazing achievement! Love your videos and everything you do, so excited to see your next Japan trip! But wondered, you are still very slim and do so much exercise, I wanted to ask two questions- Are you free (as in do you allow yourself) to not exercise sometimes still or do you honestly feel obligated to, to allow our to eat. And also, do you have to take the contraceptive pill/have help with your hormones to get your period? Or do you get it naturally? I’m just interested and know you have discussed this in the past, but of course just don’t reply if you’d rather not say! Thanks for all the wonderful content you give us! Xx
Thank you so much Emily! Yes, I am ‘free’ from compulsive exercise but I haven’t always been. I eat everything I want, whenever I want. I don’t take ‘the pill’. I was on hormonal treatment ‘trisequens’ last year but I quit it after 3-4 months as I regained my period. However I need to put on more weight to sustain it as I’ve noticed a drop during the last part of marathon training. Thank you for your kind words :)
Thank you! Yes, I do get my period. However, I need to gain a lot of weight back to continue regular cycle so that’s what my mind is set on atm. I shared how I regained it during my weight gain series which I suggest you watch :)
Your performance was incredible; so close to a BQ. Here are the Boston Qualifiers (and PR scores) near you in the Fall: Amsterdam Marathon, 20 Oct (PR Score 99.26); Dublin Marathon, 27 Oct (PR Score 98.49); Athens Marathon, 10 Nov (PR Score 95.61); Valencia Marathon, 01 Dec (PR Score 99.24). Train for one of these. Run a 3:24:59 PR. Qualify for Boston. Woohoo!!!
Awesome! Thank you so much for providing me this information! Unfortunately, some of the marathons are sold out and I am unsure if I can participate in any of the other ones as I make some changes after the summer - and I've got a HM pr prep coming up. But I'll see and most likely find my way :)
I'm glad! We spend 90% of our time at home working to save up and then afford to leave. It's a long, tough process but it's rewarding once we get to book the flight :)
Maybe that will be informative for someone, but i wanna just mention that doing tattoo short after marathon (and before) is not too good idea - both are in some kind challenge for body, and your recovery from race and healing of your tattoo can be a bit disruptive : )
