Emily's training blog

I hover at that same weight and I'm only 5'1". I don't put much stock in those weight calculators...we are not all made the same!!

Don't worry. Menopause should be coming up soon. Then you'll get that pubic weight back.

i agree with april -- we are all too different for those calculators to be accurate -- so many different body types out there!

i know this is a touchy subject, but i will try to explain what i think about this without getting into dangerous territory.

first, i'll say this: i think worrying about weight and actively trying to bring it down when you are already at a normal weight (or underweight, as many runners are) and already engaging in daily exercise is dangerous (i know you know this, but this is just for the record). it's a road to injury.

THAT SAID -- i do think there is value in getting to a 'race weight' for a key race -- the body can perform at it's best when it's light and efficient (to a point, of course). but, i think that should occur naturally and should never be forced down, especially when you are training really hard.

i also hover around 115. i've been as high as 122 and as low as 107 over the past couple of years. i absolutely ran better and felt my fastest when i was at 107 (summer/fall 2013) than when i've been at 115-120. but, i do not think that was a sustainable weight. it naturally dropped over the summer as the intensity picked up. i did not change my diet or restrict calories in any way (if anything, i was eating more).

i put it back on pretty easily in the few months after TOU, and stabilized around 113-115 again. if i would have remained under 110 and continued to train hard, i imagine i would have run into some sort of injury (i don't know for sure, but that's my guess).

ultimately, i think if you are healthy and active and eating a balanced diet with adequate calories, your body finds the right weight -- that "hovering" point.

there's a good discussion about it here -- http://fastrunningblog.com/forum/index.php/topic,1291.0.html

I don't even hover around 215 these days :(

Burt, thank you for giving me something to look forward to.

This is a tricky balance for all runners. I posted just out of general interest, not because I am actively pursuing 108 pounds. I have seen way too many eating disorders over my career.

There is definitely room for improvement in my diet, in terms of fueling effectively. (I write this after lunch at McDonald's.) I'm generally a fairly healthy eater.

I'm like Allie. My weight drops the harder I train. I have always tried to let my body do what it is naturally going to do. That includes losing 35-40 ponds after having a baby. I have never conciously dieted. Like I said, the sweet spot for me sems to be around 112. I think I would risk some breaking down under 110. It definitely would not be sustainable.

I think for me, more important than counting calories, is making sure those calories are of good quality. With kids, I sometimes get negligent about my food. Leftover chicken nuggets are not a great lunch for a runner. I will find that it's 2 in the afternoon, and I haven't eaten yet. I definitely need to be more concious of what I eat and when I eat it.

I used to try to stay under 110 and diet nd etc..but the truth is, I'm short and muscular, and am way better off pitching the idea of race weight and feeding those muscles. Particularly as an ultrarunner, there is a need for strength and reserves, and delving into that realm has really curbed my thoughts of being a certain weight or body build. I needed an example of a non-lanky runner...check out Anna Frost. Way thicker than a typical elite runner, but she powers up mountains and destroys course records because she is fit and strong, not because she is thin. I agree with the general concensua on this thread. ..could definitely as always improve quality of food and eating habits and stay away from yhe junk!! Calorie monitoring and cutting when not overweight and training hard is a recipe for injury, illness, burnout, and eventually, performance erosion.