Fat Runners on Social Meja ...good?
Discussion
As a casual runner I follow a few people on IG - from Ultra Runners to OCR guys and a couple of "fat" runners that I came across and followed for fascination! One just did the NY marathon in over 7 hours and their thousands of followers hail it as an incredible achievement (I guess it is given their weight?)
Now I'm all for being as fat as you like....I get (in the UK) the cost to the NHS but that's the fault of the system, not the person. If we want to have a system that will fix anyone for anything, then people will take risks knowing they are covered. (As I do in my more iffy hobbies)
I'm also all for running - I was 23 stone at 39 and by doing Park Runs and a bit more sensible eating, at 45, I'm not 23 stone anymore! I was too embarrassed to Park Run till I got my 5k to under 30 mins so all power to those who rock up and just go for it.
I just wonder if the message from fat runners gets more people running that wouldn't otherwise (good) or gets people who need to drop weight picking not to because they see that a) fat can be fit (hmmmmmm?) and b) you can be proud of the body you have, even if it's huge (hmmmmmm?)
Because the message from some (and from the media articles written on these folk "They are redefining what it means to be a runner" type stuff) is that if you are running (even REAL slow) then all is well and you don't need to compromise on being big/get in better shape. I understand the not compromising for running - at 220lbs and 12% BF I have reached a shape I like and won't compromise on.......even though I know dropping some mass would make me far better at running/obstacle course races. But I now do 5K in 20 mins, I can lug myself over a 50K ultra in around 5hrs and not fall off the rope climb on an OCR - that puts me in a place where I am (miles from the best) but better than most. My last 5k was a Halloween run (so a lot of fun runners) - I was 16th out of 650. Come the zombie take over, I'm going to be ok for a while before they get to me.....so I'll keep hold of my extra few pounds for now!
Anyway...my point is my compromise still leaves me way better than average (having started at the bottom) - If I had something that left me doing a 7hr marathon, I'd be more inclined to explore other options!
So - fat runners ..... great for getting anyone off their butt and out in the fresh air or helping people feel good about a state they should not feel quite so good about? (I know I felt two things at 23 stone.......a) perfectly happy in my body and fit enough and f*uck you if you want to tell me different! and b) fat and wished I wasn't. Nowadays I wonder if there's more support for a than b? Which would have left me happy to stay as I was knowing there was no "shame" (to use the current term). What I never got was support for b (other than my kids saying "you're fat" - VERY useful advice!)
Now I'm all for being as fat as you like....I get (in the UK) the cost to the NHS but that's the fault of the system, not the person. If we want to have a system that will fix anyone for anything, then people will take risks knowing they are covered. (As I do in my more iffy hobbies)
I'm also all for running - I was 23 stone at 39 and by doing Park Runs and a bit more sensible eating, at 45, I'm not 23 stone anymore! I was too embarrassed to Park Run till I got my 5k to under 30 mins so all power to those who rock up and just go for it.
I just wonder if the message from fat runners gets more people running that wouldn't otherwise (good) or gets people who need to drop weight picking not to because they see that a) fat can be fit (hmmmmmm?) and b) you can be proud of the body you have, even if it's huge (hmmmmmm?)
Because the message from some (and from the media articles written on these folk "They are redefining what it means to be a runner" type stuff) is that if you are running (even REAL slow) then all is well and you don't need to compromise on being big/get in better shape. I understand the not compromising for running - at 220lbs and 12% BF I have reached a shape I like and won't compromise on.......even though I know dropping some mass would make me far better at running/obstacle course races. But I now do 5K in 20 mins, I can lug myself over a 50K ultra in around 5hrs and not fall off the rope climb on an OCR - that puts me in a place where I am (miles from the best) but better than most. My last 5k was a Halloween run (so a lot of fun runners) - I was 16th out of 650. Come the zombie take over, I'm going to be ok for a while before they get to me.....so I'll keep hold of my extra few pounds for now!
Anyway...my point is my compromise still leaves me way better than average (having started at the bottom) - If I had something that left me doing a 7hr marathon, I'd be more inclined to explore other options!
So - fat runners ..... great for getting anyone off their butt and out in the fresh air or helping people feel good about a state they should not feel quite so good about? (I know I felt two things at 23 stone.......a) perfectly happy in my body and fit enough and f*uck you if you want to tell me different! and b) fat and wished I wasn't. Nowadays I wonder if there's more support for a than b? Which would have left me happy to stay as I was knowing there was no "shame" (to use the current term). What I never got was support for b (other than my kids saying "you're fat" - VERY useful advice!)
That's exactly my point! Is the good that do, by getting folk running, outweighing the bad (if it's even bad) that they do by helping people who SHOULD drop some lbs to feel like they don't need to?
If I had started running parkrun because of this "inspiration" and concluded that I could stay a 23 stone "back of the packer" and wear my "slow as f
k" T shirt.....is that good or bad?
If I had started running parkrun because of this "inspiration" and concluded that I could stay a 23 stone "back of the packer" and wear my "slow as f
k" T shirt.....is that good or bad? Badda said:
Are you like an ex-smoker? 
If I smoked, knew it wasn't great, quit, joined a gym and said "hey, this is just what I find useful, anyone that likes smoking - carry on".......and then a gym opened up for smokers who could puff while they bench press......I'd say "I'm not sure thats the right message"...........so, yes, I'm like that smoker 
Tiggsy said:
That's exactly my point! Is the good that do, by getting folk running, outweighing the bad (if it's even bad) that they do by helping people who SHOULD drop some lbs to feel like they don't need to?
If I had started running parkrun because of this "inspiration" and concluded that I could stay a 23 stone "back of the packer" and wear my "slow as fk" T shirt.....is that good or bad?
It would be better if the 23 stone person lost the weight, but it may be better for them to be an active rather than inactive lump of lard?If I had started running parkrun because of this "inspiration" and concluded that I could stay a 23 stone "back of the packer" and wear my "slow as f
k" T shirt.....is that good or bad? So, “better” to run than not run.
All opinion, subject to medical views on 23 stone people running likely to peg out from heart attacks / other issues.
Anything that encourages the unfit / unhealthy to get off the sofa and do something about has to be good right? I took up running to lose weight and get fit, I wasn't obese but getting close, it worked for me without a big change in diet or anything.
But running and trying to maintain a high mass, assuming that's what they're doing, that's just daft. The extra strain it puts on your body must be more risky than just staying at home and eating less surly. I mean there's the heart attack risk for one but also knackering your knees, hips or whatever else prematurely. As for "running" a marathon in 7 hours again sort of a well done for at least doing it but a fit-ish person e.g. me could probably walk it in around that time and I wouldn't really be putting that out there on social media as some sort of achievement.
They wheel out the statistic at Parkrun from time to time that the average time has got slower as Parkrun has gained popularity which again is good as it shows people aren't put off joining in whatever their fitness levels and make it more inclusive. But what if we were all doing sub 30s (or better every week)
But running and trying to maintain a high mass, assuming that's what they're doing, that's just daft. The extra strain it puts on your body must be more risky than just staying at home and eating less surly. I mean there's the heart attack risk for one but also knackering your knees, hips or whatever else prematurely. As for "running" a marathon in 7 hours again sort of a well done for at least doing it but a fit-ish person e.g. me could probably walk it in around that time and I wouldn't really be putting that out there on social media as some sort of achievement.
They wheel out the statistic at Parkrun from time to time that the average time has got slower as Parkrun has gained popularity which again is good as it shows people aren't put off joining in whatever their fitness levels and make it more inclusive. But what if we were all doing sub 30s (or better every week)
I’d say fat running sounds like a good thing as long as it leads to people who are fat (to the point that it has negative influence on their health or well being) improving their situation.
If it’s just about voyeurism then maybe it’s ok as long as everyone’s happy.
TBH it’s not a phenomenon I’m very familiar with.
Is this just about fat people going running or some kind of new entertainment that’s gaining popularity?
If it’s just about voyeurism then maybe it’s ok as long as everyone’s happy.
TBH it’s not a phenomenon I’m very familiar with.
Is this just about fat people going running or some kind of new entertainment that’s gaining popularity?
Johnnytheboy said:
I kind of get where the OP is coming from.
This "body positivity" bks where it's not a case of seeing running as a way to get to a healthy weight, but to somehow 'rebrand' being fat as being a healthy lifestyle choice ("look, they can run!").
This - there's a pride to be had in being a "back of the packer" - you can literally get Tshirts with a snail on to show thats your "thing". If that persons alternative is a heart attack in front of the TV then good - they are out running" I just wonder if it sets the bar to a point where others may not feel the need to improve when doing so would be real good for them. Again, I don't know and I now run in ways that mean I don't encounter such runners - whether thats by starting at the front on runs or only entering competitive heats of OCR races, etc. But as I leave those events, I see the slower/bigger people and I wonder how they benefit from this current way of thinking. In simple terms, do they do a 2hr 10k then have icecream on the way home because that's what they are....a fat runner, which facebook tells them is fine (in fact, it's probably a gender you can pick!) Or are they still better off doing that than nothing? (thats not exactly the point as yes - run + icecream is better than nothing........but what about run + no icecream?)This "body positivity" b
ks where it's not a case of seeing running as a way to get to a healthy weight, but to somehow 'rebrand' being fat as being a healthy lifestyle choice ("look, they can run!").dieselgrunt said:
7hrs for a marathon is 16 mins per mile. Is that even running?
It's something....if next year your time is 6hrs and then 5hrs and so on......it's awesome. If you run every year with the pick up bus following you home (as you pop a selfie for IG), I'm not sure what it is.If someone is obese / morbidly obese, and they realise that continuing living the lifestyle that has made them that way, is going to result in all sorts of woes, and decides to do something about it, by partaking in physical exercise / exertion, which is far more than they have done ( running / jogging / whatever ) and their physical condition improves as a result, that’s fantastic, good on ‘em. If however, they are just insecure, ‘bubbly’, I.G. / Bookface , attention wes, who’s sole purpose for posting this stuff, is just to say, LOOK AT ME, NO NO REALLY LOOOOOK DAMN YOU, I’M ‘BUBBLY’ AND I RUN AND THERES NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING THE SIZE OF A SMALL MOON AND CONTINUING TO EAT AN AMOUNT EQUIVALENT TO A SMALL RAIN FOREST / MY OWN BODYWEIGHT IN DEEP LARD FRIED PIES, BECAUSE I RUN, PARK RUNS AND EVERYTHING, SO YOU CAN KEEP EATING PIES AS WELL, BECAUSE LOOK AT MEEEEEEEEE or something, then they can shove it.
es, who’s sole purpose for posting this stuff, is just to say, LOOK AT ME, NO NO REALLY LOOOOOK DAMN YOU, I’M ‘BUBBLY’ AND I RUN AND THERES NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING THE SIZE OF A SMALL MOON AND CONTINUING TO EAT AN AMOUNT EQUIVALENT TO A SMALL RAIN FOREST / MY OWN BODYWEIGHT IN DEEP LARD FRIED PIES, BECAUSE I RUN, PARK RUNS AND EVERYTHING, SO YOU CAN KEEP EATING PIES AS WELL, BECAUSE LOOK AT MEEEEEEEEE or something, then they can shove it. Edited by GOATever on Tuesday 5th November 09:13
I suppose you need to know the goal of the parson in question. I know a fair few people who run a lot but never push themselves and don't make any progress. They are happy with what they can do and that is that. Got few friends who have run at the same pace for the last 10 years. They are more social / just want to do it for the achievement runners and are quite prolific on IG / Facebook. I suppose this is where the chubbers on IG fit in?
I'm more of the push myself sort and by kicking my own ass over the years have dropped my times / upped my pace and distances considerably.
I can see your argument from both sides. Would be interesting to know if anyone is looking at chubbers "running" and concluding they are fit and healthy so they can just sit and eat some more.
There are definitely some people with this mindset. There was a prog on TV recently "Who are you calling fat" and one of the women on there was saying being fat is fine, healthy and fat people are as fit as slimmer ones. Would have been fun to put her through a few workouts compared to someone of a healthy build and see what the difference was.
I'm more of the push myself sort and by kicking my own ass over the years have dropped my times / upped my pace and distances considerably.
I can see your argument from both sides. Would be interesting to know if anyone is looking at chubbers "running" and concluding they are fit and healthy so they can just sit and eat some more.
There are definitely some people with this mindset. There was a prog on TV recently "Who are you calling fat" and one of the women on there was saying being fat is fine, healthy and fat people are as fit as slimmer ones. Would have been fun to put her through a few workouts compared to someone of a healthy build and see what the difference was.
When I run it makes me want to lose weight as any excess becomes immediately apparently jiggling around.
Remidns me of this,
KINGSTON BAGPUISE (n.)
A forty-year-old sixteen-stone man trying to commit suicide by jogging.
From the "Meaning of Liff By Douglas Adams, where he gives names to things that dont have a name and this one sprang to mind, worth a read, http://lib.ru/ADAMS/liff.txt
Surely you run to lose weight, not maintain it or justify your diet, I know even with 2 stone on how much more difficult it is, harder on everything, must be like running in full military kit but without the underlying fitness.
Remidns me of this,
KINGSTON BAGPUISE (n.)
A forty-year-old sixteen-stone man trying to commit suicide by jogging.
From the "Meaning of Liff By Douglas Adams, where he gives names to things that dont have a name and this one sprang to mind, worth a read, http://lib.ru/ADAMS/liff.txt
Surely you run to lose weight, not maintain it or justify your diet, I know even with 2 stone on how much more difficult it is, harder on everything, must be like running in full military kit but without the underlying fitness.
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