Mid way through college, I started to look at pros in the sport. I knew that is what I wanted, and I was trying to figure out the details of how to make it possible for me to make a career as a runner. I noticed the lean muscles on many of America’s best distance runners, and I wanted that. It all started with good intention, but the type A personality made the competition of me against the scale get out of hand.
My thoughts became less and less about being a better runner, and more and more about being lighter. I loved seeing the number drop. I loved running further, working out long hours in the gym, adding in second runs, and reducing my intake to not match the output. It spiraled as these things do, and it took far longer than I like to admit to work out of the hole I dug for myself. I controlled it all, I had an exact routine, I had weekly weigh-ins that I initiated to ensure I didn’t lose any further weight and I was very honest and adjusted as needed if I was told to.
I made myself believe it was all normal for elite runners to obsess the way I was, but in all honesty, it was unhealthy and detrimental.
– Neely S Gracey
I lost my period but didn’t have the breakdown of performance because I rode the line well. I knew when I got too light and lost power, so I focused intently on being right there but not over… but then my body started crumbling in the form of bone injury. I knew I had to get my period back. I gained weight, worked with nutritionists, psychologists, and nothing worked in the amenorrhea regard. But I started building healthier, more sustainable habits that I would say saved my career.
After 5 years, I finally got it back and the lack of period was in fact caused by the hormone prolactin which was elevated due to nipple irritation from my sports bras. I am grateful for this turning point though, because it allowed me to reset and rebuild my body and after that I had huge gains in performance as a pro and transitioned to longer races, more miles, and an overall healthier approach to training and life. My support system was always great. And I believe that to be a big part of my ability to never let things get too bad and why I was able to recognize the issues that I caused and what I needed to do to repair them.
So here I am, proud to say that I can tell any young athlete who thinks to be a pro you have to be restrictive, that it’s not true. You can and will run your best when you are dialed in to give your body what it needs to recover and perform at an optimal level.
gamechanger 2020
