Eilish McColgan, a renowned long-distance runner and Commonwealth champion at 10,000 meters, is intensifying her training for her much-anticipated debut at the London Marathon. At 34, McColgan is stepping into a new phase of her athletic career, embracing the challenge of marathon running. Despite the excitement of this new endeavor, she recently faced unwarranted criticism on social media concerning her body shape after posting a video of herself training on a treadmill.
The upcoming marathon marks a significant transition for McColgan, who is excited to get to the start line and take on the 26-mile challenge. This event is particularly meaningful for her, as she had to withdraw from the 2023 London Marathon due to injury. Now, with renewed vigor and determination, she is preparing for this new challenge.
However, alongside her training journey, McColgan has encountered negative comments linking her slender physique to an eating disorder. She expressed concern about the implications of such remarks, especially for aspiring athletes who might misconstrue these perceptions as a standard for athleticism.
"The reason I call it out is so people don’t think that is how they have to look to be an athlete. It is dangerous for people to see comments like that and think that is how you have to be," McColgan stated.
Despite the online abuse, McColgan remains unfazed, maintaining confidence in her health and lifestyle. She emphasized the importance of understanding that a small body frame does not equate to having an eating disorder.
"I am healthy, my body is healthy. Just because I have a small body frame doesn’t mean I have an eating disorder. I have people messaging me telling me they need to run so long on the treadmill each day just to balance calories and that’s just not anything like how it is," she clarified.
McColgan also highlighted that her lifestyle includes enjoying food without restrictive measures, sharing her experiences to debunk misconceptions about athletic dietary habits.
"I eat what I want. I’m a normal person. I got a box of doughnuts the other day because I wanted a box of doughnuts. It also detracts from people who are actually suffering from eating orders. These are serious issues," she added.