Running Instagrammers #8 I have a LIRF, you can trust me! Beginner to Marathon to A&E!

[instaclowns]

I can’t bear the ballot whinge posts
If doing London is that much of a big deal for you either suck up annoying everyone you know for 6 months and do it for charity or throw the kitchen sink at getting a GFA. Personally I think the womens time is really not overly ambitious, albeit will need more than one of those shitty three runs a week plans

Exactly this! This is my thinking and as a woman who has qualified twice through GFA and very comfortably, I don’t think the times are really as challenging as they once were and actually though 2-3 years ago they’d have dropped to make it more tough give how we’re getting as strong (if not stronger in some cases) as men!

I really cannot fathom her smug smile, rank!

Yep! I saw her once at an event and liked her so went to try say hello and have a brief conversation, she’s so rude and stuck up! Thought she was pretty rank as a person

 

[runrun321]

Someone who keeps popping up on my feed is a runner called Helen Gaunt.

 

[Northernscumpet]

I don't see myself getting a GFA time (not that I don't think I have the potential, I just don't have motivation, maybe I will after I do my first marathon next year) but I don't think they're awful for London really. I didn't enter the ballot, even if I got a place I can't justify the cost of travel and accommodation with the way things are currently and a family to think about.

 

[LKC100]

Someone who keeps popping up on my feed is a runner called Helen Gaunt.

If ever a name suited a person.....

She keeps appearing in mine too.

 

[FPbase]

Exactly this! This is my thinking and as a woman who has qualified twice through GFA and very comfortably, I don’t think the times are really as challenging as they once were and actually though 2-3 years ago they’d have dropped to make it more tough give how we’re getting as strong (if not stronger in some cases) as men!

It's easier for women... but we have in this forum an example of one, running 100miles, no job, everything it's about running, not able to do a sub4h marathon.

Someone who keeps popping up on my feed is a runner called Helen Gaunt.

yes, same here, and she is also scary thin (I have to block her as this kind of staff is not good for me)

 

[Asgyui]

Someone who keeps popping up on my feed is a runner called Helen Gaunt.

I keep seeing her too, never seen her before until London marathon when i saw her on live feed and then she's been popping up as suggested daily!

 

[eyethinkyousuck]

I don't see myself getting a GFA time (not that I don't think I have the potential, I just don't have motivation, maybe I will after I do my first marathon next year) but I don't think they're awful for London really. I didn't enter the ballot, even if I got a place I can't justify the cost of travel and accommodation with the way things are currently and a family to think about.

I’ll never get a GFA because I’ve done one marathon, absolutely fucking hated it, wound up injured, and vowed never to do it again. Horrible distance. Pheidippides had the right idea just dropping dead at the end of it. I really don’t see the appeal.

 

[FPbase]

I’ll never get a GFA because I’ve done one marathon, absolutely fucking hated it, wound up injured, and vowed never to do it again. Horrible distance. Pheidippides had the right idea just dropping dead at the end of it. I really don’t see the appeal.

I had the same experience but with a trail race, loooove the mountains and the outdoors, but only to walk. Hated every second of it

 

[Northernscumpet]

I’ll never get a GFA because I’ve done one marathon, absolutely fucking hated it, wound up injured, and vowed never to do it again. Horrible distance. Pheidippides had the right idea just dropping dead at the end of it. I really don’t see the appeal.

That’s the other possibility, do that first one and hate it so much I never do another (hopefully don’t drop dead though)

 

[Basicgirl]

I was doing a little insta stalk and it's so sad to see what's happened to Sarah. Seems she's always been lean but she used to look healthy and happy.
Really needs help, not fake praise from people pretending not to notice her condition.

 

[muffinheeler]

Someone who keeps popping up on my feed is a runner called Helen Gaunt.

Literally never heard of her before and this evening she shows up on my explore page. Gaunt is right!

 

[Lastqueenofscotland]

I follow Helen gaunt. She’s a good runner, no arguing with that. She is INCREDIBLY lean however in her face doesn’t look as drawn and out of proportion as Sarah?

I just suspect her being very lean is more normal for her. She didnt put on much in two healthy pregnancies either?

 

[Putridpumpkin]

I'd never heard of this Helen Gaunt before, but since this is the first post of hers I came across she has not endeared herself to me to say the least.

I can't comment on her eating habits and whether her physique is so called natural or not because I have no idea about her day to day habits. I would question whether one can naturally be smaller than Eilish McColgan though. When you are running the kind of mileage she seems to who can truly say what her physique would be at a more moderate level of activity. Sadly, Sarah does follow her and like her posts, providing even more justification to starve herself and overtrain. Weight can be a component of an ED, but ultimately it's more about mindset, compulsion and anxiety. It's also entirely possible to undereat unintentionally/without it being a psychological disorder.

Regardless of why she looks this way, this woman really needs to pick her words more carefully. Skinny is not a good term to use. To me it means weak, undernourished and ill. That is not a natural state of being, and should never be used as almost synonymous with athleticism. For somone who works as a PT, she should be ashamed, not of her appearance, but her lack of care and thought for the level of influence she has as a fast and naturally gifted runner.

I also feel a bit bitter at posts like that, as if we're supposed to break out the violins for someone who is lean and runs at a speed most of us can only dream of, no matter how hard we work. She won the genetic lottery, yet she's acting as if skinny people face the same level of shame as those who are overweight, for example. I'm sorry but 'skinny shaming' is just not a thing, because the power balance is such that being thin is still ultimately viewed as positive by the vast majority of society. It's punching up, not down.

I follow Helen gaunt. She’s a good runner, no arguing with that. She is INCREDIBLY lean however in her face doesn’t look as drawn and out of proportion as Sarah?

I just suspect her being very lean is more normal for her. She didnt put on much in two healthy pregnancies either?

I'm not sure if a healthy pregnancy or two is a good way to measure health per se though? There are women in wartorn countries who give birth to reasonably healthy children despite being in a state of semi-starvation themselves, aren't there? I can't pretend to know for sure, admittedly. I'm pretty much clueless when it comes to that. So sorry, so childfree

 

[Lastqueenofscotland]

Oh I agree skinny shaming is bollocks. I’m naturally quite small and the worst I’ve ever had is a few comments on the rare occasion I have a salad and not a meal deal for my lunch.
I have bigger friends who’ve faced some awful prejudice. People who cry skinny shaming are a dumb as people who “don’t get” white privilege because they are whit and have gone through some small hardship

 

[Fifah1907]

I'd never heard of this Helen Gaunt before, but since this is the first post of hers I came across she has not endeared herself to me to say the least.

I can't comment on her eating habits and whether her physique is so called natural or not because I have no idea about her day to day habits. I would question whether one can naturally be smaller than Eilish McColgan though. When you are running the kind of mileage she seems to who can truly say what her physique would be at a more moderate level of activity. Sadly, Sarah does follow her and like her posts, providing even more justification to starve herself and overtrain. Weight can be a component of an ED, but ultimately it's more about mindset, compulsion and anxiety. It's also entirely possible to undereat unintentionally/without it being a psychological disorder.

Regardless of why she looks this way, this woman really needs to pick her words more carefully. Skinny is not a good term to use. To me it means weak, undernourished and ill. That is not a natural state of being, and should never be used as almost synonymous with athleticism. For somone who works as a PT, she should be ashamed, not of her appearance, but her lack of care and thought for the level of influence she has as a fast and naturally gifted runner.

I also feel a bit bitter at posts like that, as if we're supposed to break out the violins for someone who is lean and runs at a speed most of us can only dream of, no matter how hard we work. She won the genetic lottery, yet she's acting as if skinny people face the same level of shame as those who are overweight, for example. I'm sorry but 'skinny shaming' is just not a thing, because the power balance is such that being thin is still ultimately viewed as positive by the vast majority of society. It's punching up, not down.



I'm not sure if a healthy pregnancy or two is a good way to measure health per se though? There are women in wartorn countries who give birth to reasonably healthy children despite being in a state of semi-starvation themselves, aren't there? I can't pretend to know for sure, admittedly. I'm pretty much clueless when it comes to that. So sorry, so childfree

I knew Eilish was lean/skinny(/whatever word you want to use I don’t want to offend anyone and I know it’s a sensitive topic ) but I seen her at the great Scottish run and there’s actually NOTHING to her. She’s a lot taller than I thought too, which I guess doesn’t help the proportions. I guess that’s the difference between her and Sarah? Although Sarah could be tall too I don’t know, but from what I’ve seen she is small as well as tiny

 

[Lastqueenofscotland]

Eilish has always been that build, her mum is a gold medal winning 10,000 track runner, it’s far more likely that it’s genetic for her than Sarah.

 

[lima18]

Yeah, exactly. I don’t know how the people that are close to her are reacting, but if her coaches and close friends/family aren’t expressing concern and it’s only randoms on the internet then that could definitely be an issue and turn the concern into a win in the head of someone with an ED. It’s scary to witness.

Her boyfriend clearly also can see it why else would be sending Uber eats to her at work which she could order herself. She needs help she looks tiny!!!

Been a few weeks since she told us about her ultra and endorsed doing one without training! Love how she makes out that she smashed it and everything was rosey! She fails to mention how she was crocked and exhausted for about 3 months after

What an absolute knob sure I will just visualise myself a bq sure that will work! Also this is mean but she is a crap runner and an ever more annoying person!

 

[Northernscumpet]

I know some naturally very lean to the point they would probably be considered underweight by BMI people, they don't look the same as Sarah, it's that head too big for their body and drawn face sort of look. They also don't spend all their time trying to show off how much they eat. Helen Gaunt can do one with her moaning about skinny shaming. Just no. All body shaming is crap, it really is but it just doesn't compare to what people who are heavy face.

I decided to punish myself as a Ben Parkes video got recommended on youtube, looks like they're also on the Valencia bandwagon...his girlfriend always looks so bored and/or irritated in the videos. Also I can't imagine walking around day to day in a t-shirt with my own name on it

 

[FPbase]

I know some naturally very lean to the point they would probably be considered underweight by BMI people, they don't look the same as Sarah, it's that head too big for their body and drawn face sort of look. They also don't spend all their time trying to show off how much they eat. Helen Gaunt can do one with her moaning about skinny shaming. Just no. All body shaming is crap, it really is but it just doesn't compare to what people who are heavy face.

I decided to punish myself as a Ben Parkes video got recommended on youtube, looks like they're also on the Valencia bandwagon...his girlfriend always looks so bored and/or irritated in the videos. Also I can't imagine walking around day to day in a t-shirt with my own name on it

I briefly followed him, and gosh, he's just plain boring. i don't think I can face a YouTube video of him...

 

[instaclowns]

I really feel for Sarah having to follow and edit all his videos. She had a pretty good job at BP if I remember rightly and gave it up to focus on his business and she’s become a coach too. My husband gets their emails and noticed the other day they’re calling themselves Parkes Fitness or something which is different, maybe he’s about to propose and get down on one knee with a hat or singlet