Eilish McColgan Addresses Body Comments Ahead of London Marathon Debut

EDINBURGH, Scotland — Eilish McColgan, the British long-distance runner, has openly expressed her feelings toward negative social media comments regarding her body shape, asserting she is “numb” to the criticism. The remarks intensified after she shared a video of her treadmill training for her debut at the London Marathon.

In the wake of her social media post, some commenters speculated about her being anorexic, prompting concern from both McColgan and her mother, Liz, an Olympic silver medallist and former world champion. Liz described the comments as “demeaning and abusive,” reinforcing the potential harm of such associations.

McColgan, 34, emphasized the importance of distinguishing between body shape and health, stating, “I am healthy, my body is healthy. Just because I have a small body frame doesn’t mean I have an eating disorder.” She called upon the running community to avoid perpetuating harmful narratives, particularly for young, aspiring athletes.

“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. I eat what I want; I’m a normal person. I got a box of donuts the other day because I wanted a box of donuts,” McColgan said.

Moreover, McColgan voiced her concerns over the implications of spreading misconceptions about eating disorders, noting, “It also detracts from people who are actually suffering from eating disorders. These are serious issues.” This call to action underlines the need for more responsible dialogue surrounding athletes’ bodies.

As McColgan prepares for her marathon debut, she is entering a new chapter in her career. Following her withdrawal from the London Marathon in 2023 due to injury, she is dedicated to her training and ready to tackle this unfamiliar terrain. “It’s a new challenge, but it is a natural progression,” she declared. “It has taken me a bit longer than normal. It’s just the way my career has panned out; there is not much I can do about that.”

McColgan reflected on her transformation from track to road racing, acknowledging that every athlete has to start somewhere. “Everyone has to start somewhere, and 26 miles is difficult for everyone when you first do it,” she added. With her passion for running driving her forward, she is eager to cross the start line and embrace the marathon experience.