I want to talk about something I’ve spent years trying to figure out — and honestly, I’m still figuring it out. Every. Single. Day.
I run more than 2,000 miles a year. I train hard. I’m consistent. I show up. And I also have a 30‑inch waist. I’ve seen some progress, and I’ve stepped off the scale and felt that gut‑punch of, ‘Seriously? After all this?’ I’ve been angry at my body for not responding the way I thought it “should.” I’ve compared myself to people who do far less and somehow look like they jogged right out of a running magazine.
I’ve been confused about calories. I’ve been overwhelmed by macros. I’ve been completely unaware of how much hormones can shape the whole experience. And I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit wondering why the miles on my watch didn’t magically translate into the body I expected.
I run more than 2,000 miles a year… and I still have a 30‑inch waist.
If any of that sounds familiar… you’re in the right place.
Running is incredible for your heart, your brain, your confidence, your stress levels — but it doesn’t guarantee the physical changes so many of us quietly hope for. And if you’re a runner over 40? The story gets even more complicated.
So over the next few weeks, I’m going to dig into this topic in a way I wish someone had done for me years ago. Not as a diet plan. Not as a set of rules. Not as a “fix.” Just real talk about what actually happens when you’re a runner with a real body living a real life.
Here’s where we’re headed:
Why running doesn’t automatically lead to weight loss — even when you’re doing everything “right.”
Why marathon training can make the whole thing harder — and why that’s not a failure.
The emotional side of all of this — the expectations, the comparisons, the frustration, the pressure.
The over‑40 reality — how training changes, how recovery changes, and why your body isn’t misbehaving… it’s just operating on a different rulebook.
And finally, what actually helps runners feel better in their bodies — grounded, sustainable, real‑life strategies that support long‑term running and long‑term sanity.
If you recognized yourself in any of those, you’re exactly who I’m writing this for.
This is the part of running your Garmin can’t measure and your training plan can’t fix — the part where your body has opinions, your expectations push back, and the numbers on the screen don’t tell the whole story.
Thanks for being here. This is the real stuff — and we’re in it together.
Part 1 is coming next week — I hope you’ll come back for it!
~Jess
