Many celebs have laced up their sneaks and finished marathons, including Will Ferrell, Mario Lopez, Oprah, David Lee Roth, and Katie Holmes. Now you can add Alanis Morissette to that list. She's planning on running this Sunday, Oct. 11, in the Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon, in Lassen National Forest in northern California.
Alanis is running to raise money for the National Eating Disorders Association, since she knows firsthand what it feels like to struggle with anorexia and bulimia. Alanis began running about a year ago after seeing her assistant Leah running "like a gazelle" while on tour. This singer-songwriter feels that running this marathon is allowing her to use her body as an instrument and raise awareness about an important and personal issue. She knew she couldn't get through the many hours of grueling training unless there was a higher purpose and explains, "I wanted to offer this run to anyone who has had a fraught relationship with their food, their body and their heart and soul."
To find out if training triggered unhealthy eating disorder behaviors, read more.
Alanis said that marathon training did trigger some eating disorder type behaviors, but she knew there was no way she could undereat and maintain the high level of energy needed in order to run. So training for this marathon actually helped her find balance in how she fueled herself. This amazing singer was also aware of not exercising obsessively. She has an order of priorities now: Sleep first. Food second. Run third. Alanis said, "I don't have the first two nailed, I can't run. So it incentivized me to nurture the first two. When I run healthfully I feel empowered and kind. When I run obsessively I feel nervous, stressed out and disassociated."
Have any of you ever walked, biked, or run for a cause? Tell me about it in the comment section below.
Dorotennis
Donna Karan
L'Wren Scott
Good for her! I'm running the Nike Women's Marathon next week as part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training Program
1i suffered from an eating disorder in middle school and joining the cross country team in high school, somewhat paradoxically, was the primary driver in getting me healthy. alanis is exactly right - you can't truly perform as an athlete without the proper fuel, and this understanding - and in my case, the positive examples and support of friends and teammates - fosters better habits.
chloe belle - i'm flying out to SF for Nike with TNT as well! (only the half, though - was sidelined by an injury and had to curtail my distance. given the hills, i think that should be challenge enough, though.)
2Good Luck Chlose Belle!
3Last year I ran The Trail of two Cities Marathon for Girls on the Run. It was a very rewarding experience and I raised a nice chunk of change but I hated asking people for money so I am not doing that every race I run (it was my first time raising money, 3rd marathon). Raising money stressed me out a whole hell of a lot more than training and running the race!
I applaud those who run for a cause though, it is a great reason to get out there and run a race!
I ran a 5K for the American Heart Association on Valentine's Day one year, shortly after my grandpa died from heart disease. I definitely agree with Alanis...you can't be a good athlete unless you fuel yourself properly. Good for her for running this marathon! It's nice to see celebs out there advocating being healthy and not worrying so much about being thin.
4good luck ladies !! I raised $800 for our local animal shelter when I ran the Richmond Marathon
5huh. a marathon against eating disorders is kind of counterintuitive... but whatever works i guess...
6I did the Ride for MS this year, it was really fun cos the bar I work at hosted one so all the staff got in on the action... we have two bartenders with MS so it felt good to support a cause so close to home.
7I stumbled upon this inspiring interactive feature on NY Times on why people run. Some to overcome illnesses, lose weight, etc. It's inspiring to hear stories of people from all different age groups.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/05/27/health/MARATHON_VOICES.htm...
8I will be running that same marathon this Sunday!
9I haven't ran for anything. I'm not a runner. My knees ache at the most inopportune times. But I am always amazed at how people can do it and am inspired how they work for a cause. I donate when I can. That's how I participate, though I would love to run/walk a half marathon some day.
10She looks...crooked in that photo, but it's a good cause! I think all the races I have done have been for charity, but I've never raised money beyond the entry fee and occasionally a small donation of my own.
11Wow, I love Lassen, but between the hills, the loose terrain (sandy dirt) and the altitude, those are going to be 26 tough miles.
12I'm doing the 3 day, 60 mile walk this year benefiting Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer research.
Next year I hope to do the half marathon benefiting the leukemia and lymphoma society b/c my dad was just diagnosed with leukemia.
13I've done two races this year for Cancer Research. My grandad died from cancer last October and so I ran in his memory. I'll be doing more next year.
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