every BODY IS A runner's BODY

Four women explain how they embrace change and shake off negativityto run freer, happier, and stronger than ever.

- JORDAN SMITH & CLAIRE TRAGESER

LAST YEAR, DISTANCE RUNNER AND content creator Emma Abrahamson shared four different photos of herself throughout her high school running career on Instagram. The photos depicted the transformation her body went through during that time, including an eight-inch growth spurt as well as a 50-pound weight gain. Her message to young female runners was clear: “YOUR BODY IS GOING TO CHANGE,” she wrote.

“A lot of young female runners follow me... with social media and TikTok, they see a lot of unhealthy practices put out into the world,” says Abrahamson, who’s now 24.

Abrahamson’s photos, which she posted to the Instagram page for her podcast Convos Over Cold Brew, gained a lot of traction, and became the topic of her next podcast episode.

“YES. THIS.” wrote one commenter. “I needed this caption. Thank you” said another.

“I wanted young girls to be reassured that it’s important for them to let their bodies change,” Abrahamson says.

Physical changes can be hard for anyone. They’re often especially difficult for young women, who can experience immense pressure to conform to an “ideal” body type portrayed on social media and on fitness blogs.

But they’re an essential part of growing as an athlete, and as a human. “These changes are not only natural, but they are also necessary for optimal female health,” says Elizabeth Barchi, M.D., sports medicine specialist at NYU Langone’s Center for Women’s Sports Health. During puberty and beyond, it’s essential to have a well-balanced diet with enough protein, fats, and carbohydrates to support growth, Barchi says.