I don’t have a runner’s body

The Runner’s Body: Redefining What Strength Looks Like

For decades, we’ve been fed a narrow image of what a "runner’s body" should look like - ‘lean’, ‘skinny’ and ‘long-legged’. This image has dominated our sport, for women in particular, from coaches, the system and even advertising, quietly reinforcing the idea that in order to be fast, you must first fit a mold.

But let’s be clear: there is no such thing as a "runner’s body." There are bodies that run. Tall bodies. Short bodies. Muscular bodies. Curvy bodies. And every single one of them deserves to take up space on the track, on the trails, or pounding the pavement at dawn.

Judged Before They Run

For too long, women in sport have been judged by appearance before performance. Athletes are questioned if they’re “built for” a sport before they've had the chance to show what they can do. Women runners, in particular, have been scrutinised for their body type before anyone looks at their times, their endurance, their grit. Comments on weight come before comments on strength. Critiques about aesthetics before acknowledgements of power.

This narrative doesn’t just damage confidence - it drives women away from sport entirely.

Why Women Are Dropping Out

It’s no coincidence that women are dropping out of sport at twice the rate of men. If you're made to feel like you don’t belong - if every time you show up, you’re subtly (or sometimes not so subtly) told you don’t look the part - why would you stay?

Sport should be a place where we feel free. Where our bodies are celebrated for what they do, not how they look. But for too many women, the field, the court, or the finish line has become yet another space for judgment.

Time to Redefine the Norm

Here’s the truth: your body is not the problem. The problem is the outdated idea that only certain bodies are allowed to be athletic, to be fast, to be strong. It’s time we reframe the conversation.

A runner's body is one that runs - no matter what it looks like.

And more than that, it’s one that shows up. It trains through self-doubt, through busy schedules, through criticism. It breaks through personal bests and societal limits. That’s the body we should be celebrating.

Run On Your Own Terms

At Femmi, we believe sport belongs to everyone. We want to rewrite the script - one where young girls see strength in every shape, where sustainable performance matters more than appearance, and where every woman feels like she belongs.

Because there’s no wrong way to be a runner. There’s just your way.

And that’s powerful.