EM runner warns against teenage trap: 'Realized how much I was losing'

Norwegian long-distance runner Hanne Maridal is speaking out about the severe risks of eating disorders among young athletes, sharing her own harrowing experience of being hospitalized at age 16. Maridal, now 29 and a mother, is competing at the European Championships in Birmingham, running the 10,000-meter final. She emphasizes that the relentless pursuit of peak performance can have devastating consequences, potentially costing athletes their entire careers.

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It can give you one good season, and then you are gone from sports for the rest of your life.

Maridal's struggles began at age 12 with an eating disorder, which intensified four years later as her running ambitions grew. Believing that thinness was key to speed, she drastically reduced her weight, leading to hospitalization and requiring psychological and nutritional support. "I realized how much I was losing," Maridal told VG. "You don't just lose running. You lose laughter, the joy of life, and the energy to do what you want."

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I realized how much I was losing. You don't just lose running. You lose laughter, the joy of life, and the energy to do what you want.

After her recovery, Maridal adopted a long-term approach to her training and health, a philosophy she developed with guidance from legendary Norwegian runner Ingrid Kristiansen. "She told me, 'I can make you good quite quickly, but here we have to think long-term.' And we have done that," Maridal recalled. Twelve years later, their collaboration continues, and Maridal has not only regained her health but emerged stronger from the difficult period.

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She told me, 'I can make you good quite quickly, but here we have to think long-term.' And we have done that.

Now a mother herself, Maridal is a vocal advocate for proper nutrition and ongoing support for young athletes. She warns that a single comment about weight can be enough to derail a vulnerable adolescent. "It's important to be told that you have to endure this. Many start reducing their nutrient intake, and then the snowball starts rolling," she said. Maridal stresses the importance of understanding that this is a phase many young athletes go through, and that their bodies will adapt with a long-term perspective. She also noted the significant caloric needs for breastfeeding mothers who are also training intensely.

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It's important to be told that you have to endure this. Many begin to reduce their nutrient intake, and then the snowball starts rolling.