04. Nicole Clermont on Celebrating all the Way to the the Top: Orthorexia and Injury Recovery, Team USA

“Fly fast and free, why not me?” This is the motto that Nicole Clermont, an NCAA Division 1 runner at Boston College, runs by and what has kept her going through the ups and downs of massive PRs, winning a national championship, racing for Team USA, volunteering for the Special Olympics of Costa Rica, stress fracture recovery, eating disorder recovery, anxiety, and perfectionism. Nicole openly discusses using practices like journaling, spirituality, relationship building, and meditation to rewire her brain so that she thinks differently about food and body image in a way that allows her to honor the strong, confident, badass runner she is. Through learning self care and self love, Nicole’s healing is the groundwork for her continued growth, allowing her to rediscover what it’s like to feel alive, liberated, and free. Nicole has learned that “my body is either what will make me limitless or give me limits and I have to respect it,” leaving the message that “my voice has so much power, your voice matters... if you are struggling, you are not alone, you can get help, and you can be a successful runner no matter what your body type is.”

For more information on the female athlete triad, eating disorders in athletes, and some resources for seeking help, you can check out the NEDA website here: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/eating-disorders-athletes