The “writer” seems to have zero motivation to lose weight and wants to be accepted as a fat runner. But training for a sport should mean trying to achieve your ideal weight for that sport be it boxer, runner, jockey, or skateboarder. Of course people expect her to lose weight if she keeps up her running efforts. She needs to count calories and lose weight. She will be healthier at a lighter weight.
I thought runner’s world might address heart stress, blood pressure, and impact on joints, etc.
That’s the part that is wacky to me. If you’re a serious runner and you’re eating like a runner would, it seems to me that the fat part would be temporary. If it isn’t, go get your thyroid checked and have a doctor run a metabolic scan. Something is going on besides being a person who holds onto it more than average.