London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/14/2014 -- A woman who successfully completed the 2012 London Marathon at 5:50:57, despite being overweight and told by doctors that she was “too fat to run”, is launching a new website designed to inspire other plus-size women.
Julie Creffield, a 36-year-old entrepreneur and mother from Stratford, East London, has been preparing a new website to replace the original blog.
This blog charted her athletic progress in the lead up to the 2012 marathon and beyond, gathering a readership of around 200k from around the world.
The new website, www.toofattorun.co.uk will be ready and go live at 12pm on Monday 14th of July.
It will not only act as a shop front for merchandise but will also present resources for overweight women about how to take up running safely and how to stand up against the negativity that plus-size women get in society.
Some of the resources will include a free downloadable monthly training plan.
“Two thirds of the UK population are overweight or obese and the media takes great pleasure is scare-mongering us into doing something about it with magazines promoting the next big faddy diet and government agencies telling everyone to ditch the car and cycle to work”. Says Julie.
“What we need are practical solutions where women feel empowered to be more active and where exercise is seen as something enjoyable and fun rather than a chore and something we must do”.
With the intention of inspiring other plus-size who are interested in running, Julie launched In June this year a clothing range with the Too Fat to Run slogan in response to the fact that most major sportswear brands only go up to a 16 or 18.
The plan is to raise enough cash to go into production of stylish, sexy technical apparel for plus-sized runners.
Julie’s story
“I was in my early twenties and unable to run for more than 30 seconds at a time. That shocked me into taking action and regaining control over my life. The following day, I signed up for the London Triathlon, which I completed just 3 month later in a XL wetsuit that just about fitted my size 18 body.
“I did nothing more than dabble in sport for those first 6 years making very little progress in terms of weight loss or general fitness as I would simply compete in races, but never do any real training. My inconsistent diet and partying lifestyle didn’t help much either.
“All of that changed when I buckled down joined a running club and signed up for my first marathon - yes, I have run more than one.
“Running has taught me so much about the capabilities of my body and the strength and weaknesses of my mind, but there are so many barriers for FAT women wanting to enjoy this sport and this is something that must change.”
Julie has written three books that are selling well on Amazon: Getting Past the First 30 Seconds, From Slouch to 10K and How to Run with a Baby.
Julie Creffield
0208 221 1589/07961 374 772
www.thefatgirlsguidetorunning.com
fattymustrun@hotmail.com
From 12pm Monday 14th July
www.toofattorun.co.uk
Julie@toofattorun.co.uk
Social Media
@Fattymustrun
www.facebook.com/thefatgirlsguidetorunning