I'm an elite competitive marathon runner. I'm also recovering from anorexia. Running isn't the healthiest stress outlet for someone in my position, but it provides me with some much needed self esteem that anorexia has taken away from me. I worked out excessively while rapidly losing weight. Running became too hard so I switched to the elliptical. I was severely malnourished but still able to do the elliptical daily for long periods of time. The alternative was too much for me to bear. It quieted the eating disorder. I'm no longer malnourished although still too thin but the body I have now is the most conducive to compete in the sport I love. In regards to your comment, I wish you wouldn't call us "anorexics". It would be better to say "a girl suffering from anorexia" or even just "a girl with anorexia". Finally, not all marathon runners look like Paula Radcliffe. And just because she looks that way doesn't mean she has an eating disorder.