Geelong endurance runner Richie Egan opens up on six-year struggle with an eating disorder ahead of 200km charity challenge

Geelong’s Richie Egan has plans to conquer 200km to help raise funds for a charity close to his heart, as he opens up on the dark places a six-year struggle with an eating disorder took him.

Geelong’s Richie Egan will run 200km - equivalent to 500 laps - around Landy Field athletics track in March. Picture: Brad Fleet

Geelong endurance runner Richie Egan spent six years struggling through a cycle of purging and symptoms of bulimia.

Battling internal pressure to be lean and light to aid his performance, it wasn’t until Egan sought help that his relationship with food improved.

Now, Egan is planning to run 200km – or 500 laps – around John Landy Athletics Track on March 15 in a bid to raise $20k for the Butterfly Foundation, a national organisation which supports those dealing with eating disorders and body image issues.

Eight months after conquering 100km on Mother’s Day, Egan is doubling down with his latest charity run, which he expects could take him anywhere between 16 and 20 hours.

The 25-year-old said he felt he had “more left to give” after finishing the 100km last year, knowing his last 10km – done in just under 41 minutes — was his fastest of the whole run.

“I just thought, I wanted to do something bigger and better for a cause extremely close to me personally,” Egan said.

Richie Egan hopes to raise $20K for the Butterfly Foundation by running 200km. Picture: Brad Fleet

It was in 2018 when Egan, then 18 and starting to take marathon running seriously, began to slip into a six-year struggle of purging and symptoms of bulimia.

“I just felt a bit of internal pressure to be lean and light for performance,” he said.

“I got to some really dark places with that, it was an on-and-off kind of issue, ongoing.

“I’m super grateful I was able to come out of that.”

A taboo subject within the endurance running community, Egan said there was a certain trap knowing lighter bodies often correlated to faster times – but not to the detriment of properly fuelling your body.

“You get all these mixed messages, people saying ‘man, you’re looking fit, you’re looking lean’ and you feel great about that, (but) you might be on the very edge and not eating enough and you know you’re probably in an unhealthy state of mind but you get that positive feedback,” he said.

“Then other times people say, ‘you’re looking really skinny, are you eating enough’ but they sort of joke about it.

“Especially, I think, as a man, it’s really confusing because you might be moving away from the ideal male body as well, you’re getting skinnier, your muscles are getting smaller, just trying to navigate all those things.

“It’s extremely challenging.”

Richie Egan wins the men's half marathon at the Cadbury Marathon in Tasmania last week. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

While family and friends noticed his weight loss, it was Egan’s shame which held him back from opening up to those he loved.

But it was when he was at his lowest, Egan knew he had to seek help, turning to a sports psychologist to help reframe his thinking.

“For me to succeed as an athlete, just to function, I know I need to fuel my body, it’s so important,” he said.

“And I also need to recognise that no matter how resilient or mentally tough I think I am … I’m not a robot.

“I’ve learnt now I can forgive myself if I feel like I’m overeating.”

Egan is conscious he doesn’t want his extreme running feats to be perceived by others as an endorsement of excessive exercise or eating.

“This is the best way I know how to raise awareness and do something great to, to be frank, conquer my own demons … I’ve come a long way but it is a process,” he said.

“If I didn’t change my behaviour (around eating) I wouldn’t be able to do any of the things I’m doing.

“I’m super grateful I’m the fittest and strongest I’ve ever been eating more than I ever have.”

With every step beyond 100km one step further than he’s ever run before, Egan knows he’s going to need help to smash the 200km mark.

“I’m very confident I can get it done but I’m absolutely going to need as much help and support as I can get from everyone that wants to get involved,” he said.

“Whether that’s running a few laps with me, coming down to cheer me on, spreading awareness about what I’m doing or donating to the fundraiser.”

• Richie Egan’s ‘Bloody Far (200km) Run For Butterfly’ will start at 8pm March 15 at John Landy Field and finish on Sunday afternoon.
• To donate to the cause, click here.
• For more on the Butterfly Foundation, click here.

Originally published as Geelong endurance runner Richie Egan opens up on six-year struggle with an eating disorder ahead of 200km charity challenge