Show: 31
Title: Too Fat To Run
Category: Comedy / Physical Theater / Solo Show / Storytelling
By: Fat Theatre Project
Created by: Eileen Tull
Location: Open Eye Theatre
Summary: A solo storytelling show by Chicago-based artist Eileen Tull about running a marathon, despite the world telling her she's too fat to run.
Highlights: While I don't identify as fat, I definitely identify as a runner who doesn't have a typical runner's body, who runs slower than is "cool," and who has found a lot of self-confidence and self-worth through running. After running nearly 70 races over the last 25 years, including 7 marathons and 28 half marathons, I firmly believe that anyone who runs is a runner. Being a back-of-the-pack runner, I've seen runners of all ages, shapes, sizes, body types, races, genders, and running gaits. No matter what you look like, no matter how fast (or slow) you run, we're all runners, which Eileen beautifully expresses in this show. She speaks in a very conversational and informal way, as if this is the first time she's telling this story, hesitating and backtracking, which is very endearing and instantly get us on her side. Dressed in workout gear, she paces and runs around the tiny stage at Open Eye, stretching and doing exercises, giving the show a sense of movement. Eileen tells us that grew up in a large athletic family, and while she was always active, she also always had issues with food and body image. She got into running as a "healthy obsession" to replace drinking, and even ran a few half marathons before she was sidelined by an injury. Then one day in the early post-COVID years, she decided to run a marathon, and spent nearly a year preparing and training for it. She took exercise and stretching classes, she found a running group (the running community is incredibly supportive), and she ran. And ran. And ran. Despite the cruel and thoughtless comments from strangers and people she knew. She made it to marathon day, and she accomplished her goal. Not, as she tells us, to prove anything to anyone, but to prove something to herself. I found Eileen's story very relatable and moving (#fringetears), but you don't have to be fat or a runner to relate to her story. It's a story of perseverance and determination, about loving yourself and your body enough to do hard things even, or especially, when people tell you that you can't. Go runners!
