About this episode
"It was the fear of the unknown — but that was what I loved also. I don't want to do something I know I could finish or know I could do. I want to do this thing that's going to be really hard… and there was no stopping me." At 14 years old, Lottie Bildirici — a lifelong New Yorker — went from being a happy-go-lucky high schooler to a cancer patient. A lump on her neck turned out to be Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and Lottie immediately began chemotherapy treatments. She was the sick kid. But as she recovered physically (and was given a cancer-free diagnosis!), Lottie realized she had lost her identity. Who was she without cancer? And it was running that helped her redefine herself. Lottie completed a half-marathon at Disney World, and a passion for the sport was immediately ignited. She started learning more about health and nutrition — but soon lost her way. In this conversation, Lottie talks about growing up in the kitchen, and about how a love for food led her down a scary path with orthorexia and recurring stress fractures. She talks about creating her blog and Instagram account, Running on Veggies , and about working with professional athletes including Kara Goucher and Stephanie Bruce. Today, Lottie is a nutrition coach for adidas, she's an Ironman triathlete (she completed her first Ironman on the 10-year anniversary of her cancer diagnosis), and she's a published author. Her first cookbook, Running on Veggies , came out earlier this year. SPONSOR: The WineShine Half Marathon — Register today for the inaugural event, happening July 16, 2022, and use code ONTHERUN to get $25 off your registration. See you in Napa! What you'll get on this episode: What Lottie had for breakfast today, and how she's celebrating life right now (6:10) Lottie's love for cooking (8:00) On writing a cookbook (10:30) What life was like for Lottie in high school, when she received a life-changing diagnosis (12:00) How Lottie started running, and her experience with orthorexia and recurring stress fractures (23:15) How Lottie started working with professional athletes including Kara Goucher and Stephanie Bruce (35:25) What it's like when Lottie works one-on-one with clients (39:50) Lottie's food philosophy (43:00) Lottie's job with adidas, and what a day in the life of Lottie Bildirici looks like (45:00) Lottie's decision to complete an Ironman on the 10-year anniversary of her cancer diagnosis (48:15) The role running plays in Lottie's life right now (55:00) For more, check out: Jonathan Cane on Episode 313 of the Ali on the Run Show Follow Lottie: Instagram @runningonveggies Website Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Blog Strava SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts . Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!