It was one of those dresses that feels like it was made for you. It seemed to fit my body perfectly, so I decided to step out of my dressing room and examine the dress from multiple angles in the full-length mirrors just outside. "Wow. You are too thin," a woman said, singling me out. "Do you even eat?" My smile immediately faded, and I just stood there, feeling vulnerable and exposed.

I felt a range of emotions from frustration to sadness. I wanted to extend grace to this woman, but I was undeniably hurt. I don't think she meant to hurt me — or at least that's what I tell myself — but those words should have never been spoken regardless of her intent. It was body shaming [1], plain and simple, and while it may not take the form you hear about most often, I can tell you from experience that it's painful just the same.

I've always had a lean, skinny body type, but I also work hard. I'm an avid marathon runner. I love to work out and do so almost every day, sometimes twice a day. I don't exercise to lose weight; in fact, I never even weigh myself [2], except at the doctor's office. I work out and run because I love to race and compete, and training has always been a stress reliever for me. I also have a healthy relationship with food, and I know I'm eating and consuming enough calories to work out at the level I do. Yet I've heard this type of criticism before, even within the running community, from people who assume I don't eat enough because I'm so lean and thin.

I was so caught off guard in the store that day that I didn't have a comeback, and the woman walked away before I could respond. I did, however, stop and stare at myself in the mirror before shrugging my shoulders and walking back into my fitting room. I took off the dress, hung it up, and looked at my body in the mirror. I began to analyze myself, looking at my visible collarbones and flat chest — and in that moment, I didn't feel beautiful at all. "Maybe I don't look good," I thought, spiraling into a negative headspace. With my lean body, I often struggle to fit into clothes, because there's not enough of me to fill them out. It's a slippery slope that can cause me to become critical of my body [3] and only think of the things I don't like about it.

But then, I looked at myself in the mirror again. This time I felt empowered, reminding myself that I'm healthy, thriving, and happy. I began to think of all I've accomplished and what this body of mine has done. I played collegiate basketball, have run 40 marathons, and am working toward a 100-mile ultramarathon. My body may be lean and skinny, but it's also strong. A smile came across my face. I knew I looked great in that dress, and I wasn't going to let someone else's opinion sway me that day. I picked up the dress and went right to the counter.

Looking back on that day, I wish I had a quick-witted response, but I know choosing to love myself and my body and to wear what makes me feel fierce is a victory in and of itself. No one should be body shamed, and while I hope one day we'll learn not to be critical of others, I won't be a victim any longer. I'm a lean, thin runner, and I don't need anyone's acceptance but my own.