A former Great Britain runner who was diagnosed with osteoporosis at a young age has made a remarkable recovery through diet and training. Bobby Clay, now 27, was told her bones were so weak that she could break one simply by sitting down too hard.
Clay, who represented Great Britain at international events when she was just 15, developed the condition after years of overtraining and undereating. She never started her periods, which led to poor bone development. At 20, she was diagnosed with osteoporosis, a condition typically associated with older adults.
After two years of repeated bone breaks, Clay has returned to running. She credits hormone therapy and a carefully managed diet and training regimen for strengthening her bones. 'I knew I'd be back but I didn't know how long it was gonna be,' she said.
Clay admits she was initially too embarrassed to discuss her lack of periods, a key warning sign. 'How could I ever say to someone that I'm 20-years-old and I've never had a period? That's super embarrassing,' she said. She now speaks openly about her experience to warn other young athletes of the dangers of overtraining.
The middle-distance runner is now focused on a slow, patient return to competitive running. 'I'm trying my best to be patient and that's trying my patience being patient - but I 100% believe I can,' she said.
