By Gregory E. August 20, pm Updated August 20, pm. Then living on the Upper West Side, she smoked a pack and a half of Marlboro Lights a day, had six figures of student loan debt and her job running a theater company had some unhealthy side effects. Too embarrassed to attempt an outdoor jog, she headed to the gym and slowly pounded out 2 miles on a treadmill. She was hooked.
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She wasn't the partier you see in the movie...but she didn't love her lifestyle.
The new film Brittany Runs A Marathon tells the tale of Brittany, a fast-witted, twenty-something party girl living in NYC who doesn't feel so hot about her direction in life After a rude awakening from her doctor, who advises her to lose 45 pounds which Brittany hilariously reminds him, is the same weight as a grown Siberian Husky , she begins to take stock in her lifestyle choices. So in an attempt to set her life on a healthier course, Brittany played by Jillian Bell decides to take up running The rest of the film is filled with friendship ups and downs, family dynamics, heartbreak, self-discovery, and plenty of snarky quips—all of which result in a film that's bound to leave you in fits of laughter and joyful tears by the end it's def not just me. What's even more incredible about this uplifting film is that it's actually based on a true story. That's right, there's a real Brittany—and she's just as inspiring, funny, and badass IRL. Here's everything you need to know about the leading lady of this marathon success story. Warning: Spoilers ahead.
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Brittany O'Neill reveals the emotional ups and downs of having her very personal journey adapted for the big screen. First, she decided to take charge of her health and trained for the New York marathon, shedding 60 pounds in the process and altering her career path. Paul had been a big part of my questioning where I was going in my life and wanting to make a change. I was running an off-Broadway theater company at the time, so there was some level of having it together. I feel forever connected to her through this movie.
The story behind Brittany Runs a Marathon began on a couch, after work, back in She knew she needed to change. But how the hell could she break out of her cycle of work, booze, and crappy food? After hours of deliberation, they decided she needed some sort of physical activity, and then eventually, that she should go on a run. After all, they concurred, none would be more productive, effective, or easy to start than running. She started off small, making it a few laps around the block. Her new life began to take shape. She ran almost daily in Central Park, where she felt camaraderie with the diverse group of runners who populate the park at all hours. She left the theater gig to work in tech, which allowed her to schedule runs into her workday. Three months after she challenged herself to make it around the block, she set her next big goal: run the full 6.
