fat smoker to triathlete

Fifteen months after I started this journey I have decided to share my success story. Two things have prompted me to take the time to share: I'm proud of how far I've come and I remember reading some success stories early on that inspired me to keep going. It has been a long tough road but has also been very rewarding and I am grateful for all the support and inspiration I have received along the way. So here it is...

Almost 2 years ago my wife a had finally had enough of smoking and just quit one day. It took me about six more months to realize I needed to do the same and follow her lead. So, on April 29, 2012 I had my last cigarette, bought a bunch of gum and quit. At the time I was already close to 270 lbs and was afraid to put on more. The thought of hitting 300 scared me.

So at the same time I quit smoking I started to eat better and exercise. I started out slowly by just cutting out fast food, sweets, soda and chips. I started walking every day for an hour and then two hours. Eventually I started to incorporate stair walking into my routine and after a few months was really starting to see some progress. By mid June I had lost 25 lbs and figured I could start working toward running with a goal of doing a 10 mile race one year later.

With that goal in mind I started a couch to 5k training program. I made it all the way into day two of that when I hit what I thought was a terrible setback but ended up being an inspiration. I developed terrible pain in both knees and was sure I had done some serious damage. I went to the doctor for and MRI and x-rays and he determined that the combination of decreased bone density from smoking and prior lack of exercise along with my weight had led to stress fractures in the top of each tibia. No running or power walking for 6 weeks. “But,” he said “you can bike and swim all you want as long as they don't cause pain.”

I didn't really know how to swim as I had never seriously done it and never had lessons. I did have a bike though. So I got it out of the shed, had it fixed up and started to ride. Every day as far as I could and as fast as I could. After a few weeks I was putting on over 100 miles per week and I kept losing weight. By the end of July I was down 40 lbs and was allowed by my doctor to start power walking again. A funny thing had happened though after all that biking. I found out while out on one of my walks that I could run. Slow as molasses but I could do it for miles, probably 3-4 miles on my first try. I still believe all t he biking got me there.

About that same time is our annual local triathlon. I started to have this crazy idea that maybe I could train to do a triathlon. There would be a lot of hurdles to overcome but I had the will and I figured that even if I failed I would get in pretty decent shape doing it. So I kept on running and in September started taking swim lessons. The running went pretty well and I was really starting to pack on the miles. By October I ran a half marathon just 6 months after quitting smoking.

Unfortunately, I may have pushed too hard too soon and badly injured my hamstring during the half marathon. I ended up not being able to run for 2 months while I healed. Also in the mean time, I found the swimming to be incredibly hard. Harder than I imagined. After 8 weeks I could hardly swim 4 laps without stopping for a rest. It seemed like the triathlon was a dream that might not be reached. On the plus side I was still losing weight and the swimming was putting some muscle on my arms and shoulders so I kept it up. I mean, what man wouldn't like a little more muscle on his arms and shoulders?

Eventually the swimming got easier and I was able to hit my goal of 2500 yards in less than an hour that I figured I would need to complete the triathlon. I kept riding a stationary bike all winter along with the swimming and was also able to start doing some running again. The running was slow and somewhat painful at first and I really had to start almost all over again but it gradually came back. For the next few months I just kept working out as often as I could and as hard as I could.

Then in late March I started a training program with my brother to prepare for the triathlon. I was amazed at how well I was able to keep up with the workouts. It was the most physically and mentally demanding things I have ever done. It took a lot of devotion and honestly I was not prepared for the time commitment which was more than I thought. But it worked.

In mid June I ran my 10 mile race which was one of my original goals. I finished in just under 75 minutes which was good for 14th out of 60 in my age group. Yesterday, I completed my first ever triathlon an IRONMAN 70.3 in 6 hours and 2 minutes. I finished a little farther back than middle of the pack but in my mind I had already won. I quit smoking, lost 75 lbs, and got in the best shape of my life.

If you managed to read this whole thing I hope that you can take away three things from it: number 1 is you have to set goals even if they're a little crazy, two you have to find inspiration be it from friend or family or just anyone who is where you want to be, and finally you can't ever let setbacks keep you from your goals. That last one is especially important. It would be easy to quit when we encounter obstacles or just have a bad food or exercise day but tomorrow is a new day with a new opportunity to succeed. Seize it!

Me pushing 265


About 40 lbs lighter


Today at 195 wearing my finisher's medal