SubscribeFollow Up: The 400lb Marathon Man
You may remember a few months back the story of Jacob. Jacob weighed over 400lbs and had pledged to run the Boston marathon (to the disgust and dismay of many long-distance runners). He is now over 80 pounds lighter... and has just completed the marathon.
He came last.
Jacob has documented his experiences on his blog.
There were many times during the last 3 miles when I was out on my feet. My body had given out but I just wanted the damn thing to be over.I'm not ashamed to admit I had tears in my eyes more than once.
It was a battle to be sure.
Jacob arrived at the finish line 9 hours and 40 minutes after starting.
That's what I call commitment.
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Way to go Jacob! A real example. If he can do that at 320lb, I'm sure with less weight he'd rank pretty well. I couldn't do it and I am much lighter.
ReplyYay, Jacob!
What commitment, what inspiration!
Brian
ReplyI am very glad he completed it safely.
I wish he had chosen a marathon other than Boston... and started smaller and worked his way up until he could run a marathon in a few less hours... but that's a runner thang. :) I just have to admit that I would have discouraged it ahead of time...
Now that he's done it though, WAY TO GO! Good on you, and keep it up!
ReplyCrossing the marathon finish line can be a very emotional thing!
Thanks for posting this, Jim. It's a great story to read first thing in the morning.
ReplyThat was quite an inspiring read first thing in the morning. I guess I have no excuse for skipping exercise today.
ReplyHope to read about you on next years Boston Marathon. Way to go.
ReplyThat is amazing and so inspirational. I weight 100 lbs less than he does and I'm not even sure if I'm ready for something like that. Maybe I am...
ReplyThis is really big achievement Jacob. I am glad that you were able to complete the Marathon for which you walk for more than 9 Hours. I cannot even imagine how much will power and motivation you have to complete the Marathon.
ReplyThat's excellent. Way to go. Don't listen to "Heather" saying she wished you had picked "another" marathon other than the Boston one....sounds like a real snobbish thing for her to say. Shame on her. Get over yourself, Heather! Is there a special "Boston Marathoner Club" that you are sad he is a part of now? Sheesh.
ReplyThank you! Why start small? He finished, and that's all that matters. Even if it took forever, as long as he didn't give up, which he obviously didn't, he should be darn proud. Most unfit slim people, half his weight, wouldn't have been fit enough to do it, so he should be pleased!
Replyi knew jacob could do it, i was on his side the whole time. and i bet now, an hour of exercise would feel like heaven compared to 9 hours!
ReplyI weigh closer to 1/3 of his weight, I exercise regularly, and I'm absolutely sure I'd have at best finished 1/4 of it, maybe less than that. So yes, I agree, he should be darn proud.
Replywoohoo. Shows that any of us can do it if we put our minds to it.
ReplyWay to GO!!! I'm just training for my First 5K You have insprired me to start training for more.
ReplyStacey,
ReplyI wasn't being elitist. I said ahead of time I would have discouraged it. There was a good chance that it was a bad idea.
Also, except for charity spots that let you in without qualifying, Boston is the only marathon in the US that requires qualifying times. I would have suggested another marathon that would have probably had more support for someone completing the course slower.
I wanted to clarify because there were some very inappropriate comments by others left in my blog because of my coment above.
Once again, now that he has finished, Good on him, and congrats! I hope he keeps it up and running becomes a way of life for him. Running has saved my life, and I think that anyone picking it up is tres awesome.
I understood what you meant. My uncle and aunt run marathons and they've only run Boston a couple of times because they say it's very intense and not as fun as some other ones. I followed you!:)
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I am so glad to see Jacob progress through the challenge of a marathon during his bigger quest to reach a new kind of life for himself. I have seen so many young students that are depressed because of a weight problem due to obesity or eating disorder or whatever they are challenged with. I plan on using this story at school, and I know it will give some of those students a breath of fresh air. Good luck to you Jacob! Keep trucking down those paved paths to a new kind of life which you have already begun so well!
Replyomg I just found out how long a marathon is. This story made me cry!
ReplyInspirational. RA RA JACOB. way to go and hope you keep at it.
ReplyThat is great. To have that type of drive to finish the race when so many people in his position would have quit. That sense of accomplishment will really help drive his health in the right direction.
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