Former 230lb smoker ran London in 2:16 to qualify for Commonwealth Games

Few more from the 'Marathon Talk' archives.

'This week we talk to a one time over-weight smoker who now boasts a marathon PB of 2.25... Steve Way.'

http://www.marathontalk.com/podcast/episode_13_steve_way.php

http://www.marathontalk.com/podcast/episode_119_steve_way_diane_ackroyd.php

Wow. Both these stories are really impressive. Thanks for sharing.

this is so much more fun to read/hear about than some overly talented annoying genetically lucky 15 year old running a 1:14 half marathon or some sh!t and in my opinion far more impressive.

Priscilla Welch was fat and out of shape and smoked a pack of cigs a day. At the age of 35 she started to take care of herself and started to run. She ran in the 1984 Olympics in the marathon for Britain.

squeezeme? wrote:

On that "taking scalps" reference, you do know it's now 2014, right? Not PC and insensitive.

And just plain stupid to have to bash other runners. The stereotypically low self esteem distance runner can't even show any appreciation and respect to another distance runner. Marathoners bashing ultra guys and vice versa is just pathetic. Take a good look in the mirror, find something positive about yourself, and then have the courage to respect other people who just happen to enjoy something ever so slightly different than your own chosen path.

Didn't Tom Fleming start out as a fat slob before becoming a hot shot marathoner?

Genie Onyx wrote:

Didn't Tom Fleming start out as a fat slob before becoming a hot shot marathoner?

I am not sure about this. I think Tom Fleming was a young guy when he was at the top.

Two recent guys big weight loss guys who reached elite or near elite status are Ben St. Lawrence and Justin Ricks.

Hi all,

Cheers for all the comments, good and bad!

For anyone interested I've just posted up details of my taper week and first post race week. This recovery week has been a lot more aggressive than normal seeing as I only have one more week before I taper for the UK 100km Champs!

http://www.steveway.co.uk/?p=1220

Genie Onyx wrote:

Didn't Tom Fleming start out as a fat slob before becoming a hot shot marathoner?

No. Tom was a big guy as runners go but also a very good one going back to his high school days.

Marigold wrote:

Hi all,

Cheers for all the comments, good and bad!

For anyone interested I've just posted up details of my taper week and first post race week. This recovery week has been a lot more aggressive than normal seeing as I only have one more week before I taper for the UK 100km Champs!

http://www.steveway.co.uk/?p=1220

Awesome, thanks. Good luck with your future goals

Sair wrote:

If that's not impressive enough he

a) Turns 40 this year and

b) Was in training for a 100km race, which he did a 50 mile training run for a few weeks ago, and entered London on a whim.

His blog's an entertaining read that I'd highly recommend:

http://www.steveway.co.uk/

It really only points out how lame the rest of you are.

You're limited by your linear thinking and lack of true ambition. If it gets too hard you look the other way.

I was a solid athlete in school, was a good jumper.

Had a vehicle accident and blew out my cruciates and meniscus. Back in the 70's there was no good surgery for that, and I was told to take up swimming, as my running / jumping career was over. I refused and move to sprinting and eventually to 400 m. I ran on adrenalin, because I had no speed endurance beyond 60 ms. And I limped. Medaled at the Olympic trials in th 400. (in a minor country), but had an A qualifier by today's standards. Didn't get picked but the guy who beat me medaled in the Olympics. So it wasn't chumpshit.

If you really want to bust your ass, you can't look at the crack in your ass and say that it was you that busted it.

Too many want the scholarship, the approval, the support, and all those things do is make it softer, not easier. They're distractions. People want to make a living out of sport, not leave a mark.

Sacrifice, work hard. There are reasons that coaches like Cerrutti and Hilliard are still worshiped.

a woman ran 2-33 in london

faster than any british female

she's 30 and only started as a hobby jogger a few years back

just sayin wrote:

a woman ran 2-33 in london

faster than any british female

she's 30 and only started as a hobby jogger a few years back

Irish girl living in Edinburgh?

Marigold wrote:

Hi all,

Cheers for all the comments, good and bad!

For anyone interested I've just posted up details of my taper week and first post race week. This recovery week has been a lot more aggressive than normal seeing as I only have one more week before I taper for the UK 100km Champs!

http://www.steveway.co.uk/?p=1220

Steve: Great site and great run. This may be a stupid question, but is Marigold your middle name or a nickname?

Nickname from Uni 22 years ago that stuck as my online name!

Nothing particularly interesting, I just used to do lots of washing up of dishes in our communal kitchen and I used to use "Marigold" washing up gloves!

Very very impressive. I had not heard of Steve until now, but I will be reading that blog cover to cover.

That's crazy. I would assume that running at an intense level after a history of alcohol or drug abuse could be dangerous.

Pete Magill had a similar story of Master's resurgence.

As one who spent his entire life staying fit and as healthy as possible, getting beat (easily) by a guy who was a slob just a few years before is a bittersweet tango. All the best to Steve nonetheless!

#ocl wrote:

You guys see he did a 3.00 mile shake-out the day before London at 5:18/mi pace? Man.. how many ... would even think about doing that!

It's not a bad idea. I did an 800 all out the day before a long race. Immediately after the 800, I carbo-loaded for an hour following the carb loading guidelines.

The next day, I PR'd and felt minimal fade. He may have benefited the same way. The fast pace opens your system up to store glycogen. I'm a believer in this now. Granted, 3.00 miles is a bit long.

Here's more info.