The 427 pound guy who completed the LA Marathon in 2013. Does 8 hours, 23 minutes really qualify as running ?

WFH mileage wrote:

That’s definitely a walking pace. Maybe he jogged part of it, though. Hard to say without splits. Anyway....good on him. I couldn’t walk 26 miles with 260 extra pounds in a backpack. I hope it was a stepping stone to a healthy lifestyle for him.

Totally agree.

I doubt I could walk 100 yards with 250 pounds on my back.

Stoppit Smith wrote:

First, let's qualify something very important. You brag about your sub 6 marathon walking? Well, not only did i do a 2:29 and change split for a half marathon but I also did a 5:40:42 marathon walking the whole thing.

What a strange post.

No, I wasn't "bragging" about my marathon time; I was pointing out that even for an older person, taking more than six hours to cover a marathon is a walking, not running, speed.

[FWIW that particular time was actually sub-5:40.

Which still isn't bragging, because I've walked the distance under five hours multiple times.

Which *still* isn't bragging, because I have a friend who's routinely walked marathons under four hours. (He's an actual racewalker.)]

I was just answering the OP's question: No, eight hours-plus doesn't qualify as "running"...but it's still a tremendous accomplishment for a guy that big. Even at my fattest I wasn't much more than half the man's weight; the idea of moving two of my fatbody selves--whether running or walking--for eight hours is daunting. Much respect to him.

I'm just seeing this thread now. I am the one you're posting about. My mother was dying of Stage 4 Lung Cancer and I entered the 2013 LA Marathon in her honor. You can read the full story on Guinness' website. My back was out (L4-L5&S1) for two weeks prior and the morning of the marathon I still showed up for her. She died two months later. I finished the 2012 LA Marathon with zero training, zero stretching, on a dare... and finished. 2013 LA Marathon I was bodyguarding 60-72hrs a week so not much time to train. I have compacted vertebrae from college football, and my back was out. I was icing, taking pain killers, and could barely put my socks over my toes on race day. But I still showed up, I still finished, and that's what I came to do. I have entered 3 LA Marathons, and I will be "running" in the next one as well. 28,000 entered, and only about 18,000 finished. I still had people finish behind me in my age group (30-34)... with my back out at 427lbs. Weighed out at the end of the race. I will be "running" the 2023 LA Marathon, 10yr anniversary, in honor of my mother in 152days. To anyone that has an issue with that, I feel pity for you.

Oh.

I rember this race. Guy took a dump down a manhole at mile 16.

^ thank you for posting

There’s an odd bunch that post here and it’s not easy to see why they get triggered over what you did.

Hopefully you’re getting healthy. Congrats and don’t pay attention to the idiots.

I love trolls, more fuel to the fire. I had 14 blisters by mile 11 too... Wrong type of shoes, wrong old cotton socks, barely slept the night before but who does. Now I am actually training for it this time, in honor of my mom's 10yr anniversary of her passing, and to beat my time. @running4mom

Good on you, big man. Definitely try to use non-cotton socks, though. Makes a world of difference.

How did you get to be over 400 pounds?

What do you weigh now?

@carminecarmine9

Charles Bungert played football for Baylor and was listed as 6-8, 350lbs.

Great accomplishment at 427 pounds. No doubt about it. You still hold the record after nearly 10 years.

You are proof that marathon race directors and local government officials should allow entry to any person who has a reasonable chance of completing the course in less than 12 hours. I could do a sub-6 hour walk/run Boston if given the opportunity to purchase a bib.

Which explains how he got over 400 lbs.

If possible, the thing to do if you played football at 350 is to get to 250 after your career is over.

Please don’t respond to that nutjob

Course must have been short.

Go for it.

Do get non-cotton running socks. Grease up your toes and feet and everything between thighs and waist with bodyglide or similar products. Or try Right Guard Xtreme Sport gel or similar. It kinda makes a slick film. Also on nipples and maybe underarms if that is prone to chafing.

I assume you're wearing stretch shorts. I haven't taken a running step without them in 30 years and I'm sure you wore them for football. Pretty sure your generation (you're younger than I am) has always worn them for sports, but some beginners don't and suffer.

I'm not as near as big as you are, but I've done a bunch of marathons and ultramarathons up to 50 miles at 250 - 280 lbs. I just keep moving. The phrase I have in my head is "stay on the horse, the horse is going to get there". As long as I keep my size 16s moving forward, I'll eventually get there.

Thanks. No blisters in 2012 but got the bloody 11s. I don't wear spandex type shorts, but the shorts I wore weren't great. I have size 16 shoes as well and love the HOKA shoes. So much lighter and way better cushion for the pushin. Blisters were a big factor and I just wanted to finish. I was afraid that too much jogging my back would give out and I was just trying to finish for mom. My pace is better and on an average day I walk 5-12 miles. I've had 19days off in 6 months so it's hard to get miles in after 8-14hr days. I'm going to embarrass some people this time and it'll be hilarious

Give him a break. He was the age/weight-calculated group winner of a large marathon

So, you are saying the LA marathon did not have a cutoff?

Most have a 6:30 cut off.

8+ hours seems excessive for expecting the timer to stay set up.