Man Sheds 60lbs, Runs 12 Marathons in a Year: Inspiring Fitness Journey

For a significant part of his life, 38-year-old Ben Johnson had never considered fitness or healthy eating. His lifestyle consisted of fast foods and sugary beverages. However, in 2016, he realized he needed a drastic change. Johnson embarked on a health and wellness journey, starting with a healthier diet and shedding 60 pounds. He then discovered a passion for running, which led him to complete 12 marathons in a single year. Here, he shares the strategies that helped him achieve this daunting task:

Establishing a Fitness Routine

In 2018, Johnson was a fitness rookie with no prior experience in any physical activities. But after signing up for a local 10-mile race at the encouragement of his colleagues, he began to understand the importance of a fitness routine. Prioritizing early morning runs before work, Johnson gradually increased his running distance every week.

Building Good Habits

Johnson also joined a strength challenge at his workplace gym, which helped him establish regular workout habits. His initial races impacted him positively, prompting him to continue pushing his limits. He began teaching himself how to improve his performance by reading training books like Daniels’ Running Formula, Advanced Marathoning, and Hansons Marathon Method.

Increasing Training Intensity

In 2019, he began running six days a week, logging 50 miles each week. Johnson’s initial goal was to complete his first marathon in under three hours. His first marathon was a success, finishing in 2 hours and 52 minutes. Motivated, he continued signing up for races, exploring his potential further. By the end of 2022, he had completed 15 marathons, including Boston and Chicago.

Pushing the Limits

In 2023, Johnson decided to push his limits further by signing up for six marathons in the first half of the year, then another six in the second half. Among these were races in Houston, Jacksonville, Boston, London, Portland, and Eugene.

Lessons Learned

Throughout this journey, Johnson learned several valuable lessons about recovery, releasing pressure, consistency, understanding fitness levels, and gaining a new perspective on performance. He learned the importance of recovery, which included quitting alcohol, foam rolling, and wearing compression socks for long flights. He learned to enjoy the experience more than focusing solely on setting personal records. Consistency was another key factor that contributed to his success, averaging nine-and-a-half miles every day since 2020.

His experience taught him that running a little slower sometimes didn’t mean failure, but rather a different way to appreciate the whole running experience. After all, the process is more important than just the end result.