He Couldn't Run for Two Minutes Straight — Five Years Later He'd Run 11 Marathons and Qualified for Boston
4 min read · RealCase summary
Andy Bell, a teacher, was warned before age 40 that he needed blood pressure medication and faced a real risk of diabetes — his wife has described him then as "a heart attack waiting to happen." At nearly 300 pounds, he couldn't run more than two minutes without stopping, and cried after his very first 10-minute treadmill attempt following basketball coaching.
He built up gradually, adding 30 seconds to a minute of running time at a time, cut out fried food and soda, and settled into an "everything in moderation" diet of vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. He now wakes at 4:55 a.m. to train, running without music so he can focus on his heartbeat and surroundings.
Within a year, Bell lost 100 pounds. He went on to complete 11 marathons, 3 ultramarathons, and 100 Spartan races, and qualified for the 2018 Boston Marathon by more than 6 minutes under his age-group standard — then ran it in conditions of 40°F with a 29°F wind chill and 30 mph gusts.
"I was only 39 years old" when he first realized the state he was in, he said. Of the running itself, he has said simply: "I just discovered I was at peace when I was running."
Key takeaways
- ›Started unable to run more than two minutes at a time, facing blood pressure medication before age 40
- ›Lost 100 pounds (45 kg) within one year and kept it off for five years afterward
- ›Went on to run 11 marathons, three ultramarathons, and 100 Spartan races, qualifying for the 2018 Boston Marathon by more than six minutes
Original source
Read the original (Good Morning America)
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