When I was 120kg, I spent way too much time looking at expensive gym memberships and “miracle” diet plans. I thought I needed a total life overhaul before I could even take my first step on the path.
I was wrong.
After dropping to 106.8kg and navigating the complexities of hypothyroidism and medical protocols, I’ve realized that starting—and more importantly, staying—a runner comes down to just three physical tools. Everything else is a luxury.
If you have these three, you can outrun the mid-life slump and the internal “handbrake” of low thyroid.
1. The Friction Fighter (Vaseline)
If you are a bigger runner, your biggest enemy isn’t your lungs—it’s your skin. At 100kg+, physics is not on your side. Skin-on-skin friction will end your running career faster than a hamstring tear.
I don’t go anywhere without it. It’s the unglamorous, greasy truth of being a heavy runner.
- Coming soon: My “No-BS” Guide to Anti-Chafe (and where to apply it).
2. The Truth-Teller (A Garmin Watch)
When your biology is working against you, you cannot trust your “perceived exertion.” My hypothyroidism makes me feel exhausted when I’m actually doing fine, and Wegovy can sometimes mask how hard my heart is actually working.
I need a Garmin because I need an objective source of truth. Seeing my 43 VO2 Max and my heart rate zones tells me when to push and when to back off. It turns the “mid-life crisis” into a manageable data project.
- Coming soon: Why the Garmin is the essential “Dashboard” for the Thyroid Runner.
3. The Escape Pod (In-Ear Headphones)
The “mental headspace” I run for doesn’t come naturally. My brain is loud—it reminds me of my age, my weight, and my stress. To get to that quiet place, I need to drown out the world.
Decent in-ear headphones aren’t just for music; they are tools for mental isolation. They need to stay put when you’re sweating and they need to deliver the “distraction” that keeps you moving for that extra kilometer.
- Coming soon: The best “Big Man” buds that won’t fall out.