Most running websites start with a photo of a 65kg athlete in split-shorts. That isn’t me.
When I started this journey, I was 120kg. I was 47 years old and staring down the barrel of a classic mid-life crisis. But instead of buying a sports car I couldn’t afford, I decided to try and fix the engine I actually live in.
At that weight, the world of fitness feels like it’s built for someone else. I looked for advice on how to move, what to wear, and how to manage the load, but I found almost nothing that addressed the reality of being a “big” person trying to outrun a mid-life slump.
Mastering the Internal “Handbrake”
Along the way, I realised I wasn’t just fighting my weight; I was fighting my biology. Navigating Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) is like trying to drive with the handbrake on. It places physical and mental limitations on you that “normal” runners don’t have to face.
Mastering that—learning how to balance T4, T3, and TRT protocols alongside a Wegovy journey—has been as much of a challenge as the running itself. It’s not just about “trying harder”; it’s about understanding the data of your own body.
The Misconception: Running to Lose Weight
People assume that if a 120kg man is out running, he’s doing it just to “burn off the fat.” Don’t get me wrong—weighing less makes life easier, and at 106.8kg today, I’m still chasing that sub-100kg goal.
But I’ve realized that “not being fat” is a secondary benefit I’m yet to fully realize. I run for the headspace. In the middle of a mid-life transition, the 30–60 minutes I spend on the path is the only time my brain goes quiet. It’s about the mental clarity, the fitness, and the simple dignity of reclaiming my health.
What I’ve Learned (The Hard Way)
I have made every mistake in the book. I’ve bought the wrong shoes that bottomed out in a week. I’ve dealt with the fatigue of the thyroid struggle and the frustration of “experts” who don’t understand what it’s like to move a 6ft 1 frame with a metabolic disadvantage.
- Data is your best friend: When your thyroid is playing games, your feelings lie to you. The numbers don’t.
- Comfort is King: When you’re 100kg+, “decent” gear isn’t a luxury; it’s a requirement to stay injury-free.
- The PB is Secondary: Consistency is the only metric that matters when you’re rebuilding yourself from the inside out.
Why “Big Man Pace” Exists
I’m building this site for the people who think they “can’t do” running because of their size or their age. I’m sharing the raw data—the wins, the mistakes, and the reality of the mental struggle—so you don’t have to navigate your own crisis alone.
We might not be the fastest people on the path, but we are out there. And that’s the only pace that matters.