400-pound man runs Boston Marathon...and finishes!

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts)
Apr 20th 2007 11:00AM

Categories: Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Motivation

Rigel wrote this week about an astronaut running the Boston Marathon in space and how inspiring her story was. Here's another story that may help you get up off that couch. Jacob Seilheimer weighed 438 pounds when he decided he was going to run this year's Boston Marathon, and just like that he went out and started training. This week, he unofficially entered the race (80 pounds lighter than when he made the commitment) and he finished it. Sure, he was dead last. Sure, it took him 9 hours. But he committed to a goal, a very difficult goal, and he stuck with it.

I'm not recommending that you do what Jacob did. In fact, Jacob got a lot of flack for his training methods. Most doctors would have told him to start by walking a few minutes several times a week and build up slowly, and I'm guessing most running experts would agree.

But you just can't argue with Jacob's spirit. Like the astronaut running the marathon strapped her treadmill, Jacob's story makes me feel more than a little guilty for sitting here and wanting to have "just one more" of the Newman's-Os that are calling me from my kitchen. You don't have to train for a marathon, but having a long-term fitness goal to strive for can help you keep your eye on the prize. Read his blog, it's hilarious. Good for you, Jacob!

(via Diet-Blog)

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Comments (13)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Emily 4-21-2007 @ 9:44AM

This is inspiring. I'm slightly overweight but not out of shape, and I'm trying to lose those few extra pounds through race-walking. If this guy can run a marathon, there's hope for all of us.
For the record, though, if he weighed in at 438 pounds when he decided to run the marathon and lost 80 pounds while training, he did not weigh 400 pounds when he ran the marathon. He weighed 358 pounds.
I'm curious as to how much weight he lost running the marathon, because I'm sure running (or walking?) for nine hours would have burned off at least a few pounds. I'm also curious if he's going to continue with his racing and weight-loss or if it was just a one-time thing.
In any case, good for him! I'm inspired to get off my butt and work harder to lose my few extra pounds.

Chris 4-21-2007 @ 4:54PM

Great story and very inspirational, but why is his name not on the entry list for Boston.
http://www.baa.org/2007/cf/Public/EntryLists.cfm?mode=entry
Typically, you have to have a finish a qualifying race to get a spot in the Boston Marathon. Which marathon did he finish to get an entry into Boston and how well did he do in it? That would probably be another great story.

Maria 4-21-2007 @ 3:33PM

Thats really cool that a guy like that finished the boston marathon. Hes the kind of guy that doesnt let personal apperences stop him from doing something he set his mind too. Thats a real eye opener. Everyone has heard of people that go crazy if they gain literally, like 2 or 3 pounds.

I think his run didnt just do good for him, it did good for everyone who read the article.

Bethany Sanders 4-21-2007 @ 4:56PM

Thanks for your comment Chris. The way I understand it, he ran the race "unofficially." He wasn't entered in the race (as he hadn't run the qualifying marathon.) He waited until the registered runners crossed the start line and then he began.

Andy Springer 4-21-2007 @ 6:07PM

Yeah, but he still weighs 400 pounds...

Andy Springer 4-21-2007 @ 6:08PM

Astronauts are in peak physical condition and comparing her to a 400 pound man is like comparing Alex Rodriguez to someone showing up to a pick up baseball game. Sure it's the same event, but one is legitimate and the other is just showing up. But you just can't argue with Jacob's spirit... nor his girth.

loge18 4-21-2007 @ 5:56PM

In response to Chris, the article mentions that he unofficially entered the race. I'm guessing he went out and joined the massive crowd. Not a bad idea really, didnt have to qualify or pay the entry fee!

ynaomiy 4-21-2007 @ 9:39PM

What a great spirit!

kristen 4-21-2007 @ 10:30PM

ha. im betting hes not 400 pounds anymore.

sbry 4-21-2007 @ 11:47PM

Wonderful and inspiring to many. You go man!! You showed the world you could do it!! Congrats!!

Ryan 4-22-2007 @ 12:31AM

He was running at about 3 miles an hour so article title should be "400-pound man rWALKS Boston Marathon...and finishes"

nada 4-27-2007 @ 2:03PM

The nasty comments in response to this story say a lot about the people making the comments.

Regardless of his size, regardless of how fast he ran, regardless of whether he was a registered runner or one of the many people who this year and every year run without registering -- the point is this man did something challenging and positive.

You smirk at his weight, perhaps comparing yourself to him and patting yourselves on the back for being a better runner, thinner, more fit.

But maybe he is a much smarter person than you, a much nicer person, a much more cultured person, a person who is kinder to strangers, a person who is a better friend than you are to your friends, maybe he is more adventurous, maybe he has a better sensitive of humor, maybe he is more creative, maybe he is better educated, maybe he is better at his job, maybe he is more humane, more perceptive, more understanding, maybe he wouldn't be such a jerk to make similar nasty comments about other people as you.

As his blog describes, he definitely saw an issue in his life and was brave enough to take steps to deal with it. Knowing what kind of people exist, he was brave enough, to not be stopped by people's empty criticisms, to run and finish despite all the physical and mental challenges of pushing beyond his limits.

james 4-27-2007 @ 11:52PM

Even if this story isn't BS (someone pointed out he's not listed as a runner at the official Boston Marathon website) 26.2 miles in 9:40 is 2.7 miles per hour. That's a slow walk folks. If you can walk slowly for 10 hours then... well, I don't know.

He trained to slowly walk?? What kind of training do you do to walk 2.7 mph?!? Walk to the fridge and grab a beer?!