I started heavy. This site documents what happens when someone who started heavy trains toward long-course endurance racing, in public, one week at a time. No before-and-after pairs, no miracle products, no one weird trick. Just what I did, what it cost, what changed and what broke, with dates attached.
The numbers so far
| When | What |
|---|---|
| February 1, 2026 | 320 lb |
| September 2026 | 249 lb |
| August to September 2026 | First month of Ironman training: 189 miles across swim, bike and run; longest run 11.2 miles |
| May 16, 2027 | Ironman Jacksonville |
Start with What losing 71 pounds actually changed, then How I started running at 250 pounds, then the first monthly training report.
Where to begin
- The Journey: the monthly training reports and the honest write-ups, from the first walk to the first race entry.
- Running: how running actually starts when you are heavy. Walk-run weeks, shoes, chafing, shins, and the first continuous mile.
- Triathlon: the swim, the bike, and the long game toward a long-course race.
- Strength & Body: gym work, mobility, and what a heavier frame needs that the standard plans ignore.
- Fuel & Habits: eating for training, sleep, routines, and the boring consistency that does the work.
- Gear: what I actually use, tested at my size, failures included.
House rules
- Every number comes with a date and a source: the scale, the watch or the race clock.
- No before-and-after pairs. Progress shows up as training logs and results, not staged photos.
- Nothing here is medical advice. I am one person reporting on one body. Talk to a doctor before you start or change a training or eating plan.
- Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a commission at no cost to you, and I only link to things I use. Details are on the disclosure page.
- No supplement sales, no sponsored results, no paid placements dressed up as reports.
Follow along
The weekly email is one training week written up honestly, plus the training log spreadsheet I use myself. New articles are published here as the weeks happen. Questions and corrections go through the contact page; I read everything.