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Get to Know the Chubby Runner
You Really Can Start Running Today
I did not run long distances as a kid. I didn’t really run very far as a teenager. I played some sports like football, baseball, and rugby, none of which require running long distances. I didn’t really like running in high school.
Once I made the goal to run a marathon, it was out there in the universe. It was just a matter of learning how to do it and putting in the time and effort.
That’s the first hurdle, setting the goal. Once you do that, I can help.
Learn how to get started running now.
1998
Marathon Decision
As part of a lifetime “bucket list,” the idea of running a marathon was created. Written down in my journal in 1998 while serving a church mission in Montana, the passage read“Run a major marathon like New York or Chicago.”
Spring 2002
Training Begins
I didn’t know anything about running, but I began training for the River Crown Plaza Marathon in Kansas City.
November 2, 2002
Completed a Marathon
After months of preparation and training, I completed the River Crown Plaza Marathon in Kansas City in 4 hours, 35 minutes, and 25 seconds (4:35:25)
June 20, 2003
Ran the Grandma’s Half Marathon
Ran the Grandma’s Half Marathon (13.1 miles) in Duluth, Minnesota, with my sister Lindsey. I ran it in 2 hours and 15 minutes.
October 12, 2003
Ran the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
Chicago was my second marathon. The training was similar to Kansas City, but the races were very different.
The Chicago Marathon had 80,000 runners. There were more than one million spectators lining the course. I finished in 4:59:01.
March 29, 2004
Ran the Olathe 15K
This is the only 15K I’ve ever run. I trained and ran it with my friend Dave. I finished in 1:35:37.
June 4, 2005
Hospital Hill Half Marathon
Kansas City is known for the worlds best BBQ and also several hills. The Hospital Hill Half navigated all the downtown hills including “Hospital Hill.” I finished the race in 2:27:04.
October 1, 2005
St. George Marathon
Each marathon is different. City marathons traverse the downtown areas. St. George is largely a rural race. We took buses 20 miles out into the Utah desert before sunrise. I saw a guy pick up a tarantula and put it on his shoulder. I finished the race in 4:53:34.
September 15, 2006
New Denver Marathon Injury
Injuries are real, man. I signed up and trained to run the Denver Marathon. On one of the last training runs, while running 20 miles, I slipped on loose gravel and sprained my ankle. This prevented me from running the race. It was very discouraging to have come all that way and not get to complete the race. All that time and training, wasted.
August 25, 2007
Hobble Creek Half Marathon
Trained with my buddy Gaven Johnson and ran the Hobble Creek Half Marathon in Springville, Utah with a time of 2:15:53.
April 19, 2008
Salt Lake City Half Marathon
My sister Lindsey and I ran the Salt Lake City Half Marathon together. I ran it in 2:16:21.
April 18, 2009
SLC Half Marathon
My sister and I ran the Salt Lake City Half Marathon again. This time I ran it in 2:15:56.
May 7, 2011
Provo City Half Marathon
For this race, I was overconfident, and it really bit me in the ass. I neglected some training runs and didn’t put in the time to train properly. As a result, an abysmal 2:57:35.
October 29, 2011
Provo Halloween Haunted Half Marathon
This half marathon was a Halloween-themed race, so there were people dressed up in full costumes. I went with the Waldo look. The race started up Provo Canyon, so the first section was literally downhill. I finihsed in 2:29:39.
March 17, 2018
Canyonlands Half Marathon in Moab, Utah
This race was a scenic run along the river with a red rock backdrop. Ran it with my friend, Kirk Begay. My time was 2:57:47.
June 23, 2018
American Fork Canyon 5K
A quick 5K near where I live and sponsored by the company I worked for at the time, HealthEquity. I finished in 38:25.
June 22, 2019
American Fork Canyon Run Against Cancer 5K Race
I ran this race while pushing my son Truman in a stroller, so my time was slower. We finished in 53:41.
May 21, 2022
Ogden Half Marathon
My first half marathon since a severe case of COVID in 2021 that left me on oxygen and caused lasting lung damage. COVID lung is real. I ran/walked this one with my friend Brian and crossed the finish line in about 3 hours.
September 9, 2023
Big Cottonwood Canyon Half Marathon
A fast-paced race, mostly downhill running out of Big Cottonwood Canyon in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah. The downhill course allows gravity to push you faster than a flat race. Consequently, I finished in 2:49:11.
October 18, 2025
Emigration Canyon Haunted Half Marathon
My youngest brother Andrew wanted to run a half marathon, so we picked a race that would be “easier” with a downhill to let gravity push your pace. We ran the Halloween-themed, downhill out of Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake City. Andrew finished much faster than I did. But I finished in 2:40:42.
Marathons and Half Marathons Completed
Here are the races I’ve trained for and completed. If I can do it, you can do it.
I’m dedicated to helping beginners, overweight, chubby, and other marginalized people train for a marathon and discover the joy of running.
Overweight People: You Can Start Running
I’m just a regular chubby guy.
Like you, I don’t have a runner’s body, but despite that, I have learned how to train for and run several marathons, half-marathons, and other races.
If I can do it, you can too.
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