Running News Daily

A Year Ago, He Couldn’t Run for 20 Minutes—Now He’s Clocking Sub-3 Hour Marathons

When Victor M. Solano was diagnosed with high cholesterol, he knew he had to make a lifestyle change. Here’s how he did it.

At age 37, my weight had hit its highest of 188 pounds. I had started running in 2003, and it always made me feel good. But four years before I started my weight-loss journey, I wasn’t doing any physical activity. I was eating a lot more than what I used to eat, and that included a lot of added sugar. 

I noticed that I was having some difficulties with my breathing—at my work, they did health tests for employees, and I found out that I had high cholesterol. Besides the physical effects of my weight, I also struggled mentally—my self-esteem was really low. All of this made me want to try and get my life back again.

My “day one” was on September 14, 2020. That was the day I looked at myself in the mirror and didn’t recognize my reflection. I didn’t like the way I looked anymore. I tried running for 20 minutes, which previously had been no big deal—but this time, I wasn’t able to. Not being able to run that day really opened up my eyes to my health. So I started logging miles again, and built myself up to running four to five times a week for around an hour a day. I wasn’t using any apps or training plans until March 2021 when I started using Garmin—I started losing weight after that. 

Additionally, my diet now is low in carbohydrates and added sugar—I cut out soda, refined-grain bread, and rice. Now I eat more whole grains, vegetables, and eggs. One of my favorite meals is salmon and pecans. I’ve also implemented intermittent fasting into my routine, and I’ve seen a lot of benefits. 

I also decided I wanted to train for the 2021 Chicago Marathon, so I got a coach to help me with my training plan. During the summer of 2021, I decided to run a couple 5Ks, finishing in 18:20 and 18:45. I continued to train through the summer, and ran the Chicago Marathon in October with a time of 2:59:16. I qualified for the 2022 Boston Marathon, and my goal is to run it in a time of 2:55. Most recently, I ran a Dia de Los Muertos 5K, and ran a personal best of 18:12. And on Thanksgiving, I ran the Milwaukee Turkey Trot 8K, and finished in 29:50.

Victor’s Must-Have Gear

→ Salomon Pulse Belt: It’s necessary for carrying your smartphone, keys, and gels. I have even run a marathon with it.

→ GU Gels: For a long runs, these are very helpful to fuel with, so I don’t hit the wall. 

→ Goodr Sunglasses: These are my favorite for those sunny days because they block out the glare. 

These three tips helped make my running journey a success.

 Set goals

I set goals to keep myself focused and not give up halfway. It motivates me to always keep going. 

Try intermittent fasting

I normally do a 10-hour fast to help with my diet. You have to find what works best for you, but for me 10 hours has worked well and doesn’t leave me feeling hungry. 

Don’t overdo it on added sugar

I used to eat so much added sugar. Now, I try to avoid sugary drinks and foods, and to keep an overall healthy diet. It has helped my body feel a lot better. 

I have lost over 40 pounds in an 8-month period. 

My life has changed in a lot of ways. I feel a lot better health-wise, and my running is a lot better than it was in my 20s. I am healthy again and able to run without any problems, and that makes me happy and motivates me to keep going. Now, I know that I can achieve anything I want without my health holding me back. The process of becoming healthy and able to run again wasn’t easy, but I was able to do it because I had a goal and never gave up.