Runner’s World UK – September 2019

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SEPTEMBER 2019 RUNNERSWORLD.COM/UK 029

BEFORE

Although I was a sporty teenager,

I was overweight even then. In my

20s, I lived on takeaways and meals

out and didn’t do any exercise. I ate

too much, grazing all day and picking

at the leftovers our children, who

were then small, left on their plates.

My biggest weakness was bread –

I could eat a loaf a day. I used to

be a driving instructor (I’m now a

secondary school teacher) so I was

sitting down for hours. Lunch was

prepackaged sandwiches, crisps and

sausage rolls from petrol stations.

The pounds piled on and in my

early 30s, I developed type 2

diabetes. I took medication to

manage it but was warned I would

DIET TIPS

HERE'S HOW JAMES

STAYS ON TARGET

WITH HIS FOOD

BE HONEST I have a

calorie-tracker app to log

what I eat. It’s no good

cheating by not including

the snacks and treats.

MAKE A PLAN If I’m

having a calorific meal,

like a Chinese takeaway,

I plan a run earlier in the

day so I will minimise the

effect of it. It’s not good

to constantly deprive

yourself of what you

enjoy. Just don’t have

it so often.

STAY FOCUSED If I

have a ‘scoff’ day and

eat too much, I treat

the next day as a fresh

start rather than give up.

‘I’VE PUT MY

DIABETES

INTO

REMISSION’

Once sedentary and overweight,

James Illsley is now running ultras

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probably eventually need to take

daily insulin injections. I was told

losing weight would help control it

but I still ignored my GP’s advice.

At my largest, my waist was 44",

my collar size 21" and I was wearing

4XL clothes.

THE TURNAROUND

When I hit my 40s, I was over 24st.

I was a heart attack waiting to

happen. I had a midlife health crisis,

shedding weight by reducing portion

size and joining a gym.

I’d got down to about 18st when I

saw a challenge on a weight-loss

forum to run every day for a month.

It appealed to me, even though I was

very self-conscious at first. I even

jogged in wellies and a big coat so

if anyone saw me, I could pretend to

be dog-walking.

In October 2017 I did my first

parkrun; by my sixth, I could run

the entire course. I was delighted. I

soon joined Jog Derbyshire, a social

running group. In April 2018 I ran the

Derby 10K and was truly bitten by the

running bug. I ran 21 races that year.

My weight dropped to 13st as I cut

my calorie intake to 1,500 a day,

while running most days, too. By

September, I’d put my diabetes into

remission and was off my meds. I’ve

run three marathons and two ultras.

Running is a huge part of my life.

THE FUTURE

I’ve lost half of my body weight

while reducing my waist to 34"

and my collar size to 16". I now wear

a large rather than oversize tops.

I’ve lined up more races for later in

the year, including the Great North

Run. Next year, I’m thinking of doing

12 marathons in 12 months.

When I began running, I chased

PBs, but I’ve realised it’s the chats

you have along the way that are more

lasting than the clock. I’ve made

loads of new friends in person and on

running sites, so my life has taken a

different direction both health-wise

and socially. As my weight has fallen,

my love of running has soared.

NAME James Illsley

AGE 47

HOMETOWN Nether

Heage, near Belper,

Derbyshire

HEIGHT 5ft 11in

WEIGHT BEFORE 24st 8lb

WEIGHT AFTER 11st 8lb

WEIGHT LOST 13st