Chris Larkin Obese Welsh ex-marathon runner to compete in 2022 Great Welsh Marathon Date of Birth: 01.01.1955 Country: Great Britain

1. A Physical and Emotional Journey
2. From Marathon to Sedentary Living
3. The Wake-Up Call
4. The Turning Point
5. Swimming for Charity
6. Support and Transformation

Former Wales Marathon Runner Aims to Return in 2022 after Overcoming Obesity

A Physical and Emotional Journey

Former marathon runner Chris Larkin, now 63 years old and weighing 235 kg, embarked on a remarkable journey to shed excess weight and regain his love for running. With a target of four years, the father of two set an ambitious goal: to participate in the Great Welsh Marathon in 2022.

From Marathon to Sedentary Living

Larkin's passion for long-distance running began four decades ago when he participated in his first national marathon at the age of 23. Weighing just 82.5 kg, he embarked on a path of fitness that would later be overshadowed by a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. In the years that followed, Larkin gained a staggering 152 kg, transforming from a keen athlete to an overweight and inactive individual.

The Wake-Up Call

"It happened so gradually," Larkin recalls. "By the mid-90s, I was just getting bigger and bigger. I had a job as a sales rep, and I ended up eating at petrol station cafes all day long."

"I just didn't have time to eat properly. The frightening thing is you can put on half a kilo a month and not even notice it." Half a kilo a month translates to 6 kg a year, and by 2006, Larkin's sedentary lifestyle and neglect of fitness had brought him to a weight of 190 kg. Obesity had taken its toll, leaving him confined to the sofa for most of the day.

The Turning Point

"It was in June 2016 when I hit 235 kg, which was my heaviest," Larkin remembers. "I thought, 'this is it, my life is over.'" A £100 bet with a colleague that he couldn't lose 20 kg in three months proved to be the turning point. Not only did Larkin win the bet, but he surpassed his initial goal, losing nearly triple the target weight by the end of the year.

Swimming for Charity

Currently, Larkin is participating in the Running Down Dementia swimming challenge, as a knee injury prevents him from running. He aims to swim 130 km for charity, driven by the desire to support his parents who both suffer from dementia.

Support and Transformation

Larkin met his future wife online, and she has been an unwavering pillar of support throughout his transformation. In the process, she has also lost 25 kg. Larkin plans to shed a further 65 kg in the future, with regular swims, gym sessions, and a healthy diet driving his progress.

"I can love myself now, even though I'm still technically obese," Larkin says. "I can love myself because I've taken control."

"I have no animosity towards the man I was in 2016. That man decided to change his life – forever."