From 100kg to the Boston Marathon

longevityfitnesslt
Apr 29
3 min read

Updated: May 13

Rob's Story - How one man in his 40s went from unhealthy and stuck to running one of the world's greatest marathons in under 3 hours

When Rob first got in touch, he wasn't in crisis. He wasn't at rock bottom. He was just stuck — and he knew it.

He'd spent his 30s working punishing hours at a US tech firm. By the time he left that job, his health had taken a back seat for years.

He weighed around 100kg, had been trying to get fit for a while, and kept switching between routines and diets without anything ever sticking.

Looking back, he says his confidence was low too — and it was affecting every part of his life, not just his fitness.

He was 42 when he started working with Paul.

He had no idea what was coming.

Where He Started

100kg. Years of stop-start attempts. A nagging sense that he should be further along by now.

Sound familiar?

What Rob needed wasn't more information — he'd tried plenty of programmes and diets.

What he needed was someone to take the thinking off his shoulders, give him a clear direction, and hold him accountable week after week.

That's exactly what he got.

What We Did Differently

From the beginning, the approach was simple on purpose.

Rather than overwhelming Rob with a complex programme, Paul gave him just a couple of things to focus on at a time. Every week they'd check in — talking through the difficulties, celebrating the wins, and adjusting the plan as they went.

No shame. No judgment. Just cold, hard facts and a clear way forward.

As Rob puts it, Paul's experience coaching in the Army and Royal Marines gave him the ability to cut right through to what matters.

Every call ended with a clear direction for the next week — and more importantly, the motivation to keep going.

What Happened Next

Over 18 months, Rob lost 25kg and built significant muscle along the way.

But something else happened too. Losing the weight gave him the confidence to rediscover his love for running — a part of himself he'd left behind in his 20s.

He remembered a goal he'd set years earlier: run a half-marathon in under 90 minutes and break 18 minutes for a 5K.

He not only hit both targets — he blew past them.

Within a couple of months of combining gym sessions with running training, Rob ran a 1:26 half-marathon and lowered his 5K personal best to 17:42.

He wasn't done.

Boston

In 2025, Rob intended to run the Vienna Half-Marathon. When it sold out, he made a last-minute decision to run the full Vienna City Marathon instead — 26.2 miles, on a couple of days' notice.

He finished in 3 hours and 9 minutes.

That time qualified him for the Boston Marathon — one of the six World Marathon Majors.

One of the most prestigious road races on the planet.

In April 2026, Rob stood on the start line in Boston.

He finished in 2 hours and 59 minutes — outperforming his qualifying position by around 7,000 runners.

Sub-3 hours. At the Boston Marathon.

A man who, four years earlier, weighed 100kg and didn't know where to start.

His plan now?

Go back next year with a red bib — the first wave — and go faster.

What Rob Says

When I started working with Paul, I was 42. He took all the 'thinking' off my shoulders and gave me just a couple of things to focus on.

Paul's very objective way of coaching takes away the shame of feeling unhealthy and replaces it with cold, hard facts and a clear way forward.

Investing in Paul isn't just about fitness — it's an indirect investment in every aspect of your life. I cannot recommend him highly enough."

What This Means for You

Rob's story isn't about becoming an elite athlete.

It's about what happens when someone finally has the right support behind them.

He didn't need a harder programme. He didn't need more willpower. He needed a coach who listened, a plan that made sense, and someone in his corner every single week.

That's what we do at Longevity Fitness.

Whether your goal is to lose weight, move without pain, keep up with your grandchildren, or simply feel like yourself again — the starting point is the same. A conversation. No pressure, no fitness test.

Just a chat about what's possible for you.