Within the first year of his weight loss, Darrell said "a lot of cool things happened." He finished his first 5K, then a couple months later ran his first 10K. In October 2013, Darrell ran his first half marathon.
"Late in that first year, at a physical, my doctor measured my resting heart rate at 43. After taking note of how low it was, he said, 'but that's normal for athletes,'" Darrell said. "What a moment — that hit me right in the feels."
In August 2014, about a year after achieving his 130-pound weight loss, Darrell got married. He had kept the weight off and was able to fit into a slim-fit tux. "I looked damn good," he said. His wife, who had agreed to join him on his weight-loss journey, also lost and kept off the weight. They continue to live this healthy lifestyle together.
Now, as a personal trainer and runner, Darrell continues to challenge himself. "I finished my first marathon, then went on to finish nine more," he said. "I finished my first ultramarathon and went on to finish nine more of those, including two 50-mile races and two 100-mile finishes. Not once, but twice I ran 100 miles in one shot; there was a 30-hour time limit." Talk about dedication!
Image Source: Darrell McTague