Steve Way did. It led to him dropping nearly 40 kilograms and helped him to quit his 20 cigarettes a day habit. Now he is set to race the Comrades in the colours of the Nedbank Running Club. If he has his way he is hoping for a top 10 finish. 

 

The Brit actually has got an extraordinary tale to tell about how he got started as a runner. He was 33 years old when he made the decision that he had to do something drastic to change his lifestyle. At the time he weighed approximately 110kg and was doing everything that was unhealthy.

 

“I'd have sleepless nights because of the coughing. It wasn't pleasant. I didn't like the person I saw in the mirror in the morning and I do remember the emotion I felt, the feeling that 'right, I've really got to do something, make some changes.”

 

He started to run.

 

"I needed to find something I could focus all my attention on that was going to help me lose weight and keep me off the cigarettes. In order to bury your vices you need to find an equal and opposite addiction. You need to find a passion.”

In 2014 after just turning forty he represented England at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He surprised everybody by finishing 10th in a time of 2:15:16 setting a new British marathon record. Another highlight was winning the World 50km Championships in Italy in 2012. He also won the Stockholm 100km race in 2013.

 

His best time over 50km is 2:53:41 and in a 100km race it is 6:19:20.

 

“Running allows me to be a competitive sportsman. An obvious statement but something that I never thought I would be in the case when I was an unfit 33 year old overweight smoker. I love the adrenaline and excitement of race day and all my running is done to allow me to be as good as I can be on those special race days.”

 

As to why he decided to run Comrades Way said: “It’s quite simple really I’m a road ultra-runner so I need to be a part of the most competitive road ultra-race in the world. My main goal is to get into the best shape I can and do myself proud on race day. I would obviously love to end up in the Top 10 as that is such a prestigious achievement but as long as I come away from my first Comrades run with a strong run I will be happy.”