‘Mr Evans, you're fat. You have two options: lose weight or die.’
These were the words said to Martinus Evans by his doctor back in 2012. At the time, he weighed 21st 7lbs (approximately 163kg) and defiantly created a third option – he decided to run a marathon. That exact same day he bought a pair of running shoes and climbed onto a treadmill. The rest, so they say, is history.
Since that doctor’s appointment over a decade ago, Evans has founded the Slow AF Run Club, a community of over 10,000 members worldwide, has been featured by the likes of The New York Times and Men’s Health and has even appeared on the cover of Runner’s World US. With 84K followers on Instagram – @300poundsandrunning – he’s become a voice for 'back-of-the-packer'”, encouraging and empowering those who perhaps thought that running wasn’t really for them and campaigning around issues related to size-inclusivity.
What everyone's reading
Now, aged 36, the New Yorker has published his first book, Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run, which reminds us that pace, and size, don’t actually matter – it’s about how you cross the finish line.
Evan’s journey hasn’t been easy. ‘I ran mostly alone and braved just about everything out there on the open road,’ he writes in his book, ‘I’ve been heckled by people in cars and on bikes, and I’ve even been harassed by race spectators. People have stopped me countless times to enquire how much weight I’ve lost (it’s none of their business, plus this isn’t a weight-loss journey). Friends and family have asked me why I participate in "white people sports." I’ve participated in races where I’ve come DFL (dead f**king last). I’ve run races in which I got lost because they started taking the route signs down. I’ve run races where they’ve run out of water and finisher medals, unprepared for the slower runners at the back of the pack. I’ve written an open letter on behalf of those at the back of the pack, and the response was "lose weight and get faster".’
Yet despite all this, Evans found he actually enjoyed running. ‘Despite these obstacles, I still love to run races. Why? Because crossing the finish line, no matter the challenges you face, always makes you more of an athlete, not less of one,’ he says. ‘You came and you conquered... and that is something to be proud of. It’s so rewarding and worth it. I’ve met lifelong friends from races and travelled to places that I never would have travelled to because of running.’
His book – which is dedicated to both the members of the Slow AF Run Club and to anybody that has felt they are too fat, too old, or too (fill in the blank) to become a runner – is essentially a guide for anyone who has ever felt they don't belong. It’s filled with funny, personal anecdotes and tales from his own running journey, plus advice on everything from building an athlete’s mindset to improving your running form, to tips on nutrition and gear (yes, you need new running shoes).
But the thing we like the most about this book? Evans’ refreshing honesty. He opens up about the realities of being a Black runner in a white-dominated sport – and how to be ally – and answers every question a new runner might have (no matter how silly or small it may seem), from ‘How many rest days can I take before I lose fitness?’ to ‘I just bought new shoes at the expo and I want to wear them at the race. Should I?’ and ‘How do I overcome imposter syndrome?’
We especially loved the way in which he explains how to defeat the ‘chafe monster’, because, as he says, ‘whether you are large or small, your skin and/or clothes WILL rub against one another while you are running. Without lube to help the ease of movement or protect skin, the Chafe Monster will come visit you. It’s only a matter of time.’
So if you’re looking for a little bit of inspiration to lace up, just remember Evan’s advice: ‘no one can run those miles for you. No one can put one foot in front of the other but you. No one can cross the finish line for you. You and only you are controlling your destiny. You have everything you need to be a runner.’
Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run is available to purchase on Amazon . For more information, follow Martinus on @300poundsandrunning
