Marathon Man

After four century rides, a 2-month bike-across-America from California to Florida, and his latest endeavor—12 marathons in 12 months from November 2007 to November 2008—Seth Margolies still doesn’t consider himself an endurance athlete, or even an athlete at all. “I’m just a guy willing to plow through and do it,” he says. There’s a reason he wants to be considered an average Joe who just happens to run and bike his brains out. After spending the first four decades of his life struggling with obesity and fighting a food addiction, he knows what it’s like to finally find the strength and tenacity to overcome overwhelming obstacles.

Now exhilarated by achieving a variety of high-bar fitness goals, he’s determined to share his story. “I am tired of waiting for others to lead the charge,” he says. “If a former 400-pound man can bike for 60 days straight from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic and run marathons each month, anyone can dedicate 30 minutes a day to exercise.”

A Long Road
While being 200 pounds overweight makes every day a struggle, Margolies suffered from obesity-related health problems as well, including hypertension, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea, and his doctor warned that his weight was a grave concern. So Margolies underwent bariatric surgery in 2003, which he knew was just the first step.

While shedding the weight, he charged hard at the gym and worked with a trainer to build his core and ease some of the back pain he experienced from being so heavy. As the weight fell off and he was able to exercise more rigorously, he began to feel strong physically and mentally. He eventually gained the courage to try a spin classes at the Glendale Supersport 24 Hour Fitness in California, initially hiding in the back of the class. But as time went on, his cycling instructor Alicia Loerzel soon became a trainer and friend. Together they started racing in century rides, marathons, and a triathlon. “He came out of his shell and has a level of dedication you rarely see,” Loerzel says. “He’s an amazing man with a heart full of life.”

Of all his grand athletic feats, nothing quite matches up to how he felt at the start line of the March 6, 2005 L.A. Marathon. It was his first marathon and his 40th birthday—the same milestone his doctor once said he might not live to celebrate. With tears welling up in his eyes, he knew if he could make it to this start and finish line, there’s no telling what else he could do. Two years later, he found himself ambitiously biking across America as the first sponsored “bariatric athlete,” stopping off along the way to talk to school kids about fitness and health.

Margolies is more than half way through his 12 marathons in 12 months quest, which began last November at the New York City Marathon, the same race where he hopes to end his marathon tour in 5 months. It’s been a tough road, plagued with injury, illnesses, and bouts of what-the-heck-am-I-doing syndrome, but nothing quite like what he faced in Hawaii.

En route to the Honolulu Marathon last December, Margolies suffered a nasty stomach flu. On race day he couldn’t keep down anything but a few teaspoons of rice before. Walking to the starting line, a torrential downpour began and continued for the duration of the race. Drenched, tired, and sick, Margolies waded his way to the finish in a haze, until mile 18. There he saw a woman walking and crying, about to quit. He stopped to talk with her, encouraging her to continue. As a water-logged duo, they walked the rest of the race, picking up the pace for a running finish. Margolies didn’t care about his time. After all, the motivation of his 12-marathon quest was to psych people up and inspire them to attempt things they previously thought they couldn’t.

Although Margolies has been on the road a great deal, he still frequents the gym for cross training—zeroing in on the stationary bike, elliptical trainer, and pool to keep up cardio while giving his feet reprieve. “It’s not about the next marathon,” he says. “It’s about the 30 minutes in the gym that will make me a stronger athlete.” From struggling up a small flight of stairs to powering through double- or triple-digit miles, Seth has been there and knows how tough it can get. “I want to show people that, hey, I was there,” he says. “I couldn’t get up and down steps. But look at me now.”

12 Marathons in 12 Months

November 2007
NYC Marathon
Xterra Trail Run

December 2007
Honolulu Marathon

January 2008
Orange County Marathon

February 2008
Death Valley Marathon

March 2008
LA Marathon

June 2008
San Diego Marathon

July 2008
San Francisco Marathon

October 2008
Chicago Marathon

November 2008
NYC Marathon