Martinus Evans: Slow AF Run Club founder on how he overcame prejudice to become a marathon man

When Martinus Evans went to get some hip pain checked out 10 years ago, he was shocked when his doctor ignored the fact he was on his feet for eight hours a day at work and instead concentrated on his weight.
As a larger man, Martinus weighed in at 300 pounds (21 stone), but he was living an active life combining his busy work days with playing basketball at weekends.
But the doctor dismissed him as 'fat,' telling him to start walking to 'lose weight or die'.
An angry Martinus replied that he wouldn't simply start walking - he'd run a marathon.
With his hip problem correctly diagnosed by a different doctor, and quickly cured through physio, Martinus started out on his running journey.
Ten years later, he has been an adidas spokesperson, a model on the cover of Runner’s World and a Boston Marathon finisher. In all, Martinus has now completed eight marathons.
But he wasn't finished. His personal goals soon turned into a mission to promote running as a sport for people of all shapes and sizes.
The Slow AF Run Club was born and now boasts thousands of members, while a guide to running called 'Slow AF Run Club - The Ultimate Guide For Anyone Who Wants To Run' has become a bible for many new runners.
Running Tales spoke to Martinus about how he has faced prejudice and taunts along the way, and on his mission to make running a truly inclusive sport...
 
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Find out more about the Slow AF Run Club and Martinus' story at https://slowafrunclub.com/
 
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