288-Pound Woman Becomes Heaviest to Run a Marathon and Aims for Ironman: 'It's about Visibility'

The Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | February 22, 2018 | Julie Mazziotta

[Cecily]

When Ragen Chastain sets a goal, she wants it to be nearly unattainable. Which is how she went from hating running to signing up for a marathon.

“I decided I wanted to try a challenge and jump out of my comfort zone, and distance running had always been the thing that I was worse at in the entire world,” Chastain, 41, a speaker and writer, tells PEOPLE. “So I signed up for a marathon first thing.”

[Cecily]

She is exercising and in a marathon training program, so I hope she ends up losing her excess weight whether that is her goal or not.

[ClearCase_guy]

'It's about Visibility'

They can see her from Cleveland.

[Tax-chick]

“It’s About Visibility.”

I wish it was just about doing something she wants to do for herself. It’s perfectly acceptable to have a goal that’s just what you want. Everything doesn’t have to be a Campaign.

That said, I hope she succeeds and enjoys it.

[FatherofFive]

Weight loss comes primarily from diet. Her knees will be shot pounding all that weight.

[ObozoMustGo2012]

Not to mention the extra beating her heart prob took. She should focus on losing weight BEFORE running a marathon before her heart gives out.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Would jue?

[Cecily]

She probably has to walk these races for the most part, or alternate running with walking. Long distance walks are great fat burners (assuming you are not scarfing down carbs for fuel all during the race).

[Red Badger]

[Professional]

But can she sing??

[Red Badger]

Yes, her low notes are on the Richter Scale.................

[C210N]

I wasn’t sure if that was an infinite animated gif, or, a Newtonian mass/body in permanent orbit around itself.

[rarestia]

Her knees will be shot pounding all that weight.

As a man who's recently lost 60 pounds, I can tell you that running now vs. 60 pounds ago is like night and day.

[Tanniker Smith]

More power to her.

And if she ends up healthier for it, even better.

[C210N]

What’s blaringly missing from the article was her weight before/after the 20-weeks and 2 marathons.

[greatvikingone]

She will kill her knees - most people should NOT run. Hopefully she’ll see the pounds melt away from being active.

[Cecily]

At least the ballet dancer is moving her body and getting some exercise.

[Boogieman]

Trying out for the party of Hyacinth the Hippo in a live-action version of Fantasia?

[sportutegrl]

“Next week I’m entering a 1K”

[Steely Tom]

288-Pound Woman Becomes Heaviest to Run a Marathon and Aims for Ironman: 'It's about Visibility'

Strut your dank.

[Doogle]

"..visibility...??.. a tat, with enuff ink, and the fweakin Rockies could be put on her arse with Carson city highlighted"