Gastric bypass surgery, from 444 lbs. to marathon

Clarion, MS

Sheila McNair's journey began in 2003: the moment she looked at a family reunion photograph of her and her grandson.

"When I looked at that picture, I told myself 'I can't go on like this,' " said McNair, who had battled obesity since she was 12. "I had to do something. Obesity runs in both sides of my family and my mom died in 2001 due to diabetes. I didn't want to go that route. I was overweight to the point where basically all I could do was go to work and come home."

So McNair underwent gastric bypass surgery on May 3 of 2004. She weighed 444 pounds that day. Three years and 265 pounds later, she completed her first marathon.

It came just a year after she began in Marathon Makeovers, a support group that prepares runners for the 26.2-mile race. McNair finished the race. Her official time was 7 hours, 24 minutes and 43 seconds.


"If there is one word to describe her it is 'determined,' " said Simpson, director of Marathon Makeover. "She came in last January just able to walk a mile. But those race officials that wanted her to step off the course were not going to stop her." More >>

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