James Oltman
San Antonio, TX

Running for James Oltman has been a long process that started in 2010. Oltman had issues with his weight; he was 281 pounds and only 5’10. “I was tired of never being taken seriously either in social settings or professional settings,” said Oltman. “I knew a needed to make a change.”

He signed up for his first triathlon and started training. He changed his lifestyle and during the first four months of training he lost 50 pounds. “I completed the Austin Triathlon (sprint) and knew right away I was hooked.”

After that triathlon he desired to completed a 70.3 Half Ironman. This caused a road bump because up to that point he had never run more than three miles. To help him accomplish a half Ironman, he signed up for his first half marathon in November 2010. Successfully completing the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon, he immediately signed up for the Miracle Match Half Marathon in January 2011.

When it came to the Miracle Match race day, Oltman was down to 210 pounds. That April, Oltman accomplished his goal and completed a half Ironman in Galveston. On race day he was down to 186 pounds–he had lost a total of 95 pounds within one year.

“After Galveston, I knew I wasn’t going to be happy until I completed a full Ironman; and I knew part of that was running a few marathons,” said Oltman. He made the decision to sign up for the Houston Marathon lottery and let fate decide whether he was suppose to run a marathon before his anticipated Ironman in May 2013.

Oltman will be running the Chevron Houston Marathon 111 pounds lighter.

“I don’t go anywhere anymore without my running shoes, and I run a minimum of 3 days a week,” said Oltman. “After Houston, I may put my name into the lottery for the NYC marathon in November. And, if everything goes to plan in May 2013, I will be crossing the finish line of Ironman Texas as an Ironman!”

“My body and my life have gone through some amazing transformation over the last year and a half, and none of it would have been possible without running.”