Story: From Weekend Runner to Disciplined Athlete 🏃‍♂️

The Double Life I Led... 👋

I'm Andrew, 37 years old.

Half marathon runner. Medal collector. And a big liar.

My Two Personalities 🎭

The Andrew on Instagram:

Crossing finish lines
Bragging about medals
"Preparing for my next 13.1 miles"

The Real Andrew:

11 extra pounds that my tech shirt couldn’t hide
3-4 beers on Fridays with friends
The last time I trained was... how long ago?

My Wall of Shame 🏁

I had a medal rack full of medals.

Each one represented a day of glory...

...and weeks of doing nothing.

The Big Farce 🤔

"How's the training going?"

"Good, good... intense" (lie)

"How much did you run this week?"

"About 25 miles, more or less" (lie)

My High-Tech Gear... 📱

A $350 Garmin watch (to measure my occasional 3.1-mile runs)
$180 sneakers (used 1-2 times a week)
Premium tech shirts (that only stretched around my belly)
A fascia roller (still in its packaging)
Resistance bands (turned into towel hangers)

The Looks That Hurt 👀

When I talked about my times or upcoming races...

...I noticed those looks.

No one said a word, but I could feel it:

"Who are you trying to fool, Andrew?"

My Premium Excuses Kit ✨

"With my impossible job, I can’t train more"
"I have running genetics, I don’t need that much training"
"I prefer quality over quantity in my workouts"
"I’m in an active recovery phase"
"I sleep lightly, so I need more sleep"

The Evidence I Ignored 📸

Race photos didn’t lie:

The face of suffering starting at 6.2 miles
The belly bulging out of the shirt
The posture that crumbled by the end
The expression of relief (not satisfaction) at the finish

The Closet of Magic Solutions 🧴

Ab machine (used as a clothesline)
Adjustable dumbbells (perfect for holding the door)
A premium training app (that sends notifications you ignore)
"Fat-burning" supplements (expired in the drawer)
A personalized training plan (forgotten by week 2)

The Truth in the Mirror 🪞

One night, looking in the mirror after a disappointing race, I faced the truth:

I wasn’t a runner with bad luck.

I was an imposter with good excuses.

The Accidental Discovery 💬

At a post-race meal, I heard Charlie (who had improved a ton):

"What changed everything for me was having someone to hold me accountable for my daily workouts..."

The Recommendation That Changed Everything: Accountability Coaching ✨

That day, Charlie explained to me about "accountability coaching" for runners.

He told me there was a specific service for runners who wanted to be more consistent.

The best part: all through messaging. No awkward video calls.

For someone as shy as me, and with an impossible schedule, it sounded perfect.

NeverGiveUp Coach 🚀

I looked it up that very night.

They offered a free trial.

"What do I have to lose?" I thought.

The First Contact 📱

I was assigned to Patricia.

Her message was clear:

"I'm not here to judge you. I'm here to help you follow through on what YOU decided to do."

Perfect for My Lifestyle 💼

All through messaging (no awkward video calls)
Quick communication I could reply to between meetings
Flexibility for my chaotic schedule
No need to put on airs or talk

Ideal for someone busy and a bit introverted like me.

The System Was Simple 🔰

Every morning: confirmation of that day's workout
Every afternoon: Garmin screenshots as proof
No excuses accepted (only real emergencies)
No judgment about the past, just focus on the present

Screenshots I Couldn't Fake 📊

I had to send screenshots from my Garmin after every workout.

Not just the summary, but the details: pace, heart zones, cadence...

Impossible to cheat.

The First Big Obstacle: Myself 🚧

Thursday. Raining. Exhausted.

Patricia's message: "What time is your workout today?"

My brain automatically churning out excuses...

The Crucial Difference ⚡

This time, there was someone specifically waiting for my Garmin screenshot.

Someone who wouldn’t accept my usual excuses.

Reluctantly, I went out for a run in the rain.

The First Full Week 📊

Monday: Recovery 3.1-mile run ✅ Tuesday: Strength ✅ Wednesday: Rest ✅ Thursday: 5-mile run in the rain ✅ Friday: Technique ✅ Saturday: Rest ✅ Sunday: 7.5-mile long run ✅

First time in years that I completed every scheduled session.

The Unexpected Value 💎

What I spent on unused gadgets
Race registrations for events I wasn't properly training for
The value of my time and health

Suddenly, it seemed incredibly cheap for what I was getting in return.

The Small Changes 🌱

I would notify them first with my plan
I started planning my day around the workout (not the other way around)
Friday: only 2 beers (instead of 4)

The First Month 📅

90% of workouts completed (only missed one due to illness)
My clothes started fitting better
3.1-mile runs no longer left me breathless
I slept better, deeper

The First Reactions 👥

"You look thinner, are you on a diet?"

"Are you really training every day?"

"Want another beer?" "No, thanks, I'm training early tomorrow"

Their surprised faces: priceless.

The Second Month 📈

Longer distances without fatigue
First complete interval training (without stopping)
The scale: 7 pounds lighter
The mirror: a different silhouette

The Food: A Natural Change 🥩

I didn't go on a strict diet.

But something changed:

"If I'm working so hard training... why ruin it with junk food?"

Good decisions started to spread naturally.

The Third Month: The New Normal 🔰

Training became as normal as brushing my teeth
I no longer needed messages from Patricia (but they were still useful)
My body anticipated the workout, demanded it
I began to miss running on rest days

A Year Later: The Complete Transformation 🏆

35 pounds lighter (without an extreme diet)
First marathon completed in 3:30 (without suffering)
Qualified for the Boston Marathon (!!)
I sleep better than ever
I have more energy at work
My self-esteem as an athlete is genuine, not fake

From Imposter to Real Athlete 👤

Before: "Weekend runner with good excuses"

Now: "Disciplined athlete who trains consistently"

A small difference in words. A world of difference in results.

The Lesson Learned 📓

I didn't need more training information.

I didn't need better gear.

I didn't need more motivation.

I needed consistency and accountability.

Sound Familiar? 🤔

If any part of my story sounds familiar to you...

If you have medals but also excuses...

If you know the theory but fail in practice...

Maybe you need the same thing I did.

What Worked for Me 🌱

I discovered that an accountability coach was the missing piece.

For me, NeverGiveUp Coach made all the difference.

Maybe it can help you too.

Andrew M. - From Weekend Runner to Disciplined Athlete

Mike S.

This hit way too close to home. I'm literally that guy with the fancy Garmin who runs once a week and wonders why I'm not improving. Bookmarked this article to read again when I'm making excuses tomorrow morning.

JessicaRunsNYC

I feel so seen right now. The part about having running gear become household items... my foam roller is currently holding up a wobbly shelf 😂

Andrew (Author)

Haha! We've all been there. My resistance bands were great for hanging laundry before I actually started using them!

Patricia M.

Andrew, it's been such a privilege to work with you through this transformation. Your dedication shows what's possible when someone commits to consistency rather than just intensity. You're the perfect example of how accountability can change not just running performance, but overall quality of life. Looking forward to watching you crush your next goals! 👏🏃‍♂️

Patricia! Didn't expect to see you here. Thank you for everything - I truly couldn't have made this change without your consistent check-ins and no-judgment approach. Best decision I ever made.

RunnerDad42

Just sent this to my wife with the subject line "She's writing about me!" The weekend warrior with the slight belly who tells everyone he's "training for a marathon" but hasn't run more than 5 miles in months... yep, that's me. Thinking about giving NeverGiveUp a try. Anyone else here used them?

FitAfter50

I've been using NeverGiveUp for about 5 months now. Went from sporadic 3 mile runs to consistently doing 20-25 miles weekly. Nothing magical, just consistent accountability. Worth every penny in my experience.

Laura Turner

Quick question - did you feel awkward in the beginning sending evidence of your workouts? That part makes me a bit self-conscious although I know I need the accountability.

Great question Laura. Yes, the first few times felt a bit strange, particularly on days when I really didn't want to run. But Patricia never judged my performance - she only cared that I showed up. The slight discomfort fades quickly, but the results stick around.

MartinR

What about nutrition? Did you have to change your diet drastically or was it more gradual?

No drastic changes at all, Martin. That's one of the most harmful myths out there. The diet changes happened naturally after a few weeks of consistent training. I still enjoy beer on weekends, just 1-2 instead of 4-5. Gradual changes stick, drastic ones rarely do.

SarahJ

I'm honestly really skeptical about paying someone just to check if I've done something I already know I should do. But then again, I've spent hundreds on running shoes I barely use, so maybe I should reconsider...

Carlos_NYC

I was the king of excuses. "It's too cold." "It's too hot." "I'll start Monday." Been with NeverGiveUp for 3 months and haven't missed a workout. The simplicity is what makes it effective.

Lauren Michaels

Just signed up for their free trial after reading this. If I can go from "occasional runner" to "actual runner" it'll be worth 10x the cost. Fingers crossed!

DaveLongRun

I'm a bit confused - is this different from having a regular running coach? I already pay someone who gives me workouts and checks my Strava.

Hey Dave - good question! A regular running coach typically creates your training plan, analyzes your form, gives technical advice, etc. An accountability coach is more focused: their only job is to make sure you do the workouts you've already planned. Some people need both, others just need the accountability piece. If you already have a coach who's good at the accountability part, you might not need both services.

Rebecca T.

Ok so what does your weekly mileage actually look like now vs before? And how long did it take to notice significant changes? I'm trying to set realistic expectations.

Before: 5-10 miles on a good week, many weeks with zero miles.
Now: Consistently 25-30 miles weekly.
I started noticing mental benefits (better mood, more energy) within 2 weeks. Physical changes took about a month to become noticeable. Within 3 months, friends were commenting on the changes. Hope that helps set expectations!

BostonBound

How did you deal with injury prevention when ramping up? Every time I try to be more consistent I end up injured after a few weeks.

That's a great point about injury prevention. Having Patricia as my accountability coach actually helped with this. She encouraged a more gradual buildup than I would have done on my own (I was always the "too much too soon" guy). The consistency meant I wasn't trying to cram all my training into weekends, which was a major cause of my previous injuries.